UCLA Researchers Invent a Way to Generate Electriciity from Snow

That's neat if it produces meaningful amounts of power. I imagine it stops after a certain height of snowfall?
 
That's neat if it produces meaningful amounts of power. I imagine it stops after a certain height of snowfall?
Great question, but I don't know the answer. At this point, I'm fairly certain this is still in the R&D stage. You just don't know if it will work. I just skimmed the UCLA article, but they were doing somethign with this on the bottom of a shoe. I don't know if that was just to measure steps taken or if they could use the power to heat the shoes (which would be a cool application).

Guess I'll try to read it tomorrow...it's late and I gotta go to bed :sleep:
 
This will never produce any meaningful amount of electricity. Still it's a cool idea...
 
I mean, this really just sounds like a way to capture static electricity. So, any movement that generates static as a byproduct should be able to be tapped into. It doesn't seem like it's very much, though, but considering that the internet of things is getting lower and lower powered, it seems like it could become more and more useful.
 
This will never produce any meaningful amount of electricity. Still it's a cool idea...

It does in nature. Have you ever seen lightning during a snow or dust storm? I have. I think the problem will be to figure out a way to store the energy.
 
It does in nature. Have you ever seen lightning during a snow or dust storm? I have. I think the problem will be to figure out a way to store the energy.

That is the problem with almost all alternative generation methods. About 10 miles from where I live there is a small mountain with a reservoir on top. During the day they use solar panels to pump water from the nearby river up the mountain and at night they use that water to turn generators and return the water to the river. It's been in use for almost 50 years. In the old days they used the extra power from a now deactivated nuke plant to pump the water up. I'm surprised they don't invest in more of that sort of technology for grid energy storage.

Edit :I guess they don't use the solar panels to pump the water because it says they generate during the daytime and refill at night.
 
...how accessible silicone is—for five bucks you can buy a spray can of it at the hardware store as a lubricant
diggity.
 
That is the problem with almost all alternative generation methods. About 10 miles from where I live there is a small mountain with a reservoir on top. During the day they use solar panels to pump water from the nearby river up the mountain and at night they use that water to turn generators and return the water to the river. It's been in use for almost 50 years. In the old days they used the extra power from a now deactivated nuke plant to pump the water up. I'm surprised they don't invest in more of that sort of technology for grid energy storage.

Edit :I guess they don't use the solar panels to pump the water because it says they generate during the daytime and refill at night.

Duke Energy?
 
Duke Energy has two pumped-storage hydro electric plants. Figured you were near one of them. I think they're in SC though.
 
So snow is worth something now? Reminds me of a scene from a movie I watched in high school....

 
Hmm cross read the article.

So they use electrostatic event to generate electricity. Applied to solar roof looks like a good idea BUT solar roof in nordic weather isn't that great during winter so not popular.... (This is opinion, no fact or knowledge here. Just never see any where I live, nor any add for it)
Neat for isolated device in snowing areas but for mainstream... not so sure.

When I read the title I thought they would plow snow into a device and create more electricity than what's needed (whether it be physic or electric) to sustain it. What a bummer.

EDIT: Nicer application, if possible, would be to use this electrostatic charge to melt the snow !!!!!!! (ESD sensitive devices may not like that though)
 
I have a similar idea. I don’t want to go public right now, but if anyone knows of an unemployed cat herder, drop me a line.
 
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