The motionless electromagnetic generator (MEG) is a proposed device which claims over-unity operation, which would violate the first law of thermodynamics

First law of thermodynamics

The first law of thermodynamics is an expression of the principle of conservation of work.The law states that energy can be transformed, i.e. changed from one form to another, but cannot be created nor destroyed...

. Allegedly, the device can eventually sustain its operation in addition to powering a load without application of external electrical power, by extraction of vacuum energy

Vacuum energy

Vacuum energy is an underlying background energy that exists in space even when the space is devoid of matter . The concept of vacuum energy has been deduced from the concept of virtual particles, which is itself derived from the energy-time uncertainty principle...

 from the immediate environment. was issued to inventors Thomas E. Bearden, Stephen L. Patrick, James C. Hayes, James L. Kenny, and Kenneth D. Moore in 2002.

The MEG has never been independently verified and there is no known working prototype. Skeptics point out that the device strongly resembles a standard transformer, with the exception of a permanent magnet and two actuator coils being included in the design. They also strongly criticize Bearden's methods and concepts in general.

History and controversy

In 2001, Bearden predicted that the first commercial products based on the MEG would be "rolling off the production lines in about one year", and as early as 2002 claimed to have a prototype of the device that produced "100 times more power out than was input". It was promoted through JLNlabs, Cheniere.org, and an Egroup called "MEG Builders". In May 2008, with the MEG still not in production, Tom Bearden claimed he needed about $11 million to develop it to a viable commercial form. Bearden also admitted he had no working prototype, stating the 'last working demonstrator was promptly destroyed'.
In 2009, he claimed that development was "on hold" pending the release of funds from the UN. As of 2011, the MEG is still not in production. Bearden has given no details as to what further development is needed.

Thomas Bearden

Bearden has little formal training in physics and one analysis of these theories describes them as "full of misconceptions and misunderstandings concerning the theory of the electromagnetic field". At his website and in correspondence, Bearden identifies himself as "PhD" and claims he received a doctorate for "life experience and for life accomplishment". The Skeptical Inquirer, among others, revealed that he purchased his Ph.D. from Trinity College and University, which the magazine describes as "a British institution with no building, campus, faculty, or president, and run from a post office box in Sioux Falls, South Dakota".