Just a day since Strategic Elements said its Energy Ink technology is on track to dethrone solar as the power density king for renewable energy, it has now revealed just how close it already is to doing so.

The magic number here is 70%. That’s right, the company’s Energy Ink tech for generating electricity from moisture in the air is already capable of 14 milliwatts (mW) per cm2, well within shouting distance of the 20mW/cm2 that solar cells generate.

This was achieved by leveraging breakthroughs in the fundamental mechanisms that convert moisture to energy and integrating them into nanoionic inks that enable high power density.

And to top it off, Energy Ink’s power density puts all other relevant moisture electricity generation technologies published in global literature – i.e. not some black project that has been hidden away – on notice as it’s more than 200 times the power density that they have reported to date.

So just how significant is this achievement?

While beating solar at its game is an admirable goal for Strategic Elements (ASX:SOR), the amount of power that Energy Ink is already capable of generating is downright impressive, especially since the graphene oxide based ink is doing so through its interaction with moisture in the air.

Not only is the tech already well able to generate more than enough power then is needed by the leading continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) skin patch over seven days, 70% of solar’s energy density likely already makes it a viable alternative to solar power under certain circumstances.

That Energy Ink isn’t reliant on the sun shining is already a major plus in its favour as it opens up applications where consistent power supply is essential.

 

Detailed development plans

Despite this, Strategic Elements still has beating solar’s power density firmly in its sights, no doubt because it will open up more large-scale opportunities (and – let’s admit it – for the bragging rights).

It has now spelled out a more specific timeframe to achieve this objective.

Over the next six weeks, the company will nano engineer discoveries in the fundamental mechanisms that convert moisture to energy into an ink formula.

It will then optimise the ink to produce ultra-thin cells of approximately 200 micrometres (or two sheets of paper), a process that is expected to take another six weeks.

This will lead to the fabrication and test of Energy Ink cells which Strategic Elements believes will be capable of exceeding the power density of solar.

Watch this space…

 

 

 

This article was developed in collaboration with Strategic Elements, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.

 

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.

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