By Aileen Hussain
Solar energy, when discovered by Edmond Becquerel, was the answer to expensive energy sources. However it had its own set of drawbacks, the biggest one being the fact that it is available only when the sun is out. Unfortunately, our planet today with all its modernity, has more “shady” places than sunny ones! So, some researchers and scientists at the National University of Singapore came up with a confounding solution of using shadows to generate electricity.
This new invention uses the incongruity and contrast between illuminated areas and shadows to generate electricity. Have you heard of thermocouples? They produce voltage when a difference in temperature is sensed. The SEG (shadow-effect energy generator) works in a similar way but by utilizing the contrast in light intensity instead of temperature. All you have to do is place half of the generator in light and the other half in the shade for maximum energy to be generated. To add to it, an ingenious device like this can create an unprecedented impact in the modern world considering that shadows are everywhere!
Furthermore, the inventors claim that this device generated roughly twice as much power per surface area as the commercially available solar cells, proving itself to be more efficient. It is made up of 4 SEG cells arranged on a flexible and transparent plastic film, with each cell covered in a thin film of gold deposited on a silicon wafer.
Imagine what life would be like in the near future if we could have an energy source that is wearable, long lasting and works both indoors and outdoors. The SEG makes this possible and can be used to power watches. The greatest advantage of this invention is that it is not dependent on non-renewable resources or for that matter even renewable resources like the sun. Absolutely any variation in illumination produces a direct current, thus making it available for use even indoors. The scientist working on this, Swee Ching Tan, is right when he says “A lot of people think that shadows are useless, but anything can be useful, even shadows!
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