New Device Generates Electricity from Shadows

Shadows are often associated with darkness and uncertainty. Now, researchers from National University of Singapore (NUS) are giving shadows a positive spin by demonstrating a way to harness this common but often overlooked optical effect to generate electricity.

This novel concept opens up new approaches in generating green energy under indoor lighting conditions to power electronics.

The research team created a device called a shadow-effect energy generator (SEG), which makes use of the contrast in illumination between lit and shadowed areas to generate electricity.