# 77. Scaling Renewables With Novel Energy Harvesting & Storage Technologies

- Show: [The Next Byte Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast)
- Published: 2022-07-05
- Length: 30m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2022-07-05-77-scaling-renewables-with-novel-energy-harvesting-storage-technologies
- Listen: https://the-next-byte-wevolver.simplecast.com/episodes/77-scaling-renewables-with-novel-energy-harvesting-storage-technologies-ET8_4rBg

## Summary

Hosts Daniel and For Bode discuss two breakthroughs in renewable energy technology: extending the lifespan of flow batteries through polarity flipping, and stabilizing fragile perovskite solar cells with 2D nanomaterial capping layers. They analyze how Harvard and Cambridge researchers solved flow battery degradation by using voltage pulses to 'revive' organic molecules, achieving a 260x increase in cycle life. They also cover Princeton Engineering's development of a durable perovskite solar cell and an accelerated testing chamber that simulates 30 years of weathering in weeks, enabling the commercialization of flexible and transparent solar applications.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2022-07-05-77-scaling-renewables-with-novel-energy-harvesting-storage-technologies#t=0) Introduction: Renewable Energy Storage Challenges
- [0:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2022-07-05-77-scaling-renewables-with-novel-energy-harvesting-storage-technologies#t=51) Flow Battery Degradation and the 'Zombie' Solution
- [8:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2022-07-05-77-scaling-renewables-with-novel-energy-harvesting-storage-technologies#t=491) Polarity Flipping and 260x Cycle Life Increase
- [13:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2022-07-05-77-scaling-renewables-with-novel-energy-harvesting-storage-technologies#t=807) Perovskite Solar Cells vs. Silicon
- [18:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2022-07-05-77-scaling-renewables-with-novel-energy-harvesting-storage-technologies#t=1111) Stabilizing Perovskite with 2D Nanomaterials
- [20:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2022-07-05-77-scaling-renewables-with-novel-energy-harvesting-storage-technologies#t=1236) Accelerated Solar Testing Chamber
- [26:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2022-07-05-77-scaling-renewables-with-novel-energy-harvesting-storage-technologies#t=1608) Future Applications: Solar Windows and Flexible Panels

## Topics

- [Batteries & low-power design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/batteries-and-low-power)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Test & measurement](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/test-and-measurement)
- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)

## Most relevant to

established companies

## Mentioned

- Harvard University (company)
- University of Cambridge (company)
- Redwood Materials (company)
- Tesla (company)
- Princeton Engineering (company)
- Perovskite (material)
- DHAQ (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [An Interview with Sam Stranks](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-03-10-an-interview-with-sam-stranks) (The Amp Hour)
- [Why Long-Duration Energy Storage Breaks Batteries – and How Hydrogen Fixes It with Mia Rath](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2026-01-22-why-long-duration-energy-storage-breaks-batteries-and-how-hydrogen-fixes-it-with) (Hardware to Save a Planet)
- [Repurposing EV batteries for grid storage](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-07-24-repurposing-ev-batteries-for-grid-storage) (Catalyst)
- [The Role of Energy Storage Systems in Combating Climate Change with Mike Wietecki of Powin and John Thomas of ESS](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-05-09-the-role-of-energy-storage-systems-in-combating-climate-change-with-mike-wieteck) (Hardware to Save a Planet)
- [How to Save a Planet: Spark Tank! How Do We Solve the Energy Storage Problem?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-07-01-how-to-save-a-planet-spark-tank-how-do-we-solve-the-energy-storage-problem) (Catalyst)

## Citing this page

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