Japanese scientists explore snow-based energy innovation
Rising electricity costs from traditional sources motivate scientists worldwide to search for more affordable, safe, and environmentally friendly solutions. An innovative idea being explored by scientists in Japan involves converting snow into electricity.
The Japan Times reported on these unusual plans. Researchers in the Japanese city of Aomori, located in the northern part of Honshu Island, have started studying how to produce electricity from the snow accumulated there. This project aims to address potential energy shortages and efficiently use the massive amounts of snow that fall in one of the snowiest cities in the world.
Is generating energy from snow possible?
According to Interesting Engineering, Aomori is heavily covered with snow yearly—around 7 to 8 metres annually. The Japan Times reports that in the previous fiscal year, which ended in March 2022, snow removal costs reached a record of 5.9 billion yen, approximately 66 million Canadian dollars. Plows and trucks usually remove the massive amounts of snow and then dumped into the sea, making the process both time-consuming and costly.
A team of scientists from the start-up Forte Co. and the University of Electro-Communications in Tokyo sees potential in a different method of using snow, planning to convert it into electricity by utilizing the temperature difference between the accumulated snow and the surrounding air. In December 2022, they began experiments with this approach. They plan to use large amounts of accumulated snow and outside air to power a turbine to generate energy.
How are the Japanese generating energy from snow?
The stored snow was placed in a basin at an abandoned elementary school site, insulated with materials to maintain the appropriate temperature. The differences between the humid, cold air from the snow and the air heated by the sun are key to generating convective power for the turbines. Researchers introduced special pipes for thermal circulation around the snow, allowing the turbine to spin and produce electricity.
Scientists forecast that snow energy production could achieve efficiency similar to solar power plants. The main challenge remains to store the snow and to achieve significant temperature differences. Therefore, Japanese researchers also plan to incorporate heat from hot springs into their strategies, enhancing the project's appeal. As noted by Jun Kasai, president of Forte Co., this innovative energy acquisition method could be a solution for European countries struggling with the energy crisis caused by the war in Ukraine.
