Could infrared be our next renewable energy source?

[ScienceRocks]

Could infrared be our next renewable energy source?

Could infrared be our next renewable energy source? | DVICE

The Earth is constantly releasing hundreds of millions of gigawatts of infrared radiation (heat) into space. Heat from its core, heat from animals, heat from humans grilling hot dogs, latent heat from the Sun, it all adds up. Imagine if even a tiny bit of that radiation could be somehow converted into a renewable power source. That’s the question that a team of Harvard physicists recently posed to themselves, and in the process, they developed a device that could harvest infrared energy and convert it to DC power.

This idea might seem crazy, but with advances in nanotechnology, graphene and smaller electronics, the Harvard team now believes it’s possible to harness infrared power. The proposed device to do this is similar to a standard solar panel, but the team’s panels are not designed to capture sunlight, but to release infrared light, generating power. This panel would have two plates: one close to the ground that sucks up infrared energy from the Earth, and another cooler one on top that emits it. Because of the heat difference between the two plates, you can use them to do work, like generating electricity.

The solution to solar panels only working during the day....Maybe have a mixture of these and solar panels...

 

[Delta4Embassy]

Neat. Now they need to tackle battery and capacitors so we can harness lightning strikes. Such systems atop every building capturing and utilizing the energy in an average bolt could power than entire building for some time. The rapid infusion of the energy destroys existing batteries and capacitors. Need to figure out a 'rapid charge' system. Or at least, come up with ones that can harness even fractions of a bolt's wattage without being destroyed.

 

[elektra]

no, IR can not be a renewable energy source because there is no such thing as Renewable, its a simpleton political catch phrase, nothing is renewable if you must use non-renewable resources at a greater rate to produce less energy.

This will be more research dollars redistributed and taken from proven resources that actually help the human race. Less money for the good, more money for the bad

 

[Politico]

No.

 

[Moonglow]

IR is being used for Missile guidance and pot location,,,,The capacitors are large, one of our funny jokes we would pull on new techs was to have them short out a screwdriver across a large capacitor after running the targeting device. The cap would pop loudly as the screwdriver touched the leads....

 

[Kosh]

Could infrared be our next renewable energy source?

Nope! Causes AGW, not allowed.

 

[flacaltenn]

The good news Matthew?? Conversion devices are likely to be far more efficient and cheaper than Solar broadband PV panels.

The really sucky news?? All the hype about this energy being persistent and reliable and renewable? It's bogus.. We are brainwashed by GWarming to think in terms of AVERAGED IR energy emissions from the surface. But the ACTUAL emissions are quite sketchy in most locations..

The AVERAGE IR emissions are about 1/4 of solar insolation.. AND they are dependent on surface temp.
1/2 inch of snow or ice will pretty much destroy any long-lasting emissions at night. And if the ground is COLD -- the production goes down.. Winter would be a bummer for IR electricity production..

Wouldn't be surprised if annualized production limits turned out to be 1/10 of a solar panel..
Scavenging for waste heat is a desperate measure.. And not all that useful for running a supermarket.