Research from UNSW University (Australia) shows that the earth's radiant infrared heat can be used to generate electricity, even after sunset, in the same way that the earth cools by radiating it into space at night.

Although the amount of electricity generated at this stage is very small, about 100,000 times less than that generated by solar panels, the researchers believe the results can be improved in the future.

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Thermal imaging camera highlights the heat radiating from Sydney Harbour. Photo: UNSW Sydney

Energy hits the Earth during the day as sunlight and warms the planet. At night, the same energy is radiated back into space as infrared light and electricity can be harnessed in this process, said Associate Professor Ned Ekins-Daukes.

According to Dr. Phoebe Pearce, when there is a flow of energy, it can be converted into different forms. The process of converting sunlight directly into electricity, developed by humans to convert solar energy into electricity. The process of thermal radiation is similar, transferring energy in infrared rays from the warm earth into the cold universe.

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The team demonstrated that a semiconductor device can generate electricity from emitting infrared light. Photo: UNSW Sydney
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The process of converting sunlight into electricity.

The team believes the new technology could have many applications in the future, helping to generate electricity in ways that are currently not possible.

According to Dr. Michael Nielsen, there is still a long way to go from research to commercialization, but it opens up a solution to generate electricity from the sun at night.

Pigs are brought into solar farms to clear grass Not only sheep, pigs are also brought into solar farms to clear grass around photovoltaic panels.