Scientists will make new advances in solar power systems that generate electricity even at night in 2022. This study, from the University of New South Wales (UNSW), sounds like fiction, but today it’s fact. The system works by utilizing heat that is converted into infrared light after sunset. Such ideas are currently being proven on Earth, but are also being adapted for space adaptations.
Thermal radiation power generation takes advantage of the coolness of the night
A breakthrough innovation is the means of semiconductor devices that can be used as heat-emitting diodes. The materials used in the device are almost the same as night vision goggles. Therefore, it absorbs heat from the coldness of the night into the earth. When the Earth radiates its heat into the colder space outside, this infrared radiation is captured and later converted into electricity.
Dr. Phoebe Pearce, one of the researchers on the project, explains the principle: “Just as solar cells capture energy from the sun (a very hot object) to generate electricity, thermal emitting diodes similarly use infrared radiation that is emitted into the body. A much colder environment is the power source. It is the source.”
Therefore, in both cases, the temperature difference is the driving force for power generation. It can generate electricity, albeit at a level 100,000 times lower than what traditional solar panels can produce. However, it provided an “unambiguous demonstration of electricity,” in other words, the production of electricity by this theoretical process, which was previously thought to be impossible.
Thermal radiation revolution in space missions at UNSW: Revolutionary change
The UNSW team sees great potential for this technology in space applications. Satellites and spacecraft in low Earth orbit experience daylight and darkness every 90 minutes. Traditional solar cells power these spacecraft during the day, and the batteries can only be used at night. But thermally emitting diodes offer a new mode of power generation while experiencing the darkness of space.
According to project leader Professor Ned Ekins Doakes, this approach has historical significance. “The first silicon solar cell was demonstrated in 1953, and in 1958 They powered the first solar satellite by 2012. These batteries are now generating large amounts of electricity at home. Similarly, there are plans to send heat-emitting diodes into space within two years. The new technology is expected to help spacecraft reduce dependence on bulky batteries, making missions more effective and sustainable (like this mission, which operates in the dark indoors).
Utilizing human heat: Battery-less energy storage revolution
In addition to space applications, the UNSW team is also looking at using the technology for future energy generation on Earth. The new materials being developed can be manufactured more easily, opening the possibility of making this system available in large quantities and at an affordable price.
These heat-emitting diodes could eventually power wearable devices such as watches, or even create electrical energy from human body heat without a functioning battery. Professor Ekins-Dawkes said: “In the future, this technology could help capture that energy and eliminate the need for batteries in certain devices, or even recharge them.”
This technology is a breakthrough in renewable energy, opening the door to power generation even when traditional solar energy sources cannot provide commercial power. A thermally emitting diode invented by researchers in New South Wales is not just a groundbreaking scientific achievement, it also shows the future potential of renewable energy.
This technology is unlocking the untapped energy potential of infrared light, from powering spacecraft in orbit to everyday products on Earth, such as this product and futuristic design that provides free energy to your home. are all shown. As New South Wales explores this new frontier, nearly limitless avenues for clean, sustainable energy generation continue to be explored, promising a brighter and more innovative future for all.
