He devised a more efficient way to gather solar energy utilizing an array of small solar panels arranged according to the Fibonnaci series, observing that this replicates tree branch patterns in nature. It turns out to be superior to a manmade flat array, and he has garnered a patent and commercial interest from the discovery.
‘Summing up his research and imagining the possibilities, Aidan wrote: “The tree design takes up less room than flat-panel arrays and works in spots that don’t have a full southern view. It collects more sunlight in winter. Shade and bad weather like snow don’t hurt it because the panels are not flat. It even looks nicer because it looks like a tree. A design like this may work better in urban areas where space and direct sunlight can be hard to find.” ‘ (via Treehugger, thanks to julia)
Related:
- Solar Panel Upgrade of the Day (geeks.thedailywh.at)
- Novel idea – arrange solar panels like Nature designed it (via Watts Up With That?) (loopysexpressions.wordpress.com)
- The Secret of the Fibonacci Sequence in Trees (amnh.org)
