Great inventions come from wild ideas, and the wildest of ideas sometimes stem from the silliest moments. Imagine visiting the beach and thinking that somewhere deep in the sea, there could be a new energy source rising. Well, the origin of this new energy source’s idea could remain a mystery forever, but experts believe that this new technology could be 100 times more powerful than we imagined. Not only does it produce power, but it also uses carbon dioxide. It could be revolutionary!
Turning away from traditional power production
The world has been transitioning to renewable energy sources for quite some time now, with wind and solar power being at the forefront. One particular source that has not been a regular power source is biomass. According to the IEA, biomass is a renewable organic material derived from recently living plants and animals, used to generate heat, power, and biofuels.
According to SynTech Bioenergy, this renewable source has several disadvantages, which is why it has remained primarily untapped until now. The disadvantages include, but are not limited to:
- Air and water pollution
- Greenhouse gas emissions
- Deforestation
- Habit destruction
- High costs and inefficiency
A research team at the Optical-Bio Microsystems Lab of Concordia University has discovered a new energy source that, according to experts, could be 100 times more powerful than traditional bioenergy. It could change the way we think about the renewable power source forever!
A new energy source that is 100 times more powerful than imagined
Muthukumaran Packirisamy, a professor in Concordia’s Mechanical, Industrial and Aerospace Engineering department and a researcher who heads the lab, and his team found an approach to harvest electrons from algae and then produce electricity. According to Packirisamy, their inspiration came from the process in plants called photosynthesis.
This is not the first time researchers have turned to photosynthesis for inspiration, as researchers have engineered a device that mimics plants to produce power. However, Packirisamy and his team zoomed in on the process of photosynthesis. Photos and electrons are converted during photosynthesis, meaning that algae take up a photon and release an electron in the process.
How it works
Algae are placed in “micro-ponds,” which Packirisamy referred to as photosynthetic electrical microcells. The team placed microelectrodes between the microcells, which can capture electrons and transfer them into a circuit, thus generating electricity. The team demonstrated the phenomenon with a photosynthetic electrical microcell measuring about one inch by one inch.
Additional benefits of this new technology
Algae panels could address several of the traditional bioenergy’s disadvantages. They are very beneficial, not only by producing clean power, but also by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. According to the Montreal Gazette, these algae panels have the following additional benefits:
- Produces energy at a decreased cost
- They are stackable, which can increase power output
- They only use simple microfluidics and organic polymer during manufacturing
- Versatile applications
- They can also produce electricity at night
“Algae follow two types of cycles In addition to photosynthesis during the day, there is a “breathing cycle of respiration at night when there is no so sun. Electrons are produced during both processes. That means we can siphon electrons day and night.” – Packirisamy
The research team is considering commercializing their discovery. Packirisamy has several application concepts, from installing panels on buildings to producing algae panels that can be used for windows or creative works. This could give a new meaning to the green facades that are turning buildings into generators. Should the team manage to receive the required funding and developers with “the right mentality,” Packirisamy believes they could achieve commercialization in the next three to five years.