Could snow contribute to the generation of electricity? This is how a new study is proving it.
The search for a source of obtaining electrical energy in a sustainable way has become a differential option to understand the competitiveness of future companies. Currently, it is possible to enjoy various ways to leave behind the use of fossil fuels, but the truth is that there are still projects that can mark a before and after. Energy is neither created nor destroyed, it is only transformed. Making an analogy to this reference, is it possible to enjoy other alternatives of this kind?
Snow generally never It has been used as a means of obtaining electrical energy. Even so, there is a new research project underway that has, curiously, as its objective, its use. The lack of research has traditionally been related to the low profitability that could be obtained from the base incidence of heavy snowfall in most of the world. Now, what if we were in one of the areas with the highest amount of snow per square meter per year? Here is a differential line of research.
Let us see, therefore, which are the most interesting keys to understand why electric generation could be possible thanks to the use of an innovative system that could be standardized over the next few months, what would be the electricity capacity that could be obtained through this system and, of course, to what extent is this a revolutionary idea in the energy industry . The renewable energy sector could be about to add a new system with great potential in certain areas of the world geography.
Generating electricity by using snow could be possible in the future
Snow is a good that nature gives us in the winter seasons and that, beyond its possibilities in terms of leisure, becomes unusable waste. This could change in the future, as it could be used as a potential source of electricity. In the same way as with the use of abandoned mines, we are faced with a new proposal that is worth knowing. After all, to what extent are we facing an interesting proposal from the point of view of efficiency?
According to the information provided by Interesting Engineering, we are faced with a proposal that bases its differentiation on the accumulation of large portions of snow. The key to understanding the project lies in the provision of different temperatures between that which exists in the accumulation itself of the material and the one on the outside. Koji Enoki, one of the main references in this study, has stated that the greater the temperature differences, the greater the efficiency of power generation.
Apparently, the Japanese scientists will use large amounts of snow and outside air to drive a turbine that generates electricity. It should be noted that this is not a new project, since Previous research has been done on this system.. Now, however, it will be used in real conditions to check its level of efficiency. The key to understanding its potential commercial viability lies in the Japanese Aomori population. This region has concentrated, each year, accumulations of snow worth 8 meters.
Why can this type of installation take place exclusively in spaces with large concentrations of snow? Electricity generation requires a large volume of snow, so it is essential the creation of facilities with a lot of capacity. This means that, if it works, it can only be applicable to very specific points in the world. Japan, in this case, meets the established criteria, so the proposal will be tested to see what numbers are obtained.
It could be said that it is an interesting alternative that additionally requires the action of the sun’s rays. The more warmth they provide, the more a temperature difference will be achieved between the area present in the environment and the one with the snow itself. For these purposes, the pilot project will take place until March, so that in the coming weeks we could have all the conclusions of the study. We are, without a doubt, facing a technology that could make a notable contribution to answering the question of how to stop climate change.