In recent years, research in the field of renewable energy has made great strides in the constant search for new sources of energy. One of these innovations, which has begun to generate great interest, is the hygroelectricity, a type of energy that is generated from the humidity in the airThis concept, derived from the ability of certain materials to generate an electrical charge in response to changes in humidity, is under development and could revolutionize the way we obtain energy.
What is Hydroelectricity?
La hygroelectricity, Also known as hydroelectric power, is an innovative method for generating electricity by taking advantage of ambient humidity. Unlike other renewable energies such as solar or wind, it does not depend on specific climatic factors such as direct sunlight or wind. Hygroscopic materials are the key to this phenomenon, as they are capable of absorbing water molecules in the environment and generating a potential difference that produces electricity.
This breakthrough, which was born from pioneering studies at universities such as the University of Massachusetts (UMass) and Campinas (Brazil), has opened up new possibilities in the field of renewable energy. It has been shown that certain materials, such as graphene oxide (GO) to protein nanowires, can generate an electrical charge when in contact with moisture.
In the case of graphene oxide, water molecules adhering to its surface create a potential difference that allows the generation of electric current when connected to an external circuit. This was a key discovery, as it was thought that the materials required sunlight to generate electricity. Hydroelectricity does not have these meteorological restrictions., making it a very promising solution for the future.
How Does Hydroelectricity Work?
The process that allows electricity to be generated from humidity is based on the interaction between hygroscopic materials and water molecules in the environment. These materials, as mentioned before, have the ability to absorb water and generate a load difference. En el CATCHER project, funded by the European Union, has shown that water in the atmosphere can accumulate electrical charges after coming into contact with dust particles that are also in the air. The interaction between these particles and the moisture droplets generates a small potential difference, which, when large enough, allows a useful electrical current to be obtained.
Main Materials
One of the most used materials for this type of energy are the protein nanowires grown from geobacter sulfurreducens, a bacterium capable of transferring electrons in contact with moisture. The device air gene Developed by UMass Amherst, it works by connecting these nanowires to tiny electrodes to generate electricity from thin air.
Another promising example is the use of graphene oxide (GO), a material that has demonstrated a great capacity to generate electric charges. When water molecules from the atmosphere adhere to the surface of GO, a charge difference is produced that causes the flow of electrons towards the water molecules, generating an electric current.
Electrodes and Nanopores
The arrangement of the electrodes also plays a crucial role in improving the efficiency of hygroelectricity. In fact, they use conductive metals such as Platinum, gold o plata to improve the efficiency of electricity capture.
In addition, the structure of the material also has a direct impact on its ability to generate energy. Recent research has shown that by creating nanopores In these materials (i.e. tiny perforations less than 100 nanometers), the amount of moisture collected and therefore the amount of energy produced can be increased.
Future Applications of Hydroelectricity
Although the technology is still in a development stage, its potential is very high. In the short term, applications are already being explored to feed small devices such as smart watches, medical sensors and IoT devices. These systems are ideal for hygroelectricity because they require very little energy and are often used in places where moisture is always present, such as the interiors of homes or buildings.
In the more distant future, large-scale applications could be considered. Research such as the HUNTER project are focused on developing materials and devices that can transform the energy of moisture into much larger quantities. For example, the integration of these devices is planned in solar to operate at night, when solar energy is not available.
In places with high humidity levels, such as tropical environments, these hygroelectric collectors They could be installed in homes to generate a continuous source of environmentally friendly energy. In addition, their 24/7 availability overcomes the intermittency of other renewable sources such as solar energy and wind energy.
Current Research and Challenges
One of the current challenges in the development of hygroelectricity technology is the ScalabilityThe amount of energy produced by a single device is relatively small, so researchers are looking for ways to stack multiple units or improve materials to increase the power generated.
El Catcher project is working on a prototype panel that measures 1 square meter and can produce up to 20W/m2. While this is not enough to power an entire home, it is a big step towards commercial viability. In the long term, combining this technology with other forms of energy generation could lead to a more diversified and sustainable energy infrastructure.
The choice of materials remains an important aspect. Nanomaterials are expensive and have not yet reached the industrial scalability necessary for large-scale commercialization. However, advances in nanotechnology continue to open doors to developing more economical and efficient devices.
Interest in hydroelectricity continues to grow, with investment from organizations such as the European Union In projects like CATCHER, he points out that there are great expectations placed on this emerging technology.
Hydroelectricity is still in its early stages of development, but it promises to be one of the key technologies in the renewable energy spectrum. As researchers continue to refine materials and techniques, we may soon see practical applications that could change the way we obtain and use energy.
Big unknowns arise for me.
I would like to know if this procedure affects the clouds?
to its natural formation, autonomy, quality or durability?
We know that they regulate ecosystems by providing water for all kinds of life.
Among other things, they help prevent the planet from overheating.
I share the urgent need to switch to non-polluting renewable energy;
but I think this is going to damage the clouds, damaging their creation and qualities.
A smaller amount of clouds will bring us worse problems:
further accelerate global warming and destroy
soil fertility (jungles, forests, crops, livestock),
rivers (aquifer life, droughts), etc. turning them into desert areas.
I want to think that this is not another business of some opportunist;
that in order to obtain financing and great profits deceives people,
with arguments endorsed by a group of mercenary scientists.
I would like to highlight something more important, to inform and discuss:
I say that only clean energies with zero emissions are not enough.
If we keep injecting more and more energy, it has to come out somewhere ……
I mean that temperature will accumulate in large quantities,
wearing down and piercing our beloved atmosphere even more.
Perhaps energy can be infinitely added without affecting
environment; even if it is renewable and clean?
I remember a balloon that is blown up to bursting or a pressure cooker that is uncovered.