4 ms·
This article doesn't appear to have been written by a native English speaker, so it feels like reading a Google Translate version of a news article. But if you
by jawns 6y ago
This article doesn't appear to have been written by a native English speaker, so it feels like reading a Google Translate version of a news article.
But if you're curious about the technology, here's a 2019 paper that details how it works:
https://www.cell.com/joule/fulltext/S2542-4351(19)30412-X https://www.cell.com/joule/fulltext/S2542-4351(19)30412-X
> We demonstrate a low-cost, modular mechanism of renewably generating meaningful amounts of electricity at night by harnessing the cold darkness of space. We use a passive cooling mechanism known as radiative sky cooling to maintain the cold side of a thermoelectric generator several degrees below ambient. The surrounding air heats the warm side of the thermoelectric generator, with the ensuing temperature difference converted into usable electricity.
- deleted 6y ago[deleted]
- jandrese 6y agoThat description makes it sound like it's going to be pitifully weak per square meter. First blush is that it's going to be too expensive and weak to be practical for general use. There might be some edge cases like distributed sensors were it could make sense, but even then a battery backed solar install is going to blow it away unless they've figured out a way to manufacture it almost for free.
- Ekaros 6y agoMeaningful as an effect. Not as energy generation solution. The probably optimistic future estimation of 0.5W/m^2 doesn't look too great to me. There is only so much energy to be gathered from delta of a few degrees... I wonder if this would ever reach parity during lifecycle of energy input to output.
- baybal2 6y agoThen, increase it. Mr. Carnot is there for your help :)