Dr. Swee Ching Tan uses a remote-controlled vehicle to test the shadow effect device
Singapore:
Scientists in Singapore are hoping to develop a new method of producing electricity that is largely shaded, in the hope that it may one day help highly urbanized cities to self-feed.
The shadow effect energy generator (SEG) developed by the National University of Singapore has the potential to harness energy like solar cells, but without the need for open spaces with uninterrupted light.
To function effectively, SEG requires both light and dark and, like solar panels, relies on light to shine on silicon to energize electrons.
However, by using panels that have a thin layer of gold, silver, platinum or tungsten, the difference in light intensity pushes the electrons from the lighted areas towards the shade, creating electricity in the areas shaded.
“Our shadow effect generator is very handy. It can be placed in these areas to collect obstructed light,” said Dr. Swee Ching Tan, head of the research team.
Research is still in its infancy, but Tan’s team is already considering the potential for starting a business to make SEG available for home use.
The panels that the team tested measure approximately 6 cm2 and are capable of producing only 0.25 volts, which means that around twenty are needed to power a bulb or charge a mobile phone.
The ideal environment to use would be cities, said Tan, with constantly changing levels of light and shade throughout the day from clusters of tall buildings and the changing position of the sun in the sky.
“It is not practical to place solar cells in such cities. Thus, the device could be useful in places like very densely populated cities, where skyscrapers are everywhere, where the shadows are always persistent” said Tan.
(Reporting by Joseph Campbell; Editing by Martin Petty and Christopher Cushing)
(This story has not been edited by GalacticGaming staff and is automatically generated from a syndicated feed.)
