Japanese City Plans to Generate Electricity from Snow; Is This Possible?

In the northeastern Japanese city of Aomori, research is planned to generate electricity from excess snow in an effort to secure a renewable energy source that might potentially mitigate power shortages, JapanToday reports.

The project, a cooperation between Forte Co, a local IT firm, and Tokyo's University of Electro-Communications (UEC), entails using the temperature difference between stored snow and the surrounding air to power a turbine. Energy is produced when the heat of the air evaporates a liquid-cooled by stored snow.

Will It Work?

The generation of electricity from stored snow has gained popularity as a low-cost, safe, and ecologically beneficial power source, according to reports.

Aomori experiences severe snowfall yearly, and snow removal costs recently hit a record high of JPY 5.9 billion in the fiscal year ending in March 2021 (approximately USD 55 million). Instead of merely dumping the excess snow, the city and its partners intend to put it to good use through this ingenious project.

The travel site TripsToDiscover tells us that Aomori City is known for being the snowiest place on the planet. According to many accounts, the city receives around 312 inches of snowfall per year. The city is situated atop the highest point in the Hakkoda Mountains, which may contribute to the high amount of snowfall.

Despite the challenging winter weather, at least 299,000 people call Aomori City home. The city has a long history of dealing with snow, with residents developing unique ways to navigate the snowy streets and maintain their daily lives. Could it snow power up the city soon?

More Research

On December 16, 2022, Forte workers installed insulating materials in an abandoned elementary school's swimming pool to keep the piled-up snow frigid. Before power production begins in the spring, more research into retaining the snow and determining the quantity of electricity that can be generated will be undertaken.

Reports tell us that challenges must be addressed, including finding a large-scale facility to store the snow and securing heated air during the colder seasons. Forte is considering using heat from hot springs to achieve a larger temperature difference.

If successful, this unique renewable energy source could not only provide a new source of power for Aomori but also lead to the creation of a new industry in the region. As Jun Kasai, the head of Forte, stated, "It is a renewable energy source unique to a region with heavy snow. It will also lead to creating a new industry."

In other news, Kyodo reports that Japan has reached a grim milestone in its fight against COVID-19, with the cumulative total of deaths from the virus surpassing 60,000 on Sunday, Jan. 8. This marks an alarming increase, as it took just over a month for the death toll to jump from 50,000 to 60,000. The country is currently experiencing its eighth wave of coronavirus infections.

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