The sun, water and wind are the essential components that keep the earth moving without polluting the planet. Get sustainable energy In a world where burning oil or coal is no longer an option for human development, this is not only an urgent need, but a necessity. And in this search for natural energy alternatives, profit is starting to show its true potential.
Snow has never been used as a means of obtaining energy. It is not surprising as it is not a resource that all parts of the world benefit from. However, it is possible to use this element in places where it stains the streets throughout the year, and it can also bring relief to the public coffers. From there, a new project emerges, spearheaded by Japanese researchers, that emphasizes the transformation of snow into energy. one of the most profitable cities on the planet: Aomori.
Located between the Hakkōda Mountains and Mutsues Bay, this northern Japanese coastal city is home to approximately 300,000 people. the average annual snowfall is about eight meters thick throughout the year. The intensity of the snowfall and the need for constant snowfall to create life in the city led them to think about what they could do with all the material they had thrown away.
It is necessary to take into account the enormous logistical efforts this entails; Last year alone, 5,900 million yen, about 42 million euros, was allocated to remove profits. In addition, they have to close several sections of the national highway during the winter and cannot reopen until spring.
a solution is born
Researchers at Tokyo University of Electro-Communications (UEC) and startup TI Forte seem to have found a solution. Scientists used an abandoned old swimming pool in the city and powered it there to store snow and create a new electricity generation system..
The idea is to use large amounts of cold snow as opposed to outside air to power an electricity-generating turbine. In other words, the key to electricity generation lies in temperature contrast. “The greater the temperature difference between the external and internal areas, the higher the efficiency in electricity generation., says Koji Enoki, one of the researchers who led this study. Although it is not a new project, it is being tried for the first time.
For their testing, heat transfer tubes are installed in snow, where the temperature is opposite to the temperature of the outside air heated by the sun. The purpose is to generate current in a turbine system.
The researchers hope their convection current-based system will offer the same efficiency as solar installations. Of course, with greater profitability.
However, this energy production also has obstacles. And this Not valid worldwide, only in those with high snow concentrations. Electricity generation requires a large amount of profit and facilities to cover this large amount, so it can only be applied to very specific parts of the world.. Therefore, Japan is an ideal area to test this new technology. The pilot project was launched last March, so the results of this study will be known shortly.
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