Harvesting renewable energy from Earth's mid-infrared emissions

S. J. Byrnes; R. Blanchard; F. Capasso

doi:10.1073/pnas.1402036111

Harvesting renewable energy from Earth's mid-infrared emissions

S. J. Byrnes, R. Blanchard, F. Capasso

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

151 Scopus citations

Abstract

It is possible to harvest energy from Earth's thermal infrared emission into outer space. We calculate the thermodynamic limit for the amount of power available, and as a case study, we plot how this limit varies daily and seasonally in a location in Oklahoma. We discuss two possible ways to make such an emissive energy harvester (EEH): A thermal EEH (analogous to solar thermal power generation) and an optoelectronic EEH (analogous to photovoltaic power generation). For the latter, we propose using an infrared-frequency rectifying antenna, and we discuss its operating principles, efficiency limits, system design considerations, and possible technological implementations.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	3927-3932
Number of pages	6
Journal	Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Volume	111
Issue number	11
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1402036111
State	Published - Mar 3 2014
Externally published	Yes

Bibliographical note

KAUST Repository Item: Exported on 2020-10-01
Acknowledged KAUST grant number(s): CRG-1-2012-FRA-005-HAR
Acknowledgements: We thank John Dykema and Roger O’Brient for helpful discussions. The authors acknowledge support from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (Award CRG-1-2012-FRA-005-HAR).
This publication acknowledges KAUST support, but has no KAUST affiliated authors.

UN SDGs

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10.1073/pnas.1402036111

Cite this

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title = "Harvesting renewable energy from Earth's mid-infrared emissions",

abstract = "It is possible to harvest energy from Earth's thermal infrared emission into outer space. We calculate the thermodynamic limit for the amount of power available, and as a case study, we plot how this limit varies daily and seasonally in a location in Oklahoma. We discuss two possible ways to make such an emissive energy harvester (EEH): A thermal EEH (analogous to solar thermal power generation) and an optoelectronic EEH (analogous to photovoltaic power generation). For the latter, we propose using an infrared-frequency rectifying antenna, and we discuss its operating principles, efficiency limits, system design considerations, and possible technological implementations.",

author = "Byrnes, {S. J.} and R. Blanchard and F. Capasso",

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doi = "10.1073/pnas.1402036111",

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AU - Blanchard, R.

AU - Capasso, F.

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AB - It is possible to harvest energy from Earth's thermal infrared emission into outer space. We calculate the thermodynamic limit for the amount of power available, and as a case study, we plot how this limit varies daily and seasonally in a location in Oklahoma. We discuss two possible ways to make such an emissive energy harvester (EEH): A thermal EEH (analogous to solar thermal power generation) and an optoelectronic EEH (analogous to photovoltaic power generation). For the latter, we propose using an infrared-frequency rectifying antenna, and we discuss its operating principles, efficiency limits, system design considerations, and possible technological implementations.

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JO - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

JF - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

IS - 11

ER -

Harvesting renewable energy from Earth's mid-infrared emissions

Abstract

Bibliographical note

UN SDGs

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