Pakistani college students have built Nebulavolt, a low-cost device that turns fog into clean electricity to power streetlights and make foggy roads safer.
TABS College Team Wins Enterprise Challenge Pakistan
A group of students from the Girls Section of TABS College of Science in Hyderabad has attracted national attention by winning the ninth cycle of Enterprise Challenge Pakistan. Their award-winning project, called Nebulavolt, is an innovative fog-to-electricity safety device designed for regions that regularly face dense fog and low visibility on the roads.
The national final of the competition took place in Karachi on 24 January and was hosted by British Deputy High Commissioner Lance Domm, in collaboration with King’s Trust International and SEED Ventures. Standing out among entries from across the country, the TABS College team impressed judges with a concept that combines environmental innovation, public safety and practical, low-cost engineering.
How Nebulavolt Turns Fog Into Clean Electricity
At the heart of Nebulavolt is a simple but powerful idea: use the moisture in fog as a source of clean energy. The device employs a hydrophilic mesh—material that naturally attracts and holds water—to capture tiny fog droplets from the air. As these droplets collect and move across the surface, they create the conditions needed for electricity generation.
The captured water droplets are then used to produce power through triboelectric nanogenerators, a technology that converts mechanical energy, such as movement or contact between surfaces, into electrical energy. By harnessing the constant presence of fog in certain regions during winter, Nebulavolt is able to generate small but useful amounts of electricity without burning fuel, emitting smoke or relying on sunlight.
Designed for Fog-Prone Roads and Public Safety
Nebulavolt has been created with a clear focus on road safety. In many parts of Pakistan, including motorways and highways in Punjab and Sindh, thick fog often leads to low visibility, traffic slowdowns and serious accidents. The students behind Nebulavolt identified that one of the biggest challenges in such conditions is keeping streetlights, traffic signals and roadside safety markers clearly visible.
Their solution is a low-cost system that can be installed along roadsides and around key junctions. The clean electricity generated from fog can be used to power LED streetlights, illuminated traffic signs and warning signals, helping drivers see better and react earlier in hazardous conditions. By tapping into fog itself as a resource, the device turns an environmental risk factor into part of the safety solution.
Low-Cost, Sustainable Technology With Local Potential
One of Nebulavolt’s biggest strengths is its affordability. The students have designed the system to use readily available materials and straightforward components, which keeps overall costs low. This makes it more realistic for local governments, highway authorities and even private housing schemes to consider deploying the technology at scale, especially in high-risk fog zones.
Because the device runs on clean, self-generated electricity, it also has the potential to reduce energy costs over time. Instead of relying entirely on grid power or diesel generators to light up roads during winter fog, authorities could use Nebulavolt units as supplementary or backup sources of power. This supports broader goals related to environmental sustainability, reduced emissions and smarter use of natural resources.
Inspiring a New Generation of Pakistani Innovators
Beyond the technical achievement, Nebulavolt is a strong example of how young Pakistanis can lead creative responses to local challenges. By focusing on fog, road safety and clean energy, the students of TABS College have shown that meaningful innovation does not always require large budgets or high-end laboratories—it starts with understanding community needs and thinking differently about everyday problems.
Their success at Enterprise Challenge Pakistan highlights the value of programmes that encourage school and college students to engage with entrepreneurship, climate resilience and social impact. As Nebulavolt gains visibility, it could inspire similar projects across the country, from low-cost renewable energy solutions to safety technologies tailored for local conditions. For now, the Hyderabad team’s fog-to-electricity device stands as a promising idea that blends science, sustainability and public interest in a uniquely practical way.
