UrJar uses old laptop batteries as a lighting solution

Mobile Charger and Lighting Solution.

Millions of people in India don’t have access to the electrical grid. They have to uses alternative sources to light their homes. IBM did research to find out if old laptop batteries would be a good alternative. Could this be a solution to light shops and houses for the people in the slums? Research showed that 70% of these old batteries still had enough performance to be used. UrJar forms an alternative power solution for low voltage DC devices. Think about charging your mobile or lighting your shop with an LED light.
 
Comment by one of the shop owners: “the lantern only used to last for a maximum of 2.5 hours daily, and hence I had to close my shop by 9 (PM)…now with UrJar I can keep it open until 11 PM”

Light your shop for 9 Dollar

Cost: At a volume of 1000 pieces, the bill of material for each of these protoypes is around INR 600 ($9). The pricing includes the enclosure, electronics, a 3 Watt LED light bulb, and a mobile charger.

Want to read more?:
 
Download: UrJar: A Lighting Solution using Discarded Laptop Batteries [pdf]
 
 

Kitepower: Is this Kite an alternative to Wind Turbines?

Generate Electricity with a Kite.

Kitepower is harvesting wind energy by using a kite. This results in a eco and cost friendly solution. Traditional wind turbines are expensive to place and maintain. Kitepower would be a few cents cheaper per kilowatt generated, compared to traditional ways. An average Dutch household consumes 3,340 kilowatts per year, resulting in a 70 euro lower electricity bill.

How does Kitepower work?

The system is operated in periodic pumping cycles, alternating between reel-out and reel-in of the tether. During reel-out, the kite is flying figure-eight maneuvers at high speed (70 to 90 km/h). This creates a high traction force (3.1 kN at 7 m/s wind speed) which is converted into electricity by the drum and the connected 20 kW generator. When reaching the maximum tether length, the kite is de-powered by releasing the rear (steering) lines such that the whole wing rotates and aligns with the apparent wind. Using the drum/generator module as a winch, the kite is now pulled back to the initial position to start the next pumping cycle. De-powering reduces the traction force during reel-in by 80% and for this reason the energy consumed during reel-in is only a fraction of the energy generated during reel-out. Crucial element of the technology is the automatic control and synchronization of the drum/generator module and the flight dynamics of the kite. Source: Kitepower

Other innovative wind turbine alternatives

Ampyx Power: Generate Electricity with the use of unmanned systems (Drones / UAS)







Makani: an energy kite that generates more energy at lower cost