Creating Electricity from (No So)Thin Air

A majority of the world’s power is generated from fossil fuels, but progressive science keeps providing a shopping list of new alternatives – the latest offers something fantastic: generating electricity from the atmosphere.

The idea behind the device, called the Air-gen, relies on conductive protein nanowires to create electricity from captured humid air. Each wire is less than 10 microns – one thousandth of a millimetre – and are thick and partially exposed to the air for maximum efficiency.

The Air-gen was created by microbiologist, Dr Derek Lovley, and electrical engineer Dr Jun Yao – both from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Even in its prototype stage, the device can power small electronics, and could even generate electricity in arid places such as the Sahara Desert.

Dr Yao said: “The ultimate goal is to make large-scale systems. For example, the technology might be incorporated into wall-paint that could help power your home … I fully expect that we can make large systems that will make a major contribution to sustainable energy production.”