14 Craziest Solar Innovations.
Our planet is ever changing and so are the people on it. Here are 14 Craziest Solar Innovations. How did they come up with these ideas?
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7. Xsol- E1.1
This unmanned aerial device uses solar power to extend its flight time from 12 minutes to around thirty-five minutes. Video released in 2015 showed the craft hovering around at a low altitude. The builders of the quadcopter have the goal of sending it on the first private led explorations of Mars. They would need to thoroughly test a prototype and have a production ready version available by 2018 if they hope to achieve this goal.
6. Solara 50
Google bought Titan Aerospace and their Solara 50 in April 2014 hoping to deliver the internet to remote parts of the world. The craft was designed to cruise at an altitude of 65 thousand feet while being powered by the sun. Built with around three thousand solar cells that cover its 164 foot long wings the craft could apparently stay in the air for five years at a time if it could only have gotten there. Google reported in May 2015 that the plane crashed in New Mexico shortly after take off, putting a halt to further flights. In January of this year, Google finally announced that they were abandoning the project altogether. Facebook also developed a drone called the Aquila that it tested in June 2016 with some success, though the drone reportedly suffered a structural failure as it was approaching that caused it to crash upon landing.
5. IVANPAH (Ivan Paw)
Amongst the vast expanse of California’s Mojave Desert lies the beautiful Ivanpah, the largest solar thermal power plant in the world. Since it began commercial operation in 2013, the solar facilities have been providing power to PG&E and Southern California Edison. The complex uses mirrors to focus the power of the sun on receivers that sit on top of power towers. Sitting around 5 miles from the California- Nevada border Ivanpah sits on federal land that is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. NRG Energy, one of the project’s investors, operates the power plant.
4. GoSun Grill
Parabolic mirrors on this futuristic grill collect the sun’s energy and deflect that heat onto the cooking chamber, which can hold about 80 percent of that heat. The grill can reach temperatures more than 430 degrees through the process, allowing it to cook just about everything. It also comes with a solar paneled grill mount that connects to a lithium battery that stores energy for later use, meaning the GoSun can be utilized at night.
3. Arclight
Solar innovations are starting to make their way into so many industries, including healthcare. Researchers at the University of St. Andrews recently launched the Arclight, a solar powered ophthalmoscope that can help experts in developing nations detect signs of blindness. The Arclight will cost around sixty dollars which is a steal considering that it performs as well or better than traditional devices that cost way more money. Thousands of units have already been shipped to countries around the world.
2. A Greener Christmas
Driving around and looking at the most impressively decorated lighting displays during Christmas Time is an American tradition that has always come with an unavoidable caveat. While the lights are visually pleasing, they also represent a huge waste of energy, which translates to more carbon dioxide emissions. And plus they’re dangerous and could cause a fire. Luckily several companies offer LED Christmas lights that are powered by, you guessed it, a solar panel.
1. Thanks MIT
People in Mexico were beneficiaries of an exciting application of solar technology. Deep in the jungles of the Yucatan Peninsula miles from any source of clean water lies the remote village of La Mancalona. In 2013 MIT researchers installed and began testing their solar powered water filtration system in the small town. The cost effective system consists of pumps, filters, several photovoltaic panels and a large tank to hold the purified water. Even on an overcast day, the setup can produce one thousand liters of drinking water from the area’s dirty well water. By 2015 it was clear that the system had been a huge success. Not only did the village have clean water, but they turned the system into a business. They began bottling and selling the water for a fraction of the price of bottles that villagers used to have to buy from a facility an hour away.
Post time: Jul-09-2017