Byrnes, Steven J.Blanchard, RomainCapasso, Federico2019-09-172014Byrnes, S. J., R. Blanchard, and F. Capasso. 2014. “Harvesting Renewable Energy from Earth’s Mid-Infrared Emissions.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 111 (11): 3927–32. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1402036111.0027-84240744-28311091-6490http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:41371505It is possible to harvest energy from Earth's thermal infrared emission into outer space. We calculate the thermodynamic limit for the amount of power available, and as a case study, we plot how this limit varies daily and seasonally in a location in Oklahoma. We discuss two possible ways to make such an emissive energy harvester (EEH): A thermal EEH (analogous to solar thermal power generation) and an optoelectronic EEH (analogous to photovoltaic power generation). For the latter, we propose using an infrared-frequency rectifying antenna, and we discuss its operating principles, efficiency limits, system design considerations, and possible technological implementations.en-USJournal Article2019-09-1710.1073/pnas.1402036111