We often wonder what the future of electric technology will be. The world is looking for alternatives to industries and electric cars are becoming an increasingly tangible reality. Some car companies have claimed that, from 2030, their entire line will be electric. To achieve this, researchers are working hard to begin the energy transition needed to replace conventional disposable batteries with stronger batteries.
The technological and energy transition depends on it. To solve these types of problems, an American startup led by David Mitlin has begun to design hemp batteries. The motivations are since this plant has been used for centuries in various sectors such as textiles, industrial and pharmaceuticals. His venture is to test the performance of batteries with this type of resistant material.
Hemp fibers resulting from cannabis cultivation residues were cooked by the team to be transformed into carbon nanolumens. With this, supercapacitors were built that according to the researchers may be “similar or better than graphene”, the material commonly used for this purpose. With this technology, industry could significantly reduce industrial waste.
These fibers were recycled and converted into supercomputers. This is a big difference as conventional batteries store energy and distribute it slowly. While capacitors can quickly discharge all their charge.
These types of batteries can be used in cars, but also in power tools of all kinds, according to the researchers. Previously, researchers had worked with biological waste such as mosses, banana shells, among others.
The group claims to have a “secret recipe” with which they know how to “take advantage of bio-loss.” However, they claim that there is something special with hemp.
“But if you look at hemp fibers, their structure is different: it makes sheets with a wide surface area conducive to supercomputers.”
As for its characteristics, it reports returns equal to or superior to its competitors.
“They operate at temperatures below 0ºC and have one of the best combinations of energy power reported by any carbon. For example, at a very high power density of 20 kW/kg (kilowatts per kilo) and temperatures of 20ºC, 60ºC and 100ºC, the energy densities are 19, 34 and 40 Wh/kg (watt-hours per kilo) respectively.” Other advantages lie in its cost. “For energy storage, it works just as well and costs a fraction of the price: between $500 and $1,000 per ton.”
in Costa Rica. 
