Hygroelectricity: Possible New Energy Source

HYGROELECTRICITY: Scientists may be able to capture the electricity in the atmosphere's water for use. (Patrick Pleul/Getty Images )

A possible new energy source—electricity stored in water in the atmosphere—has been discovered, according to a team of scientists from the University of Campinas in Brazil.

The scientists presented their research Wednesday at the 240th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS) in Boston. The energy has been dubbed hygroelectricity, which means humidity electricity.

“Our research could pave the way for turning electricity from the atmosphere into an alternative energy source for the future,” said research leader Dr. Fernando Galembeck in a press release. “Just as solar energy could free some households from paying electric bills, this promising new energy source could have a similar effect.”

Since the 19th century, scientists have been studying whether water can store and discharge electricity. In the past, it was believed that water could not store and release electric charges. But in 1840, some workers in the U.K. reported that when they touched the steam coming out of boilers, they got painful electric shocks, leading researchers to study the subject.

“I don’t dispute the IUPAC statement for the principle of electroneutrality,” Galembeck told New Scientist, “but it is seldom applicable to real substances.”

In 2009, Dr. Kate Ovchinnikova and Dr. Gerald Pollack of the University of Washington published a paper, confirming that water can store electrical charges. Now, Galembeck’s research provides further evidence suggesting that water droplets in the atmosphere can pick up the charges.

The researchers simulated water’s contact with silica and aluminum phosphate particles, which are common in the air. They found that as the humidity increased, silica particles became more negatively charged, while aluminum phosphate became more positively charged. The findings suggested that the water exchanged electric charges with the particles.

“This was clear evidence that water in the atmosphere can accumulate electrical charges and transfer them to other materials it comes into contact with,” Galembeck said.

Based on this experiment, he said that it may be possible to create electricity collectors to capture hygroelectricity and make use of it, just like how solar cells work.

“If we know how electricity builds up and spreads in the atmosphere, we can also prevent death and damage caused by lightning strikes,” Galembeck said.

His research team, which is testing metals to find those that work best in capturing hygroelectricity, envision placing hygroelectric panels on top of buildings to remove electric charges in the atmosphere of areas with frequent thunderstorms.

“We certainly have a long way to go, but the benefits in the long range of harnessing hygroelectricity could be substantial,” Galembeck said.