One of the poblems with an intermittent energy source such as solar energy has been the problem of storing electricity for use when the sun isn’t shining. Because an effective method of storing renewable energy hasn’t really emerged, there has always been reservations about the possiblities of using solar energy to replace traditional energy sources.

A new breakthrough study has found that an ultra-thin material known as graphene could give a possible solution to the question of renewable energy storage.

Graphene has been around since the 1970s. It is a super thin version of graphite and it’s properties give it enormous surface area for its size. In terms of energy stoage, th more surface area equals the more storage capacity. As an example of the size of surface area capable with graphene, 1 gram of graphene yields 2,630 square meters of available surface area.

Graphene has been used in tests conducted by researchers at the University of Texas. The material has been tested in ultracapacitors which work similarly to batteries. Unlike batteries, ultracapacitors only store 5 per cent as much energy as a lithium battery but deliver energy faster and can be charged and discharged 600,000 times compared to only a few thousand for a battery.

Solar energy could possibly be stored in ultracapcitors made with graphene as the significant material and,if it is developed, will make slar energy an even more viable renewable energy option.