Generating light from darkness New device generates electricity from the cold night sky

[applegrove]

Generating light from darkness

New device generates electricity from the cold night sky

https://www.cbc.ca/radio/quirks/generating-light-from-darkness-1.5282365

Bob McDonald · CBC Radio

"SNIP.....


Scientists in California have developed a device that can power a light bulb using energy that flows from the ground into space at night. This technology could fill in the gap left by solar panels that only work during the day.

One problem with solar panels is they only produce electricity when the sun shines, so they're not providing power during the long hours of night when electricity is needed to keep the lights on. Batteries can be added to store the solar energy for night time use, but that increases cost. 

This is particularly an issue in remote off-grid areas or for people in the developing world who can't afford the extra expense of batteries. This new, extremely low cost approach works like a solar panel in reverse, by literally capturing energy from darkness. 

Taking advantage of losing heat to the night sky

Researchers at the University of California Los Angeles and Stanford University took advantage of a principle called radiative cooling, which happens at night as the Earth radiates heat into space that it had absorbed during the day. This process can actually cause the ground to become colder than the air, which is how frost can form on grass over night when the air temperature is still above freezing. That temperature difference between an object exposed to the night sky and the air that is used to produce electricity.


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[brush]

1. Great news but it seems this is only for colder climates not tropical and sub-tropical climes.

[applegrove]

2. They cool down at night in places like the Sahara. I mean even tropics cool down

after rain and at night.