The era of personalised energy systems - in which individual
homes and small businesses produce their own energy for heating,
cooling and powering cars - took another step toward reality
today as scientists reported discovery of a powerful new
catalyst that is a key element in such a system. They described
the advance, which could help free homes and businesses from
dependence on the electric company and the corner gasoline
station, at a meeting of the American Chemical Society. 'Our
goal is to make each home its own power station,' said study
leader Daniel Nocera, Ph.D. 'We're working toward development of
'personalised' energy units that can be manufactured,
distributed and installed inexpensively. There certainly are
major obstacles to be overcome - existing fuel cells and solar
cells must be improved, for instance. Nevertheless, one can
envision villages in India and Africa not long from now
purchasing an affordable basic system.' Such a system would
consist of rooftop solar energy panels to produce elect