The Energy Technology Division

摘要

Energy technology is the science and technology of energy conversion and storage. The mission of the Energy Technology Division (ETD) is the encourage and stimulate research and development on new and existing technologies that will improve efficiency, reduce energy use, lower costs, and result in a cleaner environment. Within the Society, the focus is clearly on electrochemical methods of energy conversion and storage. These include fuel cells, photovoltaics, thermoelectric devices, supercapacitors, and the like. Energy storage and conversion are as essential today as at the time of the energy crisis when the Division was first begun, or at the turn of the century when the Society was formed. Although The Electrochemical Society focuses on the electrochemical aspects of energy technology, its activity is clearly and profoundly driven by technologies outside of electrochemistry. Decades after the Energy Crisis, fossil fuels are still king. For example, more than half of the electricity generated in the United States today comes from coal. Electrochemical systems for energy conversion are slowly entering the market, but costs are still high, limiting acceptance.