“I’ve got the power; I’ve got the power; Hey, yeah-hey.” You could also have the power, or energy, sooner and much easier than you think. Sounds too good to be true? Well, a new device has been engineered that will result in everyone having the power, and not just the Eurodance Group called Snap! Thanks to this major scientific breakthrough, humanity’s invisible power source has finally arrived, and it is from air to energy. It is a clean power revolution, and it will never be the same after this.
A clean power revolution out of thin air
The world has joined forces in an attempt to fight climate change. Why is climate change seen as the “big, bad wolf?” According to the United Nations (UN), climate change results in extreme weather events, increasing temperatures, rising sea levels, and ecosystem disruptions. All of these are detrimental to the environment, human health, and economies.
The biggest contributors to climate change are greenhouse gas emissions, which are the result of burning fossil fuels. According to the UN, fossil fuels account for more than 75% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and almost 90% of all carbon emissions. The best alternatives to fossil fuels are renewable energy sources, which traditionally include solar and wind power. Now, thanks to innovative scientists, a new device could provide us with clean power out of thin air.
The invisible power source from air to energy
It may sound stranger than fiction, but it is true, we could soon be powering the world with an invisible renewable energy source. There have been many pioneering renewable technologies on the market, such as this one that gives you power with just water. But there aren’t many that will come close to this one that can create power with just air.
According to a study published in the journal Advanced Materials, a small device can produce power from the air’s humidity from nearly any substance. The Earth has a large supply of humidity, or water vapor, in its air. This device can thus function virtually anywhere on the planet, and at any time of day.
How it works
Two electrodes and a thin material must be covered with holes smaller than 100 nanometers in diameter. Water molecules move through the device from top to bottom, knocking against the edges of the small holes. This results in an electric charge imbalance between the layered chambers. The device thus operates like a battery in effect. According to Inverse, this process is similar to the clouds’ lightning bolt generation.
Mixed emotions about the man-made cloud
The new small device is still in its initial stages, and currently only produces power equivalent to a fraction of a volt. However, the scientists have high hopes of it becoming a feasible, sustainable power source someday.
“The entire Earth is covered with a thick layer of humidity. It’s an enormous source of clean energy. This is just the beginning in making use of that.” – Yao
Mixed emotions
Donald Sadoway, an MIT materials chemist, is not sure what to make of the device, since it’s uncertain what practical numbers it could deliver. Others doubt it can be scaled up enough.
James Tour, Rice University chemist, believes it is remarkable and may have “an enormous impact.”
Many other scientists have tried utilizing humidity to produce power, but they have experienced mixed results. Operation time was either short, or the materials were too expensive. These innovative scientists, however, will be using their more cost-effective design and stacking the devices to generate more power. According to the scientists, only time will tell whether these devices will become competitive with traditional renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, and their respective technologies.