13-year-old design effective solar cell inspired by Oaks

When it comes to the use of renewable energy solutions, sometimes nature has the best idea. It was a 13-year-old Aidan Dwyer finally after Winter campaign in New York City–catskill mountains, a trip that inspired him to build solar panels unique and effective design.

Dwyer observed patterns in trees and, after further research and contemplation, understood branches, corresponds to the Fibonacci sequence, a mathematical model to find all of nature, such as falcon flight path, nautilus shells and balance in the human body.

Dwyer assumed that the scheme helped trees photosynthesis and tested his hypothesis by creating miniature trees shaped solar panels. Project award its 2011 young naturalist of the American Museum of natural history.

7-Grader describes his experiments in a detailed essay:

I designed and built my test model, copying the Fibonacci pattern of oak. I studied my results with a compass and realized branch angles. Template about 137 degrees and the Fibonacci sequence 2/5. Then I built model using this template from PVC pipes. In place of leaves I used Photovoltaic Solar panels, hooked in the series, created by 1/2 Volt, so the peak output model was 5 volts. The entire design of the duplicate template oak as close as possible.

Design created by up to 50% more power than the traditional model of the solar installation during periods of low sunlight. Separate solar panels different angles helps array capture light, even when the Sun is very low in the sky. And because they do not lie flat, many of these groups are also less affected by the shadow and snow.

At this point in the experiment design Dwyer backyard, but maybe in the future we'll see gardens on the roof, the solar tree of arrays.

Photos courtesy of the American Museum of natural history museum.

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Ford to sell solar panel system along with electric cars

Ford Motor Company is teaming up with solar panels on the basis of the San Jose maker of SunPower to offer option on the roof of the solar system, which will be sold along with the upcoming EV Ford focus. "Drive green for life", as it is called, includes installation of solar panels on the customer home.

These panels will not be used only to charge the focus, however. They really help offset the cost that comes with the need to charge the car, what most electric car owners do every night.

Solar panels 2.5 kilowatt system compensates for the cost of about 1000 miles per month, "said Ford. After the federal tax rebates, the cost would be around $ 10000. Some local and State benefits may also be available, but it's still pretty expensive system.

At least Ford and SunPower were relevant demographic. Parameter must refer to the environmentalists, who want to buy an electric car, but don't want to feel guilty about consuming all additional electricity to charge it. In the end it is not this "green" to drive electric when charging your car with the use of fossil fuels.

The solar system consists of 147-square-foot rooftop panels. There are 11 panels, size 4 to 2 feet. Customers will be able to monitor the work of the panels, online and through specially iPhone app. SunPower also provides you with a 25-year warranty for the system that is installed on the clients home Best Buy Geek Squad. Best buy also has a contract with Ford for installing home Chargers.

Pricing and exact launch date for the new Ford Focus 2012 is not yet available, but the car will go on sale first in California and New York in the 4th quarter of 2011. Ford also plans to start 5 other electric or hybrid electric models in 2012 in North America and in Europe by 2013.

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This electric plane is powered by its own solar hangar

Interested in greener flying enthusiasts to aviation can put Elektra one to their wishes. PC-Aero in electric aircraft can fly up to three hours on a single charge with a cruising speed of 100 mph. Tariffication is happening inside a hangar, included a solar-powered plane expected purchase price of $ 145.000.

The plane successfully completed its first flight in the spring of last year and will go on sale in the middle of next year, prior to certification as a new ultralight aircraft class in Germany. He recently won the electric planes of Lindbergh for aviation innovation.

Designed for maximum effectiveness, the ship is made of light Fibre composite. With battery weight about 440 pounds of aircraft and engine is 13.4 kW (17.96 HP).

Don't expect to invite your friends on board the aircraft, however: only one seat and the maximum cargo weight – the pilot included is 220 pounds.

Elektra one reduces not only on air pollution, noise pollution: its engineers say the airplane produces one fifth of the noise emitted by another aircraft and one half of the noise produced by regular extra.

See aircraft in action here:

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