SMIT, a start-up company in sustainable design have came up with GROW, a device that harnesses both solar and wind energy to generate electricity.
GROW is a hybrid energy delivery device that provides power via the sun and wind, and draws inspiration from ivy growing on a building.
The idea is simple, each leaf consists of photovoltaic cells and a piezoelectric material as it's stem. The photovoltaic cells generate electricity in the sunlight, and the piezoelectric generate electricity as the leaf flutters in the wind.
GROW Project Page.
GROW .2 - The solar only variant.
GROW .1 - The solar and wind variant.
Note the orange stems. Electrical potential will be generated when stress is applied on the stems. SMIT however, is keeping mum on what piezoelectric material they are using, but if I have to take a guess, it's PVDF since it's just about the only polymer that demonstrates piezoelectric properties.
My only problem is, since the leaves will be hanged vertically on the outer wall, for them to perform optimally, I will need to place them on my eastward or westward facing walls. Even then, I will have a maximum of 6 hours of direct sunlight and another 6 in the shades. So I'm gonna have to buy more leaves for both walls?
GROW .1 - The solar and wind variant.Note the orange stems. Electrical potential will be generated when stress is applied on the stems. SMIT however, is keeping mum on what piezoelectric material they are using, but if I have to take a guess, it's PVDF since it's just about the only polymer that demonstrates piezoelectric properties.
My only problem is, since the leaves will be hanged vertically on the outer wall, for them to perform optimally, I will need to place them on my eastward or westward facing walls. Even then, I will have a maximum of 6 hours of direct sunlight and another 6 in the shades. So I'm gonna have to buy more leaves for both walls?
1 Comment:
can see that it will save lots of money but then the external bldg wld look weird
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