Researchers from Australia’s University of Newcastle have just added an interesting snippet to the renewable energy conversation. They’ve used the power of the sun to convert carbon dioxide (CO₂) into batteries.

“As we move more and more to renewable sources of energy we’re going to need a lot of batteries to store energy, and manage the variability of the sun and the wind,” says research team member Dr. Jessica Allen. “We need to think about where materials for these batteries will come from, and look for more sustainable alternatives.”

Batteries today are made from mined minerals such as graphite, which is a type of carbon. When carbon is in the form of coal, for example, CO₂ is released as a byproduct when it’s brunt in oxygen. This whole design is what fuels coal-fired power station.

However, the University of Newcastle team reversed this process. They used the sun’s heat to transform CO₂ emissions into carbon, with oxygen as a byproduct.

“This method allows us to make carbon which is even better at storing electrical energy than the mined graphite,” says Dr. Allen, “which enhances the performance and stability of the final batteries we produce.”

“This is just one example of how solar manufacturing could be a game changer for Australian industry, and allow us to export of high-value products derived from our nation’s biggest untapped resource—the sun,” Dr. Allen adds.