Solar energy is on the rise, but there is a major obstacle to this power source. Muggle University student Carvey Ehren Maigue created a solar panel to solve this common efficiency problem faced by renewable resources. So what do solar skeptics refer to? It depends on ideal sunny conditions. Fortunately, Maigue’s AuREUS system is designed to continue to collect light even in cloudy weather. This enhanced function means that new panels can generate energy almost half the time, while current panels can only generate 15-25% of the time.
Meig realized that his system can work in the same way as the Northern Lights, which greatly inspired him. (Actually, AuREUS’s name is derived from “Aurora Borealis”.) He described that in the naturally occurring version, “Energetic particles are absorbed by luminescent particles and then re-emitted as visible light.” Maigue said in his In man-made solar panels, some light-emitting particles found in food residues are recovered and captured in a resin substrate. When these particles are irradiated with ultraviolet light, they absorb and reflect light. The reflection of visible light is concentrated on the edge of the panel, and the PV cell captures it and converts it into direct current. This is the core idea behind the two AuREUS systems: Borealis solar windows and Astralis solar walls.
The actual recovery of these bioluminescent particles is carried out by crushing fruits and vegetables and continuously filtering the resulting mixture. Interestingly, although this resource hopes to fight global warming, the food waste used in production is actually the result of climate change. Due to the impact of climate change in the Philippines, millions of hectares of vegetation have been destroyed, making fruits and vegetables unsuitable for human consumption. Maigue found his invention resources here.
AuREUS panels are approximately three feet high and two feet wide, making it an ideal system for building facades. Maigue hopes this means that his system can help buildings achieve inherent sustainability, while allowing architecture and design to remain in the same state. He pointed out that the production process is very flexible, so there is a lot of room for experimentation.
Maigue said: “We can create curved panels, more complex wall shapes or designs they want without losing efficiency.” He took the Montreal Convention Center as an example to illustrate that these colored panels have beautiful and practical functions. “In this way, we can show people that adapting sustainable development to climate change can benefit both present and future generations. By doing this, we can gather more people to tackle climate change.”
The bigger news is that the AuREUS system recently won the first ever James Dyson Sustainability Award, which will allow it to expand its production. You can read more about AuREUS and the 2020 James Dyson Awards on its website.
AuREUS System: Website James Dyson Awards: Website | Facebook | Instagram h/t: [Fast Company, Dezeen]
Celebrate creativity and promote a positive culture by focusing on the best aspects of mankind-from lighthearted thinking to thought-provoking thoughts and inspiration.