Scientific jury still out on firm's claim it produces 'free energy'

A small Dublin-based company is seeking 12 scientists to verify its claims that it has developed technology that produces "free energy".

If the company's claims - which it admits go against the basic principles of physics - are proved to be true, it says the technology could lead to the creation of infinite amounts of clean, free and constant energy. However, scientists are dubious about the technology.

Steorn says the new technology allows for substantial amounts of excess energy to be created through a particular system for constructing magnetic fields, and that it could be used to enable the development of mobile phones that do not have to be recharged, and fuel-free cars.

The chief executive of Steorn, Seán McCarthy, said yesterday the technology emerged three years ago during attempts by the company to develop renewable methods of generating CCTV cameras.

During the development phase, he said, it was noticed that significant amounts of excess energy were being created, but that it was not being drawn from another source.

The company is taking out a £75,000stg (€110,200) full-page advertisement in the issue of the Economist magazine that appears today, seeking scientists from around the world to form an independent jury to test its claims. The 12 chosen scientists would be fully funded by the company. Steorn says the results - whatever they reveal - will be published worldwide.

Mr McCarthy says most scientists the company had asked to examine the technology had simply refused to do so. Those who did investigate the technology had drawn the same conclusion as the company, he said, but did not wish to disclose their findings publicly.

The company needs such public disclosure to bring the technology to market.

Dr Cormac McGuinness, a lecturer in the physics department at Trinity College Dublin, said the notion of "free energy" is "impossible".

He pointed out that he had not seen the details of Steorn's claims.

"They may be finding a more efficient form of energy conversion," he suggested.

"But I can say free energy is impossible . . . the laws of conservation of energy must apply. They must be getting the energy from somewhere."