Can Energy Really be Harvested from a Gentle Breeze?

In 10 seconds? Scientists in Singapore have developed a new device that can ‘extract’ energy from a light breeze and store it as electricity and the best bit is that it doesn’t cost a lot.

Wow, that sounds great! But how does it work? The new wind harvester is lightweight and durable, measuring just 15 cm by 20 cm which means it can be installed almost anywhere. This device works when exposed to winds with a speed as low as 2m/s and the energy generated from this is sufficient to power a commercial sensor or for it to send data to a mobile phone or computer. There has been a lot of interest in developing small wind harvesters for powering electronic devices and sensors as they are self-sufficient, more environmentally friendly, and can significantly improve the lifespan of these systems.