The sun and the wind are two natural phenomena that are most often used to generate renewable energy. However, the city in the northern part of Japan believes that for this purpose it can “master” an abandoned resource, which is sufficient here – snow, writes the “Nikkei” publication, which is quoted by BTA.
An experiment with the new technology will begin in December in the city of Aomori, known for its heavy snowfall, and will continue until March. The test will be conducted in collaboration with local information technology start-up company Forte and the Tokyo University of Electronic Communications.
Every year, Aomori spends tens of millions of dollars to clear the roads of snow. It is usually dumped into the ocean.
Employees plan to collect cleared snow in the closed school pool.
Pipes for heat transfer will be placed in the snow, a source of cold air. At the same time, the outside air is heated by the sun. Electricity will be produced due to the temperature difference between the snow and the outside air.
The system was developed by Koji Enoki of the Tokyo University of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. It is believed that this process can produce electricity as efficiently as solar energy.
Employees plan to collect the removed snow in the pool of the closed school.
“The greater the temperature difference, the higher the energy production efficiency,” says Enoki.
Researchers also believe that snow energy has a lower environmental impact than other forms of renewable energy. Melted snow can be disposed of like normal sewage.
The idea of obtaining electricity from the snow was taken from a European start-up company that uses sand for this.