Sunflowers have been reborn for the future, and these ones you can’t give your loved one in a bouquet. Engineers in Switzerland has developed a massive solar sunflower, combining both photovoltaic solar power and concentrated solar thermal power in one package with a total efficiency of around 80 percent. It uses two constituent technologies that harness and concentrate energy from the sun—”to about 5,000 suns.” The flower is equipped with 36 highly efficient reflectors with photovoltaic cells that are capable of converting concentrated solar energy into electricity. The company, Airlight Energy, plans on manufacturing them to full commercial capacity by 2017.
The Solar Sunflower can harness the power of 5,000 suns
More of Today's Solutions
10 eco-friendly kitchen appliances to make your home greener
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM A healthy kitchen goes beyond just eating green. On top of an eco-friendly diet, having planet-friendly appliances in ...
Read MoreCrossbreeding corals to save Miami’s reefs
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Off the coast of Miami, a team of scientists is attempting something extraordinary: giving struggling coral reefs a ...
Read MoreTry this simple breathing exercise to rid yourself of cold hands and feet
Do you often find that your hands and feet are colder than the rest of your body? This can be perplexing, especially when gloves ...
Read MoreTips for surviving unexpected disasters: What is a “go-bag” and h...
Sherri McKinney, the Red Cross' national spokesman, has firsthand experience with the unpredictability of natural disasters. McKinney, who escaped the tornadoes in Nashville in ...
Read More
