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Renewable Energy Engineering have now successfully tested a device that can convert infrared heat into electrical power. The team, which included individuals from the ARC Centre of Excellence in Exciton Science, used a power-generation tool called a “thermo-radiative diode,” which is comparable to the technology found in night-vision goggles. The study was published in ACS Photonics on May 9th.

“The same principles apply to solar power – the sun provides the hot source and a relatively cool solar panel on the Earth’s surface provides a cold absorber. This allows electricity to be produced. However, when we think about the infrared emission from the Earth into outer space, it is now the Earth that is the comparatively warm body, with the vast void of space being extremely cold. ”

“By the same principles of thermodynamics, it is possible to generate electricity from this temperature difference too: the emission of infrared light into space.”

Norwegian researcher Rune Strandberg first explored the theoretical possibility of such a device, and researchers at Stanford University are investigating alternative approaches to capturing thermal energy at night.

The amount of energy produced through this new test is small (roughly equivalent to 0.001% of a solar cell), but the proof of concept is significant.