Japan's quest to turn snowdrifts into power sources
Rising electricity costs from traditional sources motivate scientists worldwide to search for more affordable, safe, and environmentally friendly solutions. One such innovative idea is being explored by Japan scientists attempting to convert snow into electricity.
These unusual plans were presented by The Japan Times. Researchers from the Japanese city of Aomori, located in the northern part of Honshu island, have begun studying electricity production from the snow accumulated there. This project aims not only to solve potential energy shortage problems but also to efficiently use the massive amounts of snow that fall in this, one of the snowiest cities in the world.
Is generating energy from snow possible?
According to the publication Interesting Engineering, Aomori is heavily covered with snow each year—from 7 to 8 metres annually. The Japan Times reports that in the previous fiscal year, which ended in March of last year, snow removal costs rose to record levels of 5.9 billion yen, approximately £10 million. The massive amounts of snow are usually removed by ploughs and trucks, then dumped into the sea. This is undoubtedly a time-consuming and costly process.
A team composed of scientists from the start-up Forte Co. and the University of Electro-Communications in Tokyo sees potential in another method of using snow, planning to convert it into electricity by utilising 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 an abandoned elementary school site basin, 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. This allows the turbine to spin and produce electricity.
Scientists' forecasts suggest snow energy production could achieve efficiency like 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, increasing the project's appeal. As noted by Jun Kasai, president of Forte Co., this innovative energy acquisition method could prove to be a solution for European countries struggling with the energy crisis caused by the war in Ukraine.
