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Glass orb that concentrates sunlight up to 10000 times!

glass-orb-that-concentrates-sunlight-up-to-10000-times

A spherical glass solar energy generator, which even has potential to harvest lunar energy for producing electricity is center of attraction these days. This innovation by Barcelona-based German Architect André Broessel is called  ß.torics system. This device looks like a giant transparent marble, has a fully rotational weatherproof device with ability to track sun, concentrates sunlight or moonlight up to 10000 times. The ball lens and specific geometrical structure is 35% more efficient than existing photo-voltaic designs.

Third prototype water filled ready for measuring multiple PV cells concepts and thermal energy

“Design for a social world – Let’s create energy where we use it – in our cities” says the slogan at André‘s site Rawlemon. They also claim exceptional module transparency and highest diffuse light ratio compared with other optical systems:

Rawlemon’s ultratransmission Ball lens concept of optical tracking with low-cost industrial white glass and a refractive index of 1.53 provides a very small focal point, concentrating diffuse light.

left: first prototype with dual axis tracking system and triple junction cells right: second prototype including multiple ball lenses with dual axis tracking system and triple junction cells

Application of ß.torics system include embedding it as windows on the walls, while generating electricity at the same time. Imminent exhaustion of fossil fuels and need to address environmental issues requires implementation of clean and green energy. This beautiful innovation, generating electricity in a substantially efficient manner, may very well prove as a self-sustainable clean and green energy source for urban population.

Featured and other images source: Designboom

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8 Comments

  1. Thanks for the great info. Round half-embedded glass needs no tracking but Fresnel does it better for less but needs tracking. History of Fresnel glass in light house lenses fascinating. Excellent example of need defining product that seems to be missing today. It is the corp bureaucracy that defines the need through profit. Is our future going to be Brave New World after all?

  2. I knew it!! I knew it!!! I knew it!! About 20 years ago I showed my son how to start a fire with a magnifying lens, a small one. At that moment I inuitively knew that they would be the solution to efficient solar power!!

  3. Too heavy, too much light filtering, too expensive, and makes no sense. A regular large lens or FLAT FRESNEL LENS provides a lower cost solution and is 3x more powerful. YOU COULD MAKE 20+ single element optical lenses with the same amount of material, deliver more power and would be much lighter. The artistic aspect is valid, the soalr part is not.

    One square acre of moonlight on a FULL MOON delivers about 10 watts. You would need a ball the size of Epcot’s “spaceship earth to power a small LED bulb.

    1. You are Right when tracking Sun. But such amplifying bal can be used stationairy with out track ot tech and heat underlaying halfball embedment as stationairy no mainenance device without need to track any Sunangle.

      That would be the Strong Side of this Specific Design. Indeed with tracking and electronics Fressnel would be better lighter and cheaper.

      Maby this would also work with halfsferical roofglass filled with water mineral oil or a clear epoxy or lensepoxy for the breakingindex.

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