Scientists at UMass Amherst have figured out how to generate electricity from nothing but the air around us.
Electrical engineers Jun Yao and Derek Lovley developed a device, called ‘Air-gen’ or air-powered generator, that uses a natural protein to produce energy from humidity and moisture in the air. The new technology could revolutionize renewable energy and curb climate change by reducing fossil fuel use.
Yao said:
We are literally making electricity out of thin air. The Air-gen generates clean energy 24/7.
The Air-gen comprises tiny electrically conductive wires known as protein nanowires, which are produced by microbes. The device connects electrodes to the nanowires to generate electricity from water vapor in the air.
Yao explained:
The ultimate goal is to make large-scale systems. For example, the technology might be incorporated into wall paint that could help power your home. Or, we may develop stand-alone air-powered generators that supply electricity off the grid. Once we get to an industrial scale for wire production, I fully expect that we can make large systems that will make a major contribution to sustainable energy production.
The Air-gen, developed in Yao’s lab, is renewable, inexpensive, and non-polluting. According to the duo, the device can even generate power in regions where the humidity is extremely low, such as the Sahara Desert.
Finally, the Air-gen has advantages over wind and solar energy because it doesn’t need wind or sunlight, and it can even work indoors.
