Scientists To Develop A Device That Generates Electricity From Snowfall

A Snow-based Device

Scientists at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) have developed a brand new device which creates electricity by collecting charge from a plentiful source: snowfall.  The device is small, thin, flexible as a plastic sheet, and most importantly, inexpensive.

According to one of the major researchers of the study:

As mentioned in Popular Science, these researchers expected that a more developed version of this device could supply power for portable weather stations, as well as help to maintain the electronics during a snowstorm while solar power isn’t available.

How Does It Work?

Researchers call this amazing device a snow-based triboelectric nanogenerator, so-called snow-TENG. This snow-TENG generates charge via static electricity and then creates energy through the electrons exchange. Snow has a positive charge and emits electrons. Meanwhile, silicone has a negative charge and receives the electrons. Therefore, when the snow falls on the silicone, electricity is created and collected. Kaner said:

A Proof Of Concept

In fact, since its power output remaining low, this invention is, somehow, still a “proof of concept” experiment. However, the researchers believed that with further study, its potential  could be immeasurable. Maher El-Kady, a UCLA postdoctoral researcher, said: