Amazingly, a team of scientists from Belize have successfully harvested electricity from squid.
The invertebrates have been discharging enough bioelectricity to run the lighting and air-conditioning units at the research centre on Glover’s Reef Caye on the Caribbean coast.
They are producing enough electricity to power the equivalent of up to 20 domestic electric heaters.
The team, led by Dr Dino Vanidici, believe it could herald a breakthrough in sustainable energy.
The researchers used the Belize Rainbow Squid which discharges an electric shock equivalent to 202volts but has been known to produce up to 380volts.
They then collected the discharge on to a conductor placed in the pen full of squid and used it to charge a capacitor which was connected to a large set of batteries.
Dr Vanidici said: “It’s small scale but we are producing on average 20kW of power per hour and that’s with considerable wastage in the converting process.”
Having used the squid to power the research facilities, the scientists are now trialling the system for a few homes in the nearby village. Dr Vanidici insisted the squid were not being harmed.
Amazingly, a team of scientists from Belize have successfully harvested electricity from squid.
The invertebrates have been discharging enough bioelectricity to run the lighting and air-conditioning units at the research centre on Glover’s Reef Caye on the Caribbean coast.
They are producing enough electricity to power the equivalent of up to 20 domestic electric heaters.
The team, led by Dr Dino Vanidici, believe it could herald a breakthrough in sustainable energy.
The researchers used the Belize Rainbow Squid which discharges an electric shock equivalent to 202volts but has been known to produce up to 380volts, they then collected the discharge on to a conductor placed in the pen and used it to charge a capacitor which was connected to a large set of batteries.
Dr Vanidici said: “The squid are kept in pens in the sea and we have about 200 per pen.
“We have put a small underwater microphone in the sea that sends a signal at a certain frequency that makes the squid discharge their shock on to the conductor.
“It doesn’t harm the squid and they can keep discharging up to 30 times an hour. On average they produce five amps of current.”
“It’s small scale but we are producing on average 20kW of power per hour and that’s with considerable wastage in the converting process.”
Having used the squid to power the research facilities, the scientists are now trialling the system for a few homes in the nearby village.
Dr Vanidici insisted the squid were not being harmed by constantly discharging their electric shocks.
“They use their shocks all the time in nature to navigate and capture prey and even to attract a mate, as they discharge they often change colour hence their name.
“Animal rights people can say it’s cruel but it’s just like a dog barking. The squid do this anyway all the time and we are just harnessing mother nature’s gift.
“Besides they don’t taste good so they are not caught for food here and we have plenty of them that can be used by the fishermen as a source of income.”
But critics still say it’s a dubious practice.
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