Extracting Energy From the Air

First documented in 2020, "air generator" technology is based on the same principle behind clouds and the formation of lightning that capitalizes on the latent energy in ambient humidity. These tiny water particles transfer electrical particles between each other.

Recent innovations have successfully demonstrated this technology with common porous materials (such as wood), and at larger scales than previously shown. These "larger-scale" demonstrations are relative, however, with one prototype generating nearly enough power to light just a single pixel. Though major challenges of scale, cost, and long-term reliability remain, planners should be aware of the potential of extracting energy from the air, as the deployment of this technology at scale could have significant implications for the future.