New renewable tech that is cool.

Two neat things in the renewable energy field.

First up, we have CoolEarth, a solar panel company. Here is the neat thing, their solar collectors are inflatable. Each one is like a balloon, that is halfway clear to allow light in, then is concentrated via the reflective inside to a small, but highly efficient photovoltaic. Much more solar energy harnessed for a lot less photovoltaics.

Second, we have Helix Wind, a wind turbine company. Their design is pretty interesting, it maximizes surface area to generate the most amount of energy. It works in breezes as low as 3.5mph. Also, you don’t have to worry about the birdies getting chopped up. It isn’t a whirring blade that is hard to see, it is a constant shape, so birds avoid it. It also looks pretty. They come in 2kW and 5kW models, being 9ft and 12ft tall, respectively. Also, due to their unique design, they work in nearly every environment, from urban to suburban, and can be mounted lower than normal wind turbines. All in all, pretty neat.