There seems to be a growing rush to invent products that rely on less energy to function. The current energy crisis is one of the biggest reasons behind this race, coupled with increasing concern for the environment. The market for energy efficient appliances is expanding, with designers creating interesting concepts that are not only functional but aesthetically pleasing as well. Mark Beccaloni is a London based designer who has conceptualized ‘Parasite’, an LED lamp bypasser that relies on solar energy to operate.
But Parasite doesn’t use just any ordinary PV cell system. Unlike your run of the mill solar cells, they’re designed by Spectrolab and function in space. The used materials are brought back to earth and used in several applications. The PV cell system consists of nanotech wafers made out of gallium arsenide, a cutting edge material that’s very different from standard silicon-based photovoltaics.
Beccaloni says that the PV system’s cells have the ability to support light intensity of 1,000 suns if they are properly refrigerated and power is concentrated with a Fresnel lens. Parasite can be maneuvered to rest at various angles with 30 degrees being the ideal position for harnessing energy.
The power of the sun has been well documented though it is only in modern times, with our advanced technology, that we have been able to properly harness sunlight. While efficient storage systems are needed for large scale power distribution, designs like Beccaloni’s can help lift the burden on electric grids. If made use of by a large number of people, then solar powered lights can offer the public an unending and free lighting solution.
A quick check on the internet will give you an idea of the scale with which solar energy is being looked into. From watches with solar panels to tables with solar surfaces, it appears that the age of the sun is drawing ever nearer.
Via: Behance
