🌟 Patent of the Week: Solar Energy Recovery and Conversion System for Greenhouses 🌱☀️
Time to grow those greens without burning fuel!
🧐 What's the Big Idea?
Greenhouses usually struggle with keeping the temperature just right for plant growth, especially with changing sunlight. This patent introduces a system that not only helps regulate the temperature inside the greenhouse but also generates and stores electrical and thermal energy. It's like hitting two birds with one stone – better temperature control and energy production.
So, what makes this system special? It's got these reflective panels under the roof, above the plants. These panels can move around to either let in sunlight, concentrate it to generate energy, or block it to manage the temperature. There's also some interesting tech with sub-regenerators and solar panels to make the system really efficient – we're talking about more than 95% effectiveness!
🔍 Why It Matters
This patent could lead to self-sufficient greenhouses that are energy-efficient and ideal for growing plants. It’s a stepping stone to building advanced, energy-efficient greenhouses, which we’ll need if we’re going to feed 10 billion people by 2050 (while the climate heats up and the agricultural sector gets even more stressed)
🚀 Stage of Development
Prototype. This concept has progressed beyond initial design, with a prototype developed to demonstrate its feasibility and effectiveness.
🤝 Interested?
Looking to take the next step? For licensing inquiries or further information, reaching out directly to the École de Technologie Supérieure (ETS) or the Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour would be your best bet. Here’s their contact info.
📒 The Details
Patent Title: Solar Energy Recovery and Conversion System for Greenhouse
Inventors: Stéphane Gibout, Cédric Arrabie, Didier Haillot
Filed By: Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour; École de Technologie Supérieure (ETS)
Publication Number: FR3119076
Patent Page: GC Patent Page Link
Filing Year: 2021
🎨 About the artist
Roger Dean, a British artist known for his work on album covers and posters, with a fantasy/science fiction slant.