Japan begins research to generate electricity from snow. This study was conducted to secure renewable energy sources and anticipate potential power shortages.
The city of Aomori, in Japan, experiences heavy snow every year. That is why, the excess volume of snow will try to be used to generate electricity.
The researchers conducted trials in a swimming pool at an elementary school to explore the feasibility of generating electricity from snow, by exploiting the difference in temperature between stored snow and the surrounding air.
Quoted from Kyodo News, this research is a collaborative project between local technology startup Forte Co. and the University of Electro-Communications in Tokyo. They are currently looking to power turbines with energy generated when liquid is cooled by stored snow, then vaporized by the hot air around it.
Power plants using snow are attracting attention for being an environmentally friendly, low cost and safe power source.
During this time, large amounts of Aomori's snow are dumped into the sea and elsewhere after being collected by snowmobiles. In the previous fiscal year, which ended in March 2022, snow removal costs ballooned to a record 5.9 billion yen after heavy snowfall.
"Snow is considered a nuisance and a waste. But we can make good use of it," said a spokesperson for city officials.
On Dec. 16, about 10 Forte workers placed insulation material in the pool to keep the snowdrifts cool. Further research into conserving snow as well as the amount of electricity that can be generated, will be carried out before electricity production begins next spring.
According to Forte, the challenges of this research include finding large-scale facilities to store snow as well as securing hot air during winter.
In order to achieve large temperature differences, the company will consider using heat from hot springs.
"It is a unique source of renewable energy in a region with heavy snow. It will also lead to the creation of a new industry," said Forte CEO Jun Kasai.