Contemporary innovation in the field of energy seems to be all about finding power in sources that are all around us, such as the sun and wind. Researchers at Pennsylvania State University have taken that idea one step further having found a way to harness electricity from thin air.

More specifically, the scientists have developed a method to harness electricity from ambient magnetic fields generated by everyday household appliances.

Reporting in the journal “Energy and Environmental Science,” they note home devices, and especially the cords that supply electricity to them, generate small magnetic fields that otherwise dissipate into the air around them.

The scientists have developed a new mechanism capable of harvesting this wasted magnetic field energy and converting it into enough electricity to power next-generation sensor networks for smart buildings and factories.

One of the study’s co-authors, Shashank Priya, professor of materials science and engineering and associate vice president for research at Penn State, says the device he and his colleagues developed “allows for achieving high power density under low amplitude magnetic fields.”

He and his team designed paper-thin devices, about 11/2 inches long, that can be placed on or near appliances, lights or power cords. They used a composite structure by layering two different materials together. One of these materials is magnetostrictive, which converts a magnetic field into stress, and the other is piezoelectric, which converts stress, or vibrations, into an electric field. The combination allows the device to turn a magnetic field into an electric current.

The devices have a beam-like structure with one end clamped and the other free to vibrate in response to an applied magnetic field. A magnet mounted at the free end of the beam amplifies the movement and contributes toward a higher production of electricity.

In testing, when placed 4 inches from a space heater, the device produced enough electricity to power 180 LED arrays, and at 8 inches, enough to power a digital alarm clock.

According to the scientists, the technology has implications for the design of smart buildings, which will require self-powered wireless sensor networks to do things such as monitor energy and operational patterns and remotely control systems.

On April 23, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation released a special report, “Pandemic Preparedness and Operational Assessment: Spring 2020,” to update the nation’s electric utilities on the implications of the pandemic for its industry.

“The global health crisis has elevated the electric reliability risk profile due to potential workforce disruptions, supply chain interruptions, and increased cybersecurity threats,” said the report. “The electricity industry in North America is rising to the challenge, coordinating effectively with government partners, and taking aggressive steps to confront the threat to the reliability and security of the bulk power system.”

The report went on to add, “Nearly 400 million North Americans are dependent on a reliable power supply of electricity to support their way of life and the people, systems, and processes in place to support them during this unprecedented time.”

The report advised the industry during this pandemic to prepare for operations with a smaller workforce and other difficulties. The industry must also be aware of cybersecurity threats due to remote working that could lead to attacks on these new vectors.

The report outlined three timeframes for increased reliability risk profiles.

For spring 2020:

• No specific reliability issue identified
• Potential workforce disruptions
• Supply chain interruption
• Increased cybersecurity threat and monitoring
• Different system conditions, including lower demands and higher voltages
• System operators under sequester
• Noncritical staff are remote

For summer 2020:

• Continued potential for workforce disruptions and support service disruption
• Potential equipment and fuel supply chain disruptions
• Deferred generation maintenance and other factors impacting unit availability
• Generation in-service data

For the long-term:

• Potential changes to generation and transmission in-service dates
• Increased remote operation of non-critical staff
• Changes to pandemic preparedness and operating plans based on lessons learned.

Public support for solar power is strong and growing, but it’s not always strong enough to overcome the high upfront costs of installation. To help home and business owners make that initial investment towards utilizing solar power, Philadelphia re-opened its popular Solarize Philly program.

In April, Solarize Philly began accepting to new applications. The last phase closed in November 2019 after 2,068 signups. The program has helped 6,200 customers since its launch in 2017.

Program participants benefit from group-buying discounts and consumer protections. Installers are kicking off the new phase by providing free remote solar assessments.

The program is run by the Philadelphia Energy Authority (PEA), an independent municipal authority chartered by the city in 2010 to provide targeted expertise and focus to city efforts to reduce energy consumption and expense.

The authority offers other financial incentives that are available to Solarize Philly participants. The Philadelphia Solar Rebate offers a one-time rebate incentive of 10 cents/watt to commercial and 20 cents/watt to residential projects. The rebate comes to about $1,000 for homeowners.

Fees generated by Solarize Philly also support the PEA's Solar Savings Grant Program, which provides grants plus financing to low- and moderate-income households to go solar at no upfront cost. Grants cover up to half the cost of the project, and utility bill savings start in the first year.

To participate in Solarize Philly, homeowners complete a sign-up form and are then connected to one of the city's approved installers. An installer will provide a free project proposal tailored to the home’s specific needs, based on roof space, electricity usage and other factors.

After the owner approves and signs a contract, the installer handles all permitting and engineering requirements and works with the local utility, PECO, to manage the interconnection process before the installation.

The city says Solarize Philly is also helping create jobs. Darell Clarke, city council president, said “of all energy projects, rooftop solar creates the most jobs per dollar invested.”

The PEA references a study conducted for the authority by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, which found that 15 living wage jobs are created for every 100 solar installations. PEA also leads Bright Solar Futures, a partnership with the School District of Philadelphia to establish Pennsylvania’s first vocational solar program for high school students.

According to a new report from the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), the federal government’s Paycheck Protection Program is allowing construction firms to add and retain employees, despite declining demand for work.

“A large share of construction firms promptly received loans funds under the Paycheck Protection Program, enabling many of them to hire or retain employees despite a surge in project cancellations,” according to the report.

AGC noted that the job-saving measure appeared to be working, but it cautioned that longer term recovery measures, such as new infrastructure funding and establishing a recovery fund, are needed.

“Most contractors report they have applied for the new federal loans, which are intended to enable small businesses to keep employees on their payrolls,” said Ken Simonson, AGC’s chief economist. “This program has already delivered funds to nearly half of the survey respondents, and many of them have already brought back furloughed workers or added employees, even though more clients are halting and canceling projects.”

Simonson noted specifically that 44% of the 849 firms responding to the survey reported having already received funds, which began on April 3. Another 15% said their applications had been approved, but they had not yet received funding. Another 8% were awaiting a reply to their applications, and 7% had applied, but were told that no more funds were available.

Partly because of the loans, 13% of respondents said they had added workers.

“Although the loan program has helped, it will cover only a limited part of company expenses and is not enough to offset the huge drop in projects,” Simonson said.

He noted that half of the respondents reported clients have ordered halts to projects that were already underway, and more than 25% reported that clients have canceled projects that had been expected to start as far out as June, or even later.