When it comes to finding new energy sources, science is getting further and further along. University of Manchester researchers have now developed flags that can generate electricity through solar and wind power.
The new wind and solar flags are made using flexible piezoelectric strips and flexible photovoltaic cells. The piezoelectric strips allow the flag to generate energy through movement, while the photovoltaic cells are the best solution for harnessing electricity through the use of solar cells.
Initial research
The study, carried out by researchers at the University of Manchester, is the most advanced of its kind to date and the first in which wind and solar energy are simultaneously harvested using 'inverted flags'. The newly developed energy harvesting flags can drive remote sensors and small-scale portable electronics that can be used for environmental sensing, for example to monitor pollution, noise levels and heat.
The aim of the research is to enable low-cost and sustainable energy capture solutions that can be deployed and left to generate energy with little or no maintenance required. The strategy is known as "deploy-and-forget" and this is the expected model that so-called smart cities will use when using remote sensors.
Flapping
Jorge Silva-Leon, from Manchester School of Mechanical, Aerospace & Civil Engineering and lead author of the study, says in a press release, "Under the influence of wind, the flags we have built bend back and forth in a repetitive manner, also known as limit-cycle oscillations. This makes them perfect for uniform power generation through the deformation of piezoelectric materials. At the same time, the solar panels have a double advantage: they act as a destabilising mass that causes the onset of flapping at lower wind speeds, and of course are able to generate electricity from ambient light.
Dr Andrea Cioncolini, co-author of the study, added: "Wind and solar energies usually have interruptions that offset each other. The sun usually does not shine during stormy conditions, while calm days with little wind are usually associated with shining sun. This makes wind and solar energies particularly suitable for simultaneous harvesting, with a view to compensating for their interruptions."
Source: Manchester University.
