The Sunflower Project: Sunflower + Bionics = clean energy The Sunflower Project: Sunflower + Bionics = clean energy The Sunflower Project: Sunflower + Bionics = clean energy The Sunflower Project: Sunflower + Bionics = clean energy

Clean the earth

[edit]

What if energy were almost free? How can we achieve that? The answers are: peace and photovoltaic sunflowers.

Sunflowers are parabols. Take a solar cell, attach it to a sunflower, connect + and - to a collecting net… and voilà!

That simple?

Almost. You need to wait until solar cells improve a little. This will happen soon because, like other electronic devices, solar cells now follow Moore's law: price/performance of electronic components doubles every 18 months.

Within 3 to 5 years, cheap, printed, flexible and semi-transparent solar cells will be so easy to produce and so clean that detaching them when the hosting sunflowers die won't be necessary.

So: Grow bionic sunflowers, generate electricity, save some seeds for next year and compost the remains to produce a better soil. This will also help reverse the global warming process because plants take carbon from the air back to the earth.

Please feel welcome to help us all, this is a Wiki.

Jean Hugues Robert, Baron Mariani, Corti, Corsica, CC 2009. jeanhuguesrobert@baronmariani.org The Sunflower Project: Sunflower + Bionics = clean energy The Sunflower Project: Sunflower + Bionics = clean energy The Sunflower Project: Sunflower + Bionics = clean energy The Sunflower Project: Sunflower + Bionics = clean energy The Sunflower Project: Sunflower + Bionics = clean energy The Sunflower Project: Sunflower + Bionics = clean energy The Sunflower Project: Sunflower + Bionics = clean energy The Sunflower Project: Sunflower + Bionics = clean energy

Clean the earth

[edit]

What if energy were almost free? How can we achieve that? The answers are: peace and photovoltaic sunflowers.

Sunflowers are parabols. Take a solar cell, attach it to a sunflower, connect + and - to a collecting net… and voilà!

That simple?

Almost. You need to wait until solar cells improve a little. This will happen soon because, like other electronic devices, solar cells now follow Moore's law: price/performance of electronic components doubles every 18 months.

Within 3 to 5 years, cheap, printed, flexible and semi-transparent solar cells will be so easy to produce and so clean that detaching them when the hosting sunflowers die won't be necessary.

So: Grow bionic sunflowers, generate electricity, save some seeds for next year and compost the remains to produce a better soil. This will also help reverse the global warming process because plants take carbon from the air back to the earth.

Please feel welcome to help us all, this is a Wiki.

Jean Hugues Robert, Baron Mariani, Corti, Corsica, CC 2009. jeanhuguesrobert@baronmariani.org The Sunflower Project: Sunflower + Bionics = clean energy The Sunflower Project: Sunflower + Bionics = clean energy The Sunflower Project: Sunflower + Bionics = clean energy The Sunflower Project: Sunflower + Bionics = clean energy

Clean the earth

[edit]

What if energy were almost free? How can we achieve that? The answers are: peace and photovoltaic sunflowers.

Sunflowers are parabols. Take a solar cell, attach it to a sunflower, connect + and - to a collecting net… and voilà!

That simple?

Almost. You need to wait until solar cells improve a little. This will happen soon because, like other electronic devices, solar cells now follow Moore's law: price/performance of electronic components doubles every 18 months.

Within 3 to 5 years, cheap, printed, flexible and semi-transparent solar cells will be so easy to produce and so clean that detaching them when the hosting sunflowers die won't be necessary.

So: Grow bionic sunflowers, generate electricity, save some seeds for next year and compost the remains to produce a better soil. This will also help reverse the global warming process because plants take carbon from the air back to the earth.

Please feel welcome to help us all, this is a Wiki.

Jean Hugues Robert, Baron Mariani, Corti, Corsica, CC 2009. jeanhuguesrobert@baronmariani.org

Cost Effectiveness

[edit]

The cost to produce clean energy is said to be higher than the cost to produce energy using fossil material. This is no longer true using photovoltaic sunflowers:

120% due to tracker

When a solar cell is in front of the sun's ray beams, it can be optimized to produce more energy.

Sunflowers follow the sun because they need to focus the sun's energy on the center part of the flower, on the seeds.

That's why sunflowers are natural trackers, the cleanest possible.

220% due to the absence of panels

55% of the cost of solar panels comes from the process to produce and distribute them ; the solar cells are only 45% of the total cost.

Contrary to solar cells in a panel, solar cells without protection won't last 20 years. This is not an issue because solar cell technology improves quickly.

It is more efficient to throw away an old inefficient solar cell when a new more efficient generation of cells becomes available, specially with concentrated solar energy.

Initialy, some basic protection is necessary, to make the first cells last 2/3 years, until much cheaper cells become available.

200% due to "Thin Film" technology

"Thin Film" solar cells are the cheapest ones. They produce less energy per square meter (10%) than the most sophisticated cells (40%) but this is not an issue when large surfaces are available. It is the cost per watt that matters.

5 times more capital efficient

[edit]

As a result (120% + 220% + 200%) a photovoltaic sunflower is more then 500% the financial efficiency of a fixed solar panel, today.

Within 3 years, 5 times more efficient will become 20 times or so more efficient because solar cells are the more expensive part of the solution and its cost will reduce due to Moore's law: it will be divided by 2 twice, once every 18 months.

Man power is not an issue

In developed countries, man power (to plant sunflowers, install solar cells and connect them to an aerial collecting net) contributes 25% of the cost to produce energy at the same price as energy from oil.

In developing countries, man power is much cheaper, 10 times cheaper at least.

In these countries, man power to produce energy that is cheaper than fossil energy becomes almost negligeable (2.5% in Morocco for example).

Concentrated solar energy

Research in photovoltaic energy made huge processes regarding efficiency. But efficient solar cells are expensive. That's why it is necessary to concentrate sun beams and focus them on these expensive solar cells.

As a result, concentrated photovoltaic energy is currently the most financial effective way to produce clean energy.

However, concentrating solar energy requires complex parabols and tracking mechanisms. On the other hand, sunflowers do that naturally.

"Thin Film" solar cells is the other, minority, research sector. Progress came later but now we have processes to mass produce these cells using printers, the same printers utilized to produce other electronic components.

These new cells are light, flexible and semi-transparent ; they can stand on a sunflower without damaging it.

Global Warming

[edit]

The process to produce solar panel is not green at all. It consumes a lot of energy and heavy metal.

Thin Film solar cells made from organic (clean) material exists.

As a result, producing soil with the dead sunflowers will reverse the process of carbon accumulation in the atmosphere due to the burning of fossil material.

This happens thanks to photosynthesis, the process plants use to take carbon from the air to produce plant fibers.

Compost made from these fibers produces soil that will quickly surpass the amount burnt with fossil energy. Much quicker than forests, sunflower fields can restore the purity of the air.

Incentive to plant large sunflower fields comes from the financial benefit, carbon reduction is a side benefit.

Beautifull landscapes is yet another benefit!

This is a virtuous circle.

No patents, funding

[edit]

Because the photovoltaic sunflower is public research initiated by JeanHuguesRobert, no patents can be applied to it.

Poor countries as well as rich countries are free to use it.

We are looking for partners and funds to accelerate the industrialization of the photovoltaic sunflower. Please help!

Road map

[edit]

Refining the photovoltaic sunflower energy production process requires some work:

Seed selection, 300 species

There exists lots of varieties of sunflowers (and some other plants follow the sun as well). The best varieties needs to be selected based on experiments.

However, even the varieties that were selected to produce sunflower oil are adequate. That's because they were selected to produce lots of seeds and have a large central area where the solar cells can be attached.

Some seeds produce tall sunflowers (up to 4 meter). Some produces small ones. Some varieties requires a good soil and water, some grow well on poor soil with little water. Some varieties requires a lot of heat and some other ones can grow in altitude.

The best solution requires a good understanding of the local soil and climate. This is the way to achieve a better synergy between the plant and its environment.

Associated culture, green houses

Growing sunflowers in association with some other plants will help produce stronger sunflowers.

This is specially usefull if sunflowers are grown in a green house, idealy dome shaped, like a yurts. In a greenhouse the sun energy that is not converted into electricity heats the plants. These plants, including the sunflowers themselves grow faster, during a longer period of the year. This is a solution for countries with either few available land or not enough heat.

Rotation of cultures

To avoid land exhaustion, the same plant must not be planted on the same piece of land too many years in a row. The best rotating scheme is yet to be discovered.

This is even more important when sunflowers are planted on poor soils. There, the dead sunflowers are producing soil and the next generation, the next year, will benefit from that better soil.

Mechanization

Tools, technics and machines need to be developed to reduce the man power required to manage the process, much like what was done for sunflower oil production, but for energy production this time.

Partners

[edit]

• DuSoleil, sustainable development, fair trade drugstores and urban campings
• Netergy, provider of pure energy

Contact us at info@bionicflower.org or jeanhuguesrobert@baronmariani.org

Contributors

[edit]

• Florian Galinat. Student, 22 years old, Master in bio-resources and sustainable development, University of Corsica in Corti. "Seed selection and first living prototypes."
• Jean Vincent. Computer scientist and electonician. "Man power estimations".

Obstacles

[edit]

So far the main obstacle that we encounter while promoting the sunflower solution is a rather strange one, an irrational one:

If it were that simple, it would already exist!

Maybe. Maybe not. Indians of America had not invented the wheel.

Sometimes the obvious is not so obvious.

Cost Effectiveness

[edit]

The cost to produce clean energy is said to be higher than the cost to produce energy using fossil material. This is no longer true using photovoltaic sunflowers:

120% due to tracker

When a solar cell is in front of the sun's ray beams, it can be optimized to produce more energy.

Sunflowers follow the sun because they need to focus the sun's energy on the center part of the flower, on the seeds.

That's why sunflowers are natural trackers, the cleanest possible.

220% due to the absence of panels

55% of the cost of solar panels comes from the process to produce and distribute them ; the solar cells are only 45% of the total cost.

Contrary to solar cells in a panel, solar cells without protection won't last 20 years. This is not an issue because solar cell technology improves quickly.

It is more efficient to throw away an old inefficient solar cell when a new more efficient generation of cells becomes available, specially with concentrated solar energy.

Initialy, some basic protection is necessary, to make the first cells last 2/3 years, until much cheaper cells become available.

200% due to "Thin Film" technology

"Thin Film" solar cells are the cheapest ones. They produce less energy per square meter (10%) than the most sophisticated cells (40%) but this is not an issue when large surfaces are available. It is the cost per watt that matters.

5 times more capital efficient

[edit]

As a result (120% + 220% + 200%) a photovoltaic sunflower is more then 500% the financial efficiency of a fixed solar panel, today.

Within 3 years, 5 times more efficient will become 20 times or so more efficient because solar cells are the more expensive part of the solution and its cost will reduce due to Moore's law: it will be divided by 2 twice, once every 18 months.

Man power is not an issue

In developed countries, man power (to plant sunflowers, install solar cells and connect them to an aerial collecting net) contributes 25% of the cost to produce energy at the same price as energy from oil.

In developing countries, man power is much cheaper, 10 times cheaper at least.

In these countries, man power to produce energy that is cheaper than fossil energy becomes almost negligeable (2.5% in Morocco for example).

Concentrated solar energy

Research in photovoltaic energy made huge processes regarding efficiency. But efficient solar cells are expensive. That's why it is necessary to concentrate sun beams and focus them on these expensive solar cells.

As a result, concentrated photovoltaic energy is currently the most financial effective way to produce clean energy.

However, concentrating solar energy requires complex parabols and tracking mechanisms. On the other hand, sunflowers do that naturally.

"Thin Film" solar cells is the other, minority, research sector. Progress came later but now we have processes to mass produce these cells using printers, the same printers utilized to produce other electronic components.

These new cells are light, flexible and semi-transparent ; they can stand on a sunflower without damaging it.

Global Warming

[edit]

The process to produce solar panel is not green at all. It consumes a lot of energy and heavy metal.

Thin Film solar cells made from organic (clean) material exists.

As a result, producing soil with the dead sunflowers will reverse the process of carbon accumulation in the atmosphere due to the burning of fossil material.

This happens thanks to photosynthesis, the process plants use to take carbon from the air to produce plant fibers.

Compost made from these fibers produces soil that will quickly surpass the amount burnt with fossil energy. Much quicker than forests, sunflower fields can restore the purity of the air.

Incentive to plant large sunflower fields comes from the financial benefit, carbon reduction is a side benefit.

Beautifull landscapes is yet another benefit!

This is a virtuous circle.

No patents, funding

[edit]

Because the photovoltaic sunflower is public research initiated by JeanHuguesRobert, no patents can be applied to it.

Poor countries as well as rich countries are free to use it.

We are looking for partners and funds to accelerate the industrialization of the photovoltaic sunflower. Please help!

Road map

[edit]

Refining the photovoltaic sunflower energy production process requires some work:

Seed selection, 300 species

There exists lots of varieties of sunflowers (and some other plants follow the sun as well). The best varieties needs to be selected based on experiments.

However, even the varieties that were selected to produce sunflower oil are adequate. That's because they were selected to produce lots of seeds and have a large central area where the solar cells can be attached.

Some seeds produce tall sunflowers (up to 4 meter). Some produces small ones. Some varieties requires a good soil and water, some grow well on poor soil with little water. Some varieties requires a lot of heat and some other ones can grow in altitude.

The best solution requires a good understanding of the local soil and climate. This is the way to achieve a better synergy between the plant and its environment.

Associated culture, green houses

Growing sunflowers in association with some other plants will help produce stronger sunflowers.

This is specially usefull if sunflowers are grown in a green house, idealy dome shaped, like a yurts. In a greenhouse the sun energy that is not converted into electricity heats the plants. These plants, including the sunflowers themselves grow faster, during a longer period of the year. This is a solution for countries with either few available land or not enough heat.

Rotation of cultures

To avoid land exhaustion, the same plant must not be planted on the same piece of land too many years in a row. The best rotating scheme is yet to be discovered.

This is even more important when sunflowers are planted on poor soils. There, the dead sunflowers are producing soil and the next generation, the next year, will benefit from that better soil.

Mechanization

Tools, technics and machines need to be developed to reduce the man power required to manage the process, much like what was done for sunflower oil production, but for energy production this time.

Partners

[edit]

• DuSoleil, sustainable development, fair trade drugstores and urban campings
• Netergy, provider of pure energy

Contact us at info@bionicflower.org or jeanhuguesrobert@baronmariani.org

Contributors

[edit]

• Florian Galinat. Student, 22 years old, Master in bio-resources and sustainable development, University of Corsica in Corti. "Seed selection and first living prototypes."
• Jean Vincent. Computer scientist and electonician. "Man power estimations".

Obstacles

[edit]

So far the main obstacle that we encounter while promoting the sunflower solution is a rather strange one, an irrational one:

If it were that simple, it would already exist!

Maybe. Maybe not. Indians of America had not invented the wheel.

Sometimes the obvious is not so obvious.

Cost Effectiveness

[edit]

The cost to produce clean energy is said to be higher than the cost to produce energy using fossil material. This is no longer true using photovoltaic sunflowers:

120% due to tracker

When a solar cell is in front of the sun's ray beams, it can be optimized to produce more energy.

Sunflowers follow the sun because they need to focus the sun's energy on the center part of the flower, on the seeds.

That's why sunflowers are natural trackers, the cleanest possible.

220% due to the absence of panels

55% of the cost of solar panels comes from the process to produce and distribute them ; the solar cells are only 45% of the total cost.

Contrary to solar cells in a panel, solar cells without protection won't last 20 years. This is not an issue because solar cell technology improves quickly.

It is more efficient to throw away an old inefficient solar cell when a new more efficient generation of cells becomes available, specially with concentrated solar energy.

Initialy, some basic protection is necessary, to make the first cells last 2/3 years, until much cheaper cells become available.

200% due to "Thin Film" technology

"Thin Film" solar cells are the cheapest ones. They produce less energy per square meter (10%) than the most sophisticated cells (40%) but this is not an issue when large surfaces are available. It is the cost per watt that matters.

5 times more capital efficient

[edit]

As a result (120% + 220% + 200%) a photovoltaic sunflower is more then 500% the financial efficiency of a fixed solar panel, today.

Within 3 years, 5 times more efficient will become 20 times or so more efficient because solar cells are the more expensive part of the solution and its cost will reduce due to Moore's law: it will be divided by 2 twice, once every 18 months.

Man power is not an issue

In developed countries, man power (to plant sunflowers, install solar cells and connect them to an aerial collecting net) contributes 25% of the cost to produce energy at the same price as energy from oil.

In developing countries, man power is much cheaper, 10 times cheaper at least.

In these countries, man power to produce energy that is cheaper than fossil energy becomes almost negligeable (2.5% in Morocco for example).

Concentrated solar energy

Research in photovoltaic energy made huge processes regarding efficiency. But efficient solar cells are expensive. That's why it is necessary to concentrate sun beams and focus them on these expensive solar cells.

As a result, concentrated photovoltaic energy is currently the most financial effective way to produce clean energy.

However, concentrating solar energy requires complex parabols and tracking mechanisms. On the other hand, sunflowers do that naturally.

"Thin Film" solar cells is the other, minority, research sector. Progress came later but now we have processes to mass produce these cells using printers, the same printers utilized to produce other electronic components.

These new cells are light, flexible and semi-transparent ; they can stand on a sunflower without damaging it.

Global Warming

[edit]

The process to produce solar panel is not green at all. It consumes a lot of energy and heavy metal.

Thin Film solar cells made from organic (clean) material exists.

As a result, producing soil with the dead sunflowers will reverse the process of carbon accumulation in the atmosphere due to the burning of fossil material.

This happens thanks to photosynthesis, the process plants use to take carbon from the air to produce plant fibers.

Compost made from these fibers produces soil that will quickly surpass the amount burnt with fossil energy. Much quicker than forests, sunflower fields can restore the purity of the air.

Incentive to plant large sunflower fields comes from the financial benefit, carbon reduction is a side benefit.

Beautifull landscapes is yet another benefit!

This is a virtuous circle.

No patents, funding

[edit]

Because the photovoltaic sunflower is public research initiated by JeanHuguesRobert, no patents can be applied to it.

Poor countries as well as rich countries are free to use it.

We are looking for partners and funds to accelerate the industrialization of the photovoltaic sunflower. Please help!

Road map

[edit]

Refining the photovoltaic sunflower energy production process requires some work:

Seed selection, 300 species

There exists lots of varieties of sunflowers (and some other plants follow the sun as well). The best varieties needs to be selected based on experiments.

However, even the varieties that were selected to produce sunflower oil are adequate. That's because they were selected to produce lots of seeds and have a large central area where the solar cells can be attached.

Some seeds produce tall sunflowers (up to 4 meter). Some produces small ones. Some varieties requires a good soil and water, some grow well on poor soil with little water. Some varieties requires a lot of heat and some other ones can grow in altitude.

The best solution requires a good understanding of the local soil and climate. This is the way to achieve a better synergy between the plant and its environment.

Associated culture, green houses

Growing sunflowers in association with some other plants will help produce stronger sunflowers.

This is specially usefull if sunflowers are grown in a green house, idealy dome shaped, like a yurts. In a greenhouse the sun energy that is not converted into electricity heats the plants. These plants, including the sunflowers themselves grow faster, during a longer period of the year. This is a solution for countries with either few available land or not enough heat.

Rotation of cultures

To avoid land exhaustion, the same plant must not be planted on the same piece of land too many years in a row. The best rotating scheme is yet to be discovered.

This is even more important when sunflowers are planted on poor soils. There, the dead sunflowers are producing soil and the next generation, the next year, will benefit from that better soil.

Mechanization

Tools, technics and machines need to be developed to reduce the man power required to manage the process, much like what was done for sunflower oil production, but for energy production this time.

Partners

[edit]

• DuSoleil, sustainable development, fair trade drugstores and urban campings
• Netergy, provider of pure energy

Contact us at info@bionicflower.org or jeanhuguesrobert@baronmariani.org

Contributors

[edit]

• Florian Galinat. Student, 22 years old, Master in bio-resources and sustainable development, University of Corsica in Corti. "Seed selection and first living prototypes."
• Jean Vincent. Computer scientist and electonician. "Man power estimations".

Obstacles

[edit]

So far the main obstacle that we encounter while promoting the sunflower solution is a rather strange one, an irrational one:

If it were that simple, it would already exist!

Maybe. Maybe not. Indians of America had not invented the wheel.

Sometimes the obvious is not so obvious.

Cost Effectiveness

[edit]

The cost to produce clean energy is said to be higher than the cost to produce energy using fossil material. This is no longer true using photovoltaic sunflowers:

120% due to tracker

When a solar cell is in front of the sun's ray beams, it can be optimized to produce more energy.

Sunflowers follow the sun because they need to focus the sun's energy on the center part of the flower, on the seeds.

That's why sunflowers are natural trackers, the cleanest possible.

220% due to the absence of panels

55% of the cost of solar panels comes from the process to produce and distribute them ; the solar cells are only 45% of the total cost.

Contrary to solar cells in a panel, solar cells without protection won't last 20 years. This is not an issue because solar cell technology improves quickly.

It is more efficient to throw away an old inefficient solar cell when a new more efficient generation of cells becomes available, specially with concentrated solar energy.

Initialy, some basic protection is necessary, to make the first cells last 2/3 years, until much cheaper cells become available.

200% due to "Thin Film" technology

"Thin Film" solar cells are the cheapest ones. They produce less energy per square meter (10%) than the most sophisticated cells (40%) but this is not an issue when large surfaces are available. It is the cost per watt that matters.

5 times more capital efficient

[edit]

As a result (120% + 220% + 200%) a photovoltaic sunflower is more then 500% the financial efficiency of a fixed solar panel, today.

Within 3 years, 5 times more efficient will become 20 times or so more efficient because solar cells are the more expensive part of the solution and its cost will reduce due to Moore's law: it will be divided by 2 twice, once every 18 months.

Man power is not an issue

In developed countries, man power (to plant sunflowers, install solar cells and connect them to an aerial collecting net) contributes 25% of the cost to produce energy at the same price as energy from oil.

In developing countries, man power is much cheaper, 10 times cheaper at least.

In these countries, man power to produce energy that is cheaper than fossil energy becomes almost negligeable (2.5% in Morocco for example).

Concentrated solar energy

Research in photovoltaic energy made huge processes regarding efficiency. But efficient solar cells are expensive. That's why it is necessary to concentrate sun beams and focus them on these expensive solar cells.

As a result, concentrated photovoltaic energy is currently the most financial effective way to produce clean energy.

However, concentrating solar energy requires complex parabols and tracking mechanisms. On the other hand, sunflowers do that naturally.

"Thin Film" solar cells is the other, minority, research sector. Progress came later but now we have processes to mass produce these cells using printers, the same printers utilized to produce other electronic components.

These new cells are light, flexible and semi-transparent ; they can stand on a sunflower without damaging it.

Global Warming

[edit]

The process to produce solar panel is not green at all. It consumes a lot of energy and heavy metal.

Thin Film solar cells made from organic (clean) material exists.

As a result, producing soil with the dead sunflowers will reverse the process of carbon accumulation in the atmosphere due to the burning of fossil material.

This happens thanks to photosynthesis, the process plants use to take carbon from the air to produce plant fibers.

Compost made from these fibers produces soil that will quickly surpass the amount burnt with fossil energy. Much quicker than forests, sunflower fields can restore the purity of the air.

Incentive to plant large sunflower fields comes from the financial benefit, carbon reduction is a side benefit.

Beautifull landscapes is yet another benefit!

This is a virtuous circle.

No patents, funding

[edit]

Because the photovoltaic sunflower is public research initiated by JeanHuguesRobert, no patents can be applied to it.

Poor countries as well as rich countries are free to use it.

We are looking for partners and funds to accelerate the industrialization of the photovoltaic sunflower. Please help!

Road map

[edit]

Refining the photovoltaic sunflower energy production process requires some work:

Seed selection, 300 species

There exists lots of varieties of sunflowers (and some other plants follow the sun as well). The best varieties needs to be selected based on experiments.

However, even the varieties that were selected to produce sunflower oil are adequate. That's because they were selected to produce lots of seeds and have a large central area where the solar cells can be attached.

Some seeds produce tall sunflowers (up to 4 meter). Some produces small ones. Some varieties requires a good soil and water, some grow well on poor soil with little water. Some varieties requires a lot of heat and some other ones can grow in altitude.

The best solution requires a good understanding of the local soil and climate. This is the way to achieve a better synergy between the plant and its environment.

Associated culture, green houses

Growing sunflowers in association with some other plants will help produce stronger sunflowers.

This is specially usefull if sunflowers are grown in a green house, idealy dome shaped, like a yurts. In a greenhouse the sun energy that is not converted into electricity heats the plants. These plants, including the sunflowers themselves grow faster, during a longer period of the year. This is a solution for countries with either few available land or not enough heat.

Rotation of cultures

To avoid land exhaustion, the same plant must not be planted on the same piece of land too many years in a row. The best rotating scheme is yet to be discovered.

This is even more important when sunflowers are planted on poor soils. There, the dead sunflowers are producing soil and the next generation, the next year, will benefit from that better soil.

Mechanization

Tools, technics and machines need to be developed to reduce the man power required to manage the process, much like what was done for sunflower oil production, but for energy production this time.

Partners

[edit]

• DuSoleil, sustainable development, fair trade drugstores and urban campings
• Netergy, provider of pure energy

Contact us at info@bionicflower.org or jeanhuguesrobert@baronmariani.org

Contributors

[edit]

• Florian Galinat. Student, 22 years old, Master in bio-resources and sustainable development, University of Corsica in Corti. "Seed selection and first living prototypes."
• Jean Vincent. Computer scientist and electonician. "Man power estimations".

Obstacles

[edit]

So far the main obstacle that we encounter while promoting the sunflower solution is a rather strange one, an irrational one:

If it were that simple, it would already exist!

Maybe. Maybe not. Indians of America had not invented the wheel.

Sometimes the obvious is not so obvious.

5 times more capital efficient

[edit]

As a result (120% + 220% + 200%) a photovoltaic sunflower is more then 500% the financial efficiency of a fixed solar panel, today.

Within 3 years, 5 times more efficient will become 20 times or so more efficient because solar cells are the more expensive part of the solution and its cost will reduce due to Moore's law: it will be divided by 2 twice, once every 18 months.

Man power is not an issue

In developed countries, man power (to plant sunflowers, install solar cells and connect them to an aerial collecting net) contributes 25% of the cost to produce energy at the same price as energy from oil.

In developing countries, man power is much cheaper, 10 times cheaper at least.

In these countries, man power to produce energy that is cheaper than fossil energy becomes almost negligeable (2.5% in Morocco for example).

Concentrated solar energy

Research in photovoltaic energy made huge processes regarding efficiency. But efficient solar cells are expensive. That's why it is necessary to concentrate sun beams and focus them on these expensive solar cells.

As a result, concentrated photovoltaic energy is currently the most financial effective way to produce clean energy.

However, concentrating solar energy requires complex parabols and tracking mechanisms. On the other hand, sunflowers do that naturally.

"Thin Film" solar cells is the other, minority, research sector. Progress came later but now we have processes to mass produce these cells using printers, the same printers utilized to produce other electronic components.

These new cells are light, flexible and semi-transparent ; they can stand on a sunflower without damaging it.

Global Warming

[edit]

The process to produce solar panel is not green at all. It consumes a lot of energy and heavy metal.

Thin Film solar cells made from organic (clean) material exists.

As a result, producing soil with the dead sunflowers will reverse the process of carbon accumulation in the atmosphere due to the burning of fossil material.

This happens thanks to photosynthesis, the process plants use to take carbon from the air to produce plant fibers.

Compost made from these fibers produces soil that will quickly surpass the amount burnt with fossil energy. Much quicker than forests, sunflower fields can restore the purity of the air.

Incentive to plant large sunflower fields comes from the financial benefit, carbon reduction is a side benefit.

Beautifull landscapes is yet another benefit!

This is a virtuous circle.

No patents, funding

[edit]

Because the photovoltaic sunflower is public research initiated by JeanHuguesRobert, no patents can be applied to it.

Poor countries as well as rich countries are free to use it.

We are looking for partners and funds to accelerate the industrialization of the photovoltaic sunflower. Please help!

Road map

[edit]

Refining the photovoltaic sunflower energy production process requires some work:

Seed selection, 300 species

There exists lots of varieties of sunflowers (and some other plants follow the sun as well). The best varieties needs to be selected based on experiments.

However, even the varieties that were selected to produce sunflower oil are adequate. That's because they were selected to produce lots of seeds and have a large central area where the solar cells can be attached.

Some seeds produce tall sunflowers (up to 4 meter). Some produces small ones. Some varieties requires a good soil and water, some grow well on poor soil with little water. Some varieties requires a lot of heat and some other ones can grow in altitude.

The best solution requires a good understanding of the local soil and climate. This is the way to achieve a better synergy between the plant and its environment.

Associated culture, green houses

Growing sunflowers in association with some other plants will help produce stronger sunflowers.

This is specially usefull if sunflowers are grown in a green house, idealy dome shaped, like a yurts. In a greenhouse the sun energy that is not converted into electricity heats the plants. These plants, including the sunflowers themselves grow faster, during a longer period of the year. This is a solution for countries with either few available land or not enough heat.

Rotation of cultures

To avoid land exhaustion, the same plant must not be planted on the same piece of land too many years in a row. The best rotating scheme is yet to be discovered.

This is even more important when sunflowers are planted on poor soils. There, the dead sunflowers are producing soil and the next generation, the next year, will benefit from that better soil.

Mechanization

Tools, technics and machines need to be developed to reduce the man power required to manage the process, much like what was done for sunflower oil production, but for energy production this time.

Partners

[edit]

• DuSoleil, sustainable development, fair trade drugstores and urban campings
• Netergy, provider of pure energy

Contact us at info@bionicflower.org or jeanhuguesrobert@baronmariani.org

Contributors

[edit]

• Florian Galinat. Student, 22 years old, Master in bio-resources and sustainable development, University of Corsica in Corti. "Seed selection and first living prototypes."
• Jean Vincent. Computer scientist and electonician. "Man power estimations".

Obstacles

[edit]

So far the main obstacle that we encounter while promoting the sunflower solution is a rather strange one, an irrational one:

If it were that simple, it would already exist!

Maybe. Maybe not. Indians of America had not invented the wheel.

Sometimes the obvious is not so obvious.

Cost Effectiveness

[edit]

The cost to produce clean energy is said to be higher than the cost to produce energy using fossil material. This is no longer true using photovoltaic sunflowers:

120% due to tracker

When a solar cell is in front of the sun's ray beams, it can be optimized to produce more energy.

Sunflowers follow the sun because they need to focus the sun's energy on the center part of the flower, on the seeds.

That's why sunflowers are natural trackers, the cleanest possible.

220% due to the absence of panels

55% of the cost of solar panels comes from the process to produce and distribute them ; the solar cells are only 45% of the total cost.

Contrary to solar cells in a panel, solar cells without protection won't last 20 years. This is not an issue because solar cell technology improves quickly.

It is more efficient to throw away an old inefficient solar cell when a new more efficient generation of cells becomes available, specially with concentrated solar energy.

Initialy, some basic protection is necessary, to make the first cells last 2/3 years, until much cheaper cells become available.

200% due to "Thin Film" technology

"Thin Film" solar cells are the cheapest ones. They produce less energy per square meter (10%) than the most sophisticated cells (40%) but this is not an issue when large surfaces are available. It is the cost per watt that matters.

5 times more capital efficient

[edit]

As a result (120% + 220% + 200%) a photovoltaic sunflower is more then 500% the financial efficiency of a fixed solar panel, today.

Within 3 years, 5 times more efficient will become 20 times or so more efficient because solar cells are the more expensive part of the solution and its cost will reduce due to Moore's law: it will be divided by 2 twice, once every 18 months.

Man power is not an issue

In developed countries, man power (to plant sunflowers, install solar cells and connect them to an aerial collecting net) contributes 25% of the cost to produce energy at the same price as energy from oil.

In developing countries, man power is much cheaper, 10 times cheaper at least.

In these countries, man power to produce energy that is cheaper than fossil energy becomes almost negligeable (2.5% in Morocco for example).

Concentrated solar energy

Research in photovoltaic energy made huge processes regarding efficiency. But efficient solar cells are expensive. That's why it is necessary to concentrate sun beams and focus them on these expensive solar cells.

As a result, concentrated photovoltaic energy is currently the most financial effective way to produce clean energy.

However, concentrating solar energy requires complex parabols and tracking mechanisms. On the other hand, sunflowers do that naturally.

"Thin Film" solar cells is the other, minority, research sector. Progress came later but now we have processes to mass produce these cells using printers, the same printers utilized to produce other electronic components.

These new cells are light, flexible and semi-transparent ; they can stand on a sunflower without damaging it.

Global Warming

[edit]

The process to produce solar panel is not green at all. It consumes a lot of energy and heavy metal.

Thin Film solar cells made from organic (clean) material exists.

As a result, producing soil with the dead sunflowers will reverse the process of carbon accumulation in the atmosphere due to the burning of fossil material.

This happens thanks to photosynthesis, the process plants use to take carbon from the air to produce plant fibers.

Compost made from these fibers produces soil that will quickly surpass the amount burnt with fossil energy. Much quicker than forests, sunflower fields can restore the purity of the air.

Incentive to plant large sunflower fields comes from the financial benefit, carbon reduction is a side benefit.

Beautifull landscapes is yet another benefit!

This is a virtuous circle.

No patents, funding

[edit]

Because the photovoltaic sunflower is public research initiated by JeanHuguesRobert, no patents can be applied to it.

Poor countries as well as rich countries are free to use it.

We are looking for partners and funds to accelerate the industrialization of the photovoltaic sunflower. Please help!

Road map

[edit]

Refining the photovoltaic sunflower energy production process requires some work:

Seed selection, 300 species

There exists lots of varieties of sunflowers (and some other plants follow the sun as well). The best varieties needs to be selected based on experiments.

However, even the varieties that were selected to produce sunflower oil are adequate. That's because they were selected to produce lots of seeds and have a large central area where the solar cells can be attached.

Some seeds produce tall sunflowers (up to 4 meter). Some produces small ones. Some varieties requires a good soil and water, some grow well on poor soil with little water. Some varieties requires a lot of heat and some other ones can grow in altitude.

The best solution requires a good understanding of the local soil and climate. This is the way to achieve a better synergy between the plant and its environment.

Associated culture, green houses

Growing sunflowers in association with some other plants will help produce stronger sunflowers.

This is specially usefull if sunflowers are grown in a green house, idealy dome shaped, like a yurts. In a greenhouse the sun energy that is not converted into electricity heats the plants. These plants, including the sunflowers themselves grow faster, during a longer period of the year. This is a solution for countries with either few available land or not enough heat.

Rotation of cultures

To avoid land exhaustion, the same plant must not be planted on the same piece of land too many years in a row. The best rotating scheme is yet to be discovered.

This is even more important when sunflowers are planted on poor soils. There, the dead sunflowers are producing soil and the next generation, the next year, will benefit from that better soil.

Mechanization

Tools, technics and machines need to be developed to reduce the man power required to manage the process, much like what was done for sunflower oil production, but for energy production this time.

Partners

[edit]

• DuSoleil, sustainable development, fair trade drugstores and urban campings
• Netergy, provider of pure energy

Contact us at info@bionicflower.org or jeanhuguesrobert@baronmariani.org

Contributors

[edit]

• Florian Galinat. Student, 22 years old, Master in bio-resources and sustainable development, University of Corsica in Corti. "Seed selection and first living prototypes."
• Jean Vincent. Computer scientist and electonician. "Man power estimations".

Obstacles

[edit]

So far the main obstacle that we encounter while promoting the sunflower solution is a rather strange one, an irrational one:

If it were that simple, it would already exist!

Maybe. Maybe not. Indians of America had not invented the wheel.

Sometimes the obvious is not so obvious.

Cost Effectiveness

[edit]

The cost to produce clean energy is said to be higher than the cost to produce energy using fossil material. This is no longer true using photovoltaic sunflowers:

120% due to tracker

When a solar cell is in front of the sun's ray beams, it can be optimized to produce more energy.

Sunflowers follow the sun because they need to focus the sun's energy on the center part of the flower, on the seeds.

That's why sunflowers are natural trackers, the cleanest possible.

220% due to the absence of panels

55% of the cost of solar panels comes from the process to produce and distribute them ; the solar cells are only 45% of the total cost.

Contrary to solar cells in a panel, solar cells without protection won't last 20 years. This is not an issue because solar cell technology improves quickly.

It is more efficient to throw away an old inefficient solar cell when a new more efficient generation of cells becomes available, specially with concentrated solar energy.

Initialy, some basic protection is necessary, to make the first cells last 2/3 years, until much cheaper cells become available.

200% due to "Thin Film" technology

"Thin Film" solar cells are the cheapest ones. They produce less energy per square meter (10%) than the most sophisticated cells (40%) but this is not an issue when large surfaces are available. It is the cost per watt that matters.

5 times more capital efficient

[edit]

As a result (120% + 220% + 200%) a photovoltaic sunflower is more then 500% the financial efficiency of a fixed solar panel, today.

Within 3 years, 5 times more efficient will become 20 times or so more efficient because solar cells are the more expensive part of the solution and its cost will reduce due to Moore's law: it will be divided by 2 twice, once every 18 months.

Man power is not an issue

In developed countries, man power (to plant sunflowers, install solar cells and connect them to an aerial collecting net) contributes 25% of the cost to produce energy at the same price as energy from oil.

In developing countries, man power is much cheaper, 10 times cheaper at least.

In these countries, man power to produce energy that is cheaper than fossil energy becomes almost negligeable (2.5% in Morocco for example).

Concentrated solar energy

Research in photovoltaic energy made huge processes regarding efficiency. But efficient solar cells are expensive. That's why it is necessary to concentrate sun beams and focus them on these expensive solar cells.

As a result, concentrated photovoltaic energy is currently the most financial effective way to produce clean energy.

However, concentrating solar energy requires complex parabols and tracking mechanisms. On the other hand, sunflowers do that naturally.

"Thin Film" solar cells is the other, minority, research sector. Progress came later but now we have processes to mass produce these cells using printers, the same printers utilized to produce other electronic components.

These new cells are light, flexible and semi-transparent ; they can stand on a sunflower without damaging it.

Global Warming

[edit]

The process to produce solar panel is not green at all. It consumes a lot of energy and heavy metal.

Thin Film solar cells made from organic (clean) material exists.

As a result, producing soil with the dead sunflowers will reverse the process of carbon accumulation in the atmosphere due to the burning of fossil material.

This happens thanks to photosynthesis, the process plants use to take carbon from the air to produce plant fibers.

Compost made from these fibers produces soil that will quickly surpass the amount burnt with fossil energy. Much quicker than forests, sunflower fields can restore the purity of the air.

Incentive to plant large sunflower fields comes from the financial benefit, carbon reduction is a side benefit.

Beautifull landscapes is yet another benefit!

This is a virtuous circle.

No patents, funding

[edit]

Because the photovoltaic sunflower is public research initiated by JeanHuguesRobert, no patents can be applied to it.

Poor countries as well as rich countries are free to use it.

We are looking for partners and funds to accelerate the industrialization of the photovoltaic sunflower. Please help!

Road map

[edit]

Refining the photovoltaic sunflower energy production process requires some work:

Seed selection, 300 species

There exists lots of varieties of sunflowers (and some other plants follow the sun as well). The best varieties needs to be selected based on experiments.

However, even the varieties that were selected to produce sunflower oil are adequate. That's because they were selected to produce lots of seeds and have a large central area where the solar cells can be attached.

Some seeds produce tall sunflowers (up to 4 meter). Some produces small ones. Some varieties requires a good soil and water, some grow well on poor soil with little water. Some varieties requires a lot of heat and some other ones can grow in altitude.

The best solution requires a good understanding of the local soil and climate. This is the way to achieve a better synergy between the plant and its environment.

Associated culture, green houses

Growing sunflowers in association with some other plants will help produce stronger sunflowers.

This is specially usefull if sunflowers are grown in a green house, idealy dome shaped, like a yurts. In a greenhouse the sun energy that is not converted into electricity heats the plants. These plants, including the sunflowers themselves grow faster, during a longer period of the year. This is a solution for countries with either few available land or not enough heat.

Rotation of cultures

To avoid land exhaustion, the same plant must not be planted on the same piece of land too many years in a row. The best rotating scheme is yet to be discovered.

This is even more important when sunflowers are planted on poor soils. There, the dead sunflowers are producing soil and the next generation, the next year, will benefit from that better soil.

Mechanization

Tools, technics and machines need to be developed to reduce the man power required to manage the process, much like what was done for sunflower oil production, but for energy production this time.

Partners

[edit]

• DuSoleil, sustainable development, fair trade drugstores and urban campings
• Netergy, provider of pure energy

Contact us at info@bionicflower.org or jeanhuguesrobert@baronmariani.org

Contributors

[edit]

• Florian Galinat. Student, 22 years old, Master in bio-resources and sustainable development, University of Corsica in Corti. "Seed selection and first living prototypes."
• Jean Vincent. Computer scientist and electonician. "Man power estimations".

Obstacles

[edit]

So far the main obstacle that we encounter while promoting the sunflower solution is a rather strange one, an irrational one:

If it were that simple, it would already exist!

Maybe. Maybe not. Indians of America had not invented the wheel.

Sometimes the obvious is not so obvious.

Cost Effectiveness

[edit]

The cost to produce clean energy is said to be higher than the cost to produce energy using fossil material. This is no longer true using photovoltaic sunflowers:

120% due to tracker

When a solar cell is in front of the sun's ray beams, it can be optimized to produce more energy.

Sunflowers follow the sun because they need to focus the sun's energy on the center part of the flower, on the seeds.

That's why sunflowers are natural trackers, the cleanest possible.

220% due to the absence of panels

55% of the cost of solar panels comes from the process to produce and distribute them ; the solar cells are only 45% of the total cost.

Contrary to solar cells in a panel, solar cells without protection won't last 20 years. This is not an issue because solar cell technology improves quickly.

It is more efficient to throw away an old inefficient solar cell when a new more efficient generation of cells becomes available, specially with concentrated solar energy.

Initialy, some basic protection is necessary, to make the first cells last 2/3 years, until much cheaper cells become available.

200% due to "Thin Film" technology

"Thin Film" solar cells are the cheapest ones. They produce less energy per square meter (10%) than the most sophisticated cells (40%) but this is not an issue when large surfaces are available. It is the cost per watt that matters.

5 times more capital efficient

[edit]

As a result (120% + 220% + 200%) a photovoltaic sunflower is more then 500% the financial efficiency of a fixed solar panel, today.

Within 3 years, 5 times more efficient will become 20 times or so more efficient because solar cells are the more expensive part of the solution and its cost will reduce due to Moore's law: it will be divided by 2 twice, once every 18 months.

Man power is not an issue

In developed countries, man power (to plant sunflowers, install solar cells and connect them to an aerial collecting net) contributes 25% of the cost to produce energy at the same price as energy from oil.

In developing countries, man power is much cheaper, 10 times cheaper at least.

In these countries, man power to produce energy that is cheaper than fossil energy becomes almost negligeable (2.5% in Morocco for example).

Concentrated solar energy

Research in photovoltaic energy made huge processes regarding efficiency. But efficient solar cells are expensive. That's why it is necessary to concentrate sun beams and focus them on these expensive solar cells.

As a result, concentrated photovoltaic energy is currently the most financial effective way to produce clean energy.

However, concentrating solar energy requires complex parabols and tracking mechanisms. On the other hand, sunflowers do that naturally.

"Thin Film" solar cells is the other, minority, research sector. Progress came later but now we have processes to mass produce these cells using printers, the same printers utilized to produce other electronic components.

These new cells are light, flexible and semi-transparent ; they can stand on a sunflower without damaging it.

Global Warming

[edit]

The process to produce solar panel is not green at all. It consumes a lot of energy and heavy metal.

Thin Film solar cells made from organic (clean) material exists.

As a result, producing soil with the dead sunflowers will reverse the process of carbon accumulation in the atmosphere due to the burning of fossil material.

This happens thanks to photosynthesis, the process plants use to take carbon from the air to produce plant fibers.

Compost made from these fibers produces soil that will quickly surpass the amount burnt with fossil energy. Much quicker than forests, sunflower fields can restore the purity of the air.

Incentive to plant large sunflower fields comes from the financial benefit, carbon reduction is a side benefit.

Beautifull landscapes is yet another benefit!

This is a virtuous circle.

No patents, funding

[edit]

Because the photovoltaic sunflower is public research initiated by JeanHuguesRobert, no patents can be applied to it.

Poor countries as well as rich countries are free to use it.

We are looking for partners and funds to accelerate the industrialization of the photovoltaic sunflower. Please help!

Road map

[edit]

Refining the photovoltaic sunflower energy production process requires some work:

Seed selection, 300 species

There exists lots of varieties of sunflowers (and some other plants follow the sun as well). The best varieties needs to be selected based on experiments.

However, even the varieties that were selected to produce sunflower oil are adequate. That's because they were selected to produce lots of seeds and have a large central area where the solar cells can be attached.

Some seeds produce tall sunflowers (up to 4 meter). Some produces small ones. Some varieties requires a good soil and water, some grow well on poor soil with little water. Some varieties requires a lot of heat and some other ones can grow in altitude.

The best solution requires a good understanding of the local soil and climate. This is the way to achieve a better synergy between the plant and its environment.

Associated culture, green houses

Growing sunflowers in association with some other plants will help produce stronger sunflowers.

This is specially usefull if sunflowers are grown in a green house, idealy dome shaped, like a yurts. In a greenhouse the sun energy that is not converted into electricity heats the plants. These plants, including the sunflowers themselves grow faster, during a longer period of the year. This is a solution for countries with either few available land or not enough heat.

Rotation of cultures

To avoid land exhaustion, the same plant must not be planted on the same piece of land too many years in a row. The best rotating scheme is yet to be discovered.

This is even more important when sunflowers are planted on poor soils. There, the dead sunflowers are producing soil and the next generation, the next year, will benefit from that better soil.

Mechanization

Tools, technics and machines need to be developed to reduce the man power required to manage the process, much like what was done for sunflower oil production, but for energy production this time.

Partners

[edit]

• DuSoleil, sustainable development, fair trade drugstores and urban campings
• Netergy, provider of pure energy

Contact us at info@bionicflower.org or jeanhuguesrobert@baronmariani.org

Contributors

[edit]

• Florian Galinat. Student, 22 years old, Master in bio-resources and sustainable development, University of Corsica in Corti. "Seed selection and first living prototypes."
• Jean Vincent. Computer scientist and electonician. "Man power estimations".

Obstacles

[edit]

So far the main obstacle that we encounter while promoting the sunflower solution is a rather strange one, an irrational one:

If it were that simple, it would already exist!

Maybe. Maybe not. Indians of America had not invented the wheel.

Sometimes the obvious is not so obvious.

Cost Effectiveness

[edit]

The cost to produce clean energy is said to be higher than the cost to produce energy using fossil material. This is no longer true using photovoltaic sunflowers:

120% due to tracker

When a solar cell is in front of the sun's ray beams, it can be optimized to produce more energy.

Sunflowers follow the sun because they need to focus the sun's energy on the center part of the flower, on the seeds.

That's why sunflowers are natural trackers, the cleanest possible.

220% due to the absence of panels

55% of the cost of solar panels comes from the process to produce and distribute them ; the solar cells are only 45% of the total cost.

Contrary to solar cells in a panel, solar cells without protection won't last 20 years. This is not an issue because solar cell technology improves quickly.

It is more efficient to throw away an old inefficient solar cell when a new more efficient generation of cells becomes available, specially with concentrated solar energy.

Initialy, some basic protection is necessary, to make the first cells last 2/3 years, until much cheaper cells become available.

200% due to "Thin Film" technology

"Thin Film" solar cells are the cheapest ones. They produce less energy per square meter (10%) than the most sophisticated cells (40%) but this is not an issue when large surfaces are available. It is the cost per watt that matters.

5 times more capital efficient

[edit]

As a result (120% + 220% + 200%) a photovoltaic sunflower is more then 500% the financial efficiency of a fixed solar panel, today.

Within 3 years, 5 times more efficient will become 20 times or so more efficient because solar cells are the more expensive part of the solution and its cost will reduce due to Moore's law: it will be divided by 2 twice, once every 18 months.

Man power is not an issue

In developed countries, man power (to plant sunflowers, install solar cells and connect them to an aerial collecting net) contributes 25% of the cost to produce energy at the same price as energy from oil.

In developing countries, man power is much cheaper, 10 times cheaper at least.

In these countries, man power to produce energy that is cheaper than fossil energy becomes almost negligeable (2.5% in Morocco for example).

Concentrated solar energy

Research in photovoltaic energy made huge processes regarding efficiency. But efficient solar cells are expensive. That's why it is necessary to concentrate sun beams and focus them on these expensive solar cells.

As a result, concentrated photovoltaic energy is currently the most financial effective way to produce clean energy.

However, concentrating solar energy requires complex parabols and tracking mechanisms. On the other hand, sunflowers do that naturally.

"Thin Film" solar cells is the other, minority, research sector. Progress came later but now we have processes to mass produce these cells using printers, the same printers utilized to produce other electronic components.

These new cells are light, flexible and semi-transparent ; they can stand on a sunflower without damaging it.

Global Warming

[edit]

The process to produce solar panel is not green at all. It consumes a lot of energy and heavy metal.

Thin Film solar cells made from organic (clean) material exists.

As a result, producing soil with the dead sunflowers will reverse the process of carbon accumulation in the atmosphere due to the burning of fossil material.

This happens thanks to photosynthesis, the process plants use to take carbon from the air to produce plant fibers.

Compost made from these fibers produces soil that will quickly surpass the amount burnt with fossil energy. Much quicker than forests, sunflower fields can restore the purity of the air.

Incentive to plant large sunflower fields comes from the financial benefit, carbon reduction is a side benefit.

Beautifull landscapes is yet another benefit!

This is a virtuous circle.

No patents, funding

[edit]

Because the photovoltaic sunflower is public research initiated by JeanHuguesRobert, no patents can be applied to it.

Poor countries as well as rich countries are free to use it.

We are looking for partners and funds to accelerate the industrialization of the photovoltaic sunflower. Please help!

Road map

[edit]

Refining the photovoltaic sunflower energy production process requires some work:

Seed selection, 300 species

There exists lots of varieties of sunflowers (and some other plants follow the sun as well). The best varieties needs to be selected based on experiments.

However, even the varieties that were selected to produce sunflower oil are adequate. That's because they were selected to produce lots of seeds and have a large central area where the solar cells can be attached.

Some seeds produce tall sunflowers (up to 4 meter). Some produces small ones. Some varieties requires a good soil and water, some grow well on poor soil with little water. Some varieties requires a lot of heat and some other ones can grow in altitude.

The best solution requires a good understanding of the local soil and climate. This is the way to achieve a better synergy between the plant and its environment.

Associated culture, green houses

Growing sunflowers in association with some other plants will help produce stronger sunflowers.

This is specially usefull if sunflowers are grown in a green house, idealy dome shaped, like a yurts. In a greenhouse the sun energy that is not converted into electricity heats the plants. These plants, including the sunflowers themselves grow faster, during a longer period of the year. This is a solution for countries with either few available land or not enough heat.

Rotation of cultures

To avoid land exhaustion, the same plant must not be planted on the same piece of land too many years in a row. The best rotating scheme is yet to be discovered.

This is even more important when sunflowers are planted on poor soils. There, the dead sunflowers are producing soil and the next generation, the next year, will benefit from that better soil.

Mechanization

Tools, technics and machines need to be developed to reduce the man power required to manage the process, much like what was done for sunflower oil production, but for energy production this time.

Partners

[edit]

• DuSoleil, sustainable development, fair trade drugstores and urban campings
• Netergy, provider of pure energy

Contact us at info@bionicflower.org or jeanhuguesrobert@baronmariani.org

Contributors

[edit]

• Florian Galinat. Student, 22 years old, Master in bio-resources and sustainable development, University of Corsica in Corti. "Seed selection and first living prototypes."
• Jean Vincent. Computer scientist and electonician. "Man power estimations".

Obstacles

[edit]

So far the main obstacle that we encounter while promoting the sunflower solution is a rather strange one, an irrational one:

If it were that simple, it would already exist!

Maybe. Maybe not. Indians of America had not invented the wheel.

Sometimes the obvious is not so obvious.

Cost Effectiveness

[edit]

The cost to produce clean energy is said to be higher than the cost to produce energy using fossil material. This is no longer true using photovoltaic sunflowers:

120% due to tracker

When a solar cell is in front of the sun's ray beams, it can be optimized to produce more energy.

Sunflowers follow the sun because they need to focus the sun's energy on the center part of the flower, on the seeds.

That's why sunflowers are natural trackers, the cleanest possible.

220% due to the absence of panels

55% of the cost of solar panels comes from the process to produce and distribute them ; the solar cells are only 45% of the total cost.

Contrary to solar cells in a panel, solar cells without protection won't last 20 years. This is not an issue because solar cell technology improves quickly.

It is more efficient to throw away an old inefficient solar cell when a new more efficient generation of cells becomes available, specially with concentrated solar energy.

Initialy, some basic protection is necessary, to make the first cells last 2/3 years, until much cheaper cells become available.

200% due to "Thin Film" technology

"Thin Film" solar cells are the cheapest ones. They produce less energy per square meter (10%) than the most sophisticated cells (40%) but this is not an issue when large surfaces are available. It is the cost per watt that matters.

5 times more capital efficient

[edit]

As a result (120% + 220% + 200%) a photovoltaic sunflower is more then 500% the financial efficiency of a fixed solar panel, today.

Within 3 years, 5 times more efficient will become 20 times or so more efficient because solar cells are the more expensive part of the solution and its cost will reduce due to Moore's law: it will be divided by 2 twice, once every 18 months.

Man power is not an issue

In developed countries, man power (to plant sunflowers, install solar cells and connect them to an aerial collecting net) contributes 25% of the cost to produce energy at the same price as energy from oil.

In developing countries, man power is much cheaper, 10 times cheaper at least.

In these countries, man power to produce energy that is cheaper than fossil energy becomes almost negligeable (2.5% in Morocco for example).

Concentrated solar energy

Research in photovoltaic energy made huge processes regarding efficiency. But efficient solar cells are expensive. That's why it is necessary to concentrate sun beams and focus them on these expensive solar cells.

As a result, concentrated photovoltaic energy is currently the most financial effective way to produce clean energy.

However, concentrating solar energy requires complex parabols and tracking mechanisms. On the other hand, sunflowers do that naturally.

"Thin Film" solar cells is the other, minority, research sector. Progress came later but now we have processes to mass produce these cells using printers, the same printers utilized to produce other electronic components.

These new cells are light, flexible and semi-transparent ; they can stand on a sunflower without damaging it.

Global Warming

[edit]

The process to produce solar panel is not green at all. It consumes a lot of energy and heavy metal.

Thin Film solar cells made from organic (clean) material exists.

As a result, producing soil with the dead sunflowers will reverse the process of carbon accumulation in the atmosphere due to the burning of fossil material.

This happens thanks to photosynthesis, the process plants use to take carbon from the air to produce plant fibers.

Compost made from these fibers produces soil that will quickly surpass the amount burnt with fossil energy. Much quicker than forests, sunflower fields can restore the purity of the air.

Incentive to plant large sunflower fields comes from the financial benefit, carbon reduction is a side benefit.

Beautifull landscapes is yet another benefit!

This is a virtuous circle.

No patents, funding

[edit]

Because the photovoltaic sunflower is public research initiated by JeanHuguesRobert, no patents can be applied to it.

Poor countries as well as rich countries are free to use it.

We are looking for partners and funds to accelerate the industrialization of the photovoltaic sunflower. Please help!

Road map

[edit]

Refining the photovoltaic sunflower energy production process requires some work:

Seed selection, 300 species

There exists lots of varieties of sunflowers (and some other plants follow the sun as well). The best varieties needs to be selected based on experiments.

However, even the varieties that were selected to produce sunflower oil are adequate. That's because they were selected to produce lots of seeds and have a large central area where the solar cells can be attached.

Some seeds produce tall sunflowers (up to 4 meter). Some produces small ones. Some varieties requires a good soil and water, some grow well on poor soil with little water. Some varieties requires a lot of heat and some other ones can grow in altitude.

The best solution requires a good understanding of the local soil and climate. This is the way to achieve a better synergy between the plant and its environment.

Associated culture, green houses

Growing sunflowers in association with some other plants will help produce stronger sunflowers.

This is specially usefull if sunflowers are grown in a green house, idealy dome shaped, like a yurts. In a greenhouse the sun energy that is not converted into electricity heats the plants. These plants, including the sunflowers themselves grow faster, during a longer period of the year. This is a solution for countries with either few available land or not enough heat.

Rotation of cultures

To avoid land exhaustion, the same plant must not be planted on the same piece of land too many years in a row. The best rotating scheme is yet to be discovered.

This is even more important when sunflowers are planted on poor soils. There, the dead sunflowers are producing soil and the next generation, the next year, will benefit from that better soil.

Mechanization

Tools, technics and machines need to be developed to reduce the man power required to manage the process, much like what was done for sunflower oil production, but for energy production this time.

Partners

[edit]

• DuSoleil, sustainable development, fair trade drugstores and urban campings
• Netergy, provider of pure energy

Contact us at info@bionicflower.org or jeanhuguesrobert@baronmariani.org

Contributors

[edit]

• Florian Galinat. Student, 22 years old, Master in bio-resources and sustainable development, University of Corsica in Corti. "Seed selection and first living prototypes."
• Jean Vincent. Computer scientist and electonician. "Man power estimations".

Obstacles

[edit]

So far the main obstacle that we encounter while promoting the sunflower solution is a rather strange one, an irrational one:

If it were that simple, it would already exist!

Maybe. Maybe not. Indians of America had not invented the wheel.

Sometimes the obvious is not so obvious.

Cost Effectiveness

[edit]

The cost to produce clean energy is said to be higher than the cost to produce energy using fossil material. This is no longer true using photovoltaic sunflowers:

120% due to tracker

When a solar cell is in front of the sun's ray beams, it can be optimized to produce more energy.

Sunflowers follow the sun because they need to focus the sun's energy on the center part of the flower, on the seeds.

That's why sunflowers are natural trackers, the cleanest possible.

220% due to the absence of panels

55% of the cost of solar panels comes from the process to produce and distribute them ; the solar cells are only 45% of the total cost.

Contrary to solar cells in a panel, solar cells without protection won't last 20 years. This is not an issue because solar cell technology improves quickly.

It is more efficient to throw away an old inefficient solar cell when a new more efficient generation of cells becomes available, specially with concentrated solar energy.

Initialy, some basic protection is necessary, to make the first cells last 2/3 years, until much cheaper cells become available.

200% due to "Thin Film" technology

"Thin Film" solar cells are the cheapest ones. They produce less energy per square meter (10%) than the most sophisticated cells (40%) but this is not an issue when large surfaces are available. It is the cost per watt that matters.

5 times more capital efficient

[edit]

As a result (120% + 220% + 200%) a photovoltaic sunflower is more then 500% the financial efficiency of a fixed solar panel, today.

Within 3 years, 5 times more efficient will become 20 times or so more efficient because solar cells are the more expensive part of the solution and its cost will reduce due to Moore's law: it will be divided by 2 twice, once every 18 months.

Man power is not an issue

In developed countries, man power (to plant sunflowers, install solar cells and connect them to an aerial collecting net) contributes 25% of the cost to produce energy at the same price as energy from oil.

In developing countries, man power is much cheaper, 10 times cheaper at least.

In these countries, man power to produce energy that is cheaper than fossil energy becomes almost negligeable (2.5% in Morocco for example).

Concentrated solar energy

Research in photovoltaic energy made huge processes regarding efficiency. But efficient solar cells are expensive. That's why it is necessary to concentrate sun beams and focus them on these expensive solar cells.

As a result, concentrated photovoltaic energy is currently the most financial effective way to produce clean energy.

However, concentrating solar energy requires complex parabols and tracking mechanisms. On the other hand, sunflowers do that naturally.

"Thin Film" solar cells is the other, minority, research sector. Progress came later but now we have processes to mass produce these cells using printers, the same printers utilized to produce other electronic components.

These new cells are light, flexible and semi-transparent ; they can stand on a sunflower without damaging it.

Global Warming

[edit]

The process to produce solar panel is not green at all. It consumes a lot of energy and heavy metal.

Thin Film solar cells made from organic (clean) material exists.

As a result, producing soil with the dead sunflowers will reverse the process of carbon accumulation in the atmosphere due to the burning of fossil material.

This happens thanks to photosynthesis, the process plants use to take carbon from the air to produce plant fibers.

Compost made from these fibers produces soil that will quickly surpass the amount burnt with fossil energy. Much quicker than forests, sunflower fields can restore the purity of the air.

Incentive to plant large sunflower fields comes from the financial benefit, carbon reduction is a side benefit.

Beautifull landscapes is yet another benefit!

This is a virtuous circle.

No patents, funding

[edit]

Because the photovoltaic sunflower is public research initiated by JeanHuguesRobert, no patents can be applied to it.

Poor countries as well as rich countries are free to use it.

We are looking for partners and funds to accelerate the industrialization of the photovoltaic sunflower. Please help!

Road map

[edit]

Refining the photovoltaic sunflower energy production process requires some work:

Seed selection, 300 species

There exists lots of varieties of sunflowers (and some other plants follow the sun as well). The best varieties needs to be selected based on experiments.

However, even the varieties that were selected to produce sunflower oil are adequate. That's because they were selected to produce lots of seeds and have a large central area where the solar cells can be attached.

Some seeds produce tall sunflowers (up to 4 meter). Some produces small ones. Some varieties requires a good soil and water, some grow well on poor soil with little water. Some varieties requires a lot of heat and some other ones can grow in altitude.

The best solution requires a good understanding of the local soil and climate. This is the way to achieve a better synergy between the plant and its environment.

Associated culture, green houses

Growing sunflowers in association with some other plants will help produce stronger sunflowers.

This is specially usefull if sunflowers are grown in a green house, idealy dome shaped, like a yurts. In a greenhouse the sun energy that is not converted into electricity heats the plants. These plants, including the sunflowers themselves grow faster, during a longer period of the year. This is a solution for countries with either few available land or not enough heat.

Rotation of cultures

To avoid land exhaustion, the same plant must not be planted on the same piece of land too many years in a row. The best rotating scheme is yet to be discovered.

This is even more important when sunflowers are planted on poor soils. There, the dead sunflowers are producing soil and the next generation, the next year, will benefit from that better soil.

Mechanization

Tools, technics and machines need to be developed to reduce the man power required to manage the process, much like what was done for sunflower oil production, but for energy production this time.

Partners

[edit]

• DuSoleil, sustainable development, fair trade drugstores and urban campings
• Netergy, provider of pure energy

Contact us at info@bionicflower.org or jeanhuguesrobert@baronmariani.org

Contributors

[edit]

• Florian Galinat. Student, 22 years old, Master in bio-resources and sustainable development, University of Corsica in Corti. "Seed selection and first living prototypes."
• Jean Vincent. Computer scientist and electonician. "Man power estimations".

Obstacles

[edit]

So far the main obstacle that we encounter while promoting the sunflower solution is a rather strange one, an irrational one:

If it were that simple, it would already exist!

Maybe. Maybe not. Indians of America had not invented the wheel.

Sometimes the obvious is not so obvious.

Cost Effectiveness

[edit]

The cost to produce clean energy is said to be higher than the cost to produce energy using fossil material. This is no longer true using photovoltaic sunflowers:

120% due to tracker

When a solar cell is in front of the sun's ray beams, it can be optimized to produce more energy.

Sunflowers follow the sun because they need to focus the sun's energy on the center part of the flower, on the seeds.

That's why sunflowers are natural trackers, the cleanest possible.

220% due to the absence of panels

55% of the cost of solar panels comes from the process to produce and distribute them ; the solar cells are only 45% of the total cost.

Contrary to solar cells in a panel, solar cells without protection won't last 20 years. This is not an issue because solar cell technology improves quickly.

It is more efficient to throw away an old inefficient solar cell when a new more efficient generation of cells becomes available, specially with concentrated solar energy.

Initialy, some basic protection is necessary, to make the first cells last 2/3 years, until much cheaper cells become available.

200% due to "Thin Film" technology

"Thin Film" solar cells are the cheapest ones. They produce less energy per square meter (10%) than the most sophisticated cells (40%) but this is not an issue when large surfaces are available. It is the cost per watt that matters.

5 times more capital efficient

[edit]

As a result (120% + 220% + 200%) a photovoltaic sunflower is more then 500% the financial efficiency of a fixed solar panel, today.

Within 3 years, 5 times more efficient will become 20 times or so more efficient because solar cells are the more expensive part of the solution and its cost will reduce due to Moore's law: it will be divided by 2 twice, once every 18 months.

Man power is not an issue

In developed countries, man power (to plant sunflowers, install solar cells and connect them to an aerial collecting net) contributes 25% of the cost to produce energy at the same price as energy from oil.

In developing countries, man power is much cheaper, 10 times cheaper at least.

In these countries, man power to produce energy that is cheaper than fossil energy becomes almost negligeable (2.5% in Morocco for example).

Concentrated solar energy

Research in photovoltaic energy made huge processes regarding efficiency. But efficient solar cells are expensive. That's why it is necessary to concentrate sun beams and focus them on these expensive solar cells.

As a result, concentrated photovoltaic energy is currently the most financial effective way to produce clean energy.

However, concentrating solar energy requires complex parabols and tracking mechanisms. On the other hand, sunflowers do that naturally.

"Thin Film" solar cells is the other, minority, research sector. Progress came later but now we have processes to mass produce these cells using printers, the same printers utilized to produce other electronic components.

These new cells are light, flexible and semi-transparent ; they can stand on a sunflower without damaging it.

Global Warming

[edit]

The process to produce solar panel is not green at all. It consumes a lot of energy and heavy metal.

Thin Film solar cells made from organic (clean) material exists.

As a result, producing soil with the dead sunflowers will reverse the process of carbon accumulation in the atmosphere due to the burning of fossil material.

This happens thanks to photosynthesis, the process plants use to take carbon from the air to produce plant fibers.

Compost made from these fibers produces soil that will quickly surpass the amount burnt with fossil energy. Much quicker than forests, sunflower fields can restore the purity of the air.

Incentive to plant large sunflower fields comes from the financial benefit, carbon reduction is a side benefit.

Beautifull landscapes is yet another benefit!

This is a virtuous circle.

No patents, funding

[edit]

Because the photovoltaic sunflower is public research initiated by JeanHuguesRobert, no patents can be applied to it.

Poor countries as well as rich countries are free to use it.

We are looking for partners and funds to accelerate the industrialization of the photovoltaic sunflower. Please help!

Road map

[edit]

Refining the photovoltaic sunflower energy production process requires some work:

Seed selection, 300 species

There exists lots of varieties of sunflowers (and some other plants follow the sun as well). The best varieties needs to be selected based on experiments.

However, even the varieties that were selected to produce sunflower oil are adequate. That's because they were selected to produce lots of seeds and have a large central area where the solar cells can be attached.

Some seeds produce tall sunflowers (up to 4 meter). Some produces small ones. Some varieties requires a good soil and water, some grow well on poor soil with little water. Some varieties requires a lot of heat and some other ones can grow in altitude.

The best solution requires a good understanding of the local soil and climate. This is the way to achieve a better synergy between the plant and its environment.

Associated culture, green houses

Growing sunflowers in association with some other plants will help produce stronger sunflowers.

This is specially usefull if sunflowers are grown in a green house, idealy dome shaped, like a yurts. In a greenhouse the sun energy that is not converted into electricity heats the plants. These plants, including the sunflowers themselves grow faster, during a longer period of the year. This is a solution for countries with either few available land or not enough heat.

Rotation of cultures

To avoid land exhaustion, the same plant must not be planted on the same piece of land too many years in a row. The best rotating scheme is yet to be discovered.

This is even more important when sunflowers are planted on poor soils. There, the dead sunflowers are producing soil and the next generation, the next year, will benefit from that better soil.

Mechanization

Tools, technics and machines need to be developed to reduce the man power required to manage the process, much like what was done for sunflower oil production, but for energy production this time.

Partners

[edit]

• DuSoleil, sustainable development, fair trade drugstores and urban campings
• Netergy, provider of pure energy

Contact us at info@bionicflower.org or jeanhuguesrobert@baronmariani.org

Contributors

[edit]

• Florian Galinat. Student, 22 years old, Master in bio-resources and sustainable development, University of Corsica in Corti. "Seed selection and first living prototypes."
• Jean Vincent. Computer scientist and electonician. "Man power estimations".

Obstacles

[edit]

So far the main obstacle that we encounter while promoting the sunflower solution is a rather strange one, an irrational one:

If it were that simple, it would already exist!

Maybe. Maybe not. Indians of America had not invented the wheel.

Sometimes the obvious is not so obvious.

5 times more capital efficient

[edit]

As a result (120% + 220% + 200%) a photovoltaic sunflower is more then 500% the financial efficiency of a fixed solar panel, today.

Within 3 years, 5 times more efficient will become 20 times or so more efficient because solar cells are the more expensive part of the solution and its cost will reduce due to Moore's law: it will be divided by 2 twice, once every 18 months.

Man power is not an issue

In developed countries, man power (to plant sunflowers, install solar cells and connect them to an aerial collecting net) contributes 25% of the cost to produce energy at the same price as energy from oil.

In developing countries, man power is much cheaper, 10 times cheaper at least.

In these countries, man power to produce energy that is cheaper than fossil energy becomes almost negligeable (2.5% in Morocco for example).

Concentrated solar energy

Research in photovoltaic energy made huge processes regarding efficiency. But efficient solar cells are expensive. That's why it is necessary to concentrate sun beams and focus them on these expensive solar cells.

As a result, concentrated photovoltaic energy is currently the most financial effective way to produce clean energy.

However, concentrating solar energy requires complex parabols and tracking mechanisms. On the other hand, sunflowers do that naturally.

"Thin Film" solar cells is the other, minority, research sector. Progress came later but now we have processes to mass produce these cells using printers, the same printers utilized to produce other electronic components.

These new cells are light, flexible and semi-transparent ; they can stand on a sunflower without damaging it.

Global Warming

[edit]

The process to produce solar panel is not green at all. It consumes a lot of energy and heavy metal.

Thin Film solar cells made from organic (clean) material exists.

As a result, producing soil with the dead sunflowers will reverse the process of carbon accumulation in the atmosphere due to the burning of fossil material.

This happens thanks to photosynthesis, the process plants use to take carbon from the air to produce plant fibers.

Compost made from these fibers produces soil that will quickly surpass the amount burnt with fossil energy. Much quicker than forests, sunflower fields can restore the purity of the air.

Incentive to plant large sunflower fields comes from the financial benefit, carbon reduction is a side benefit.

Beautifull landscapes is yet another benefit!

This is a virtuous circle.

No patents, funding

[edit]

Because the photovoltaic sunflower is public research initiated by JeanHuguesRobert, no patents can be applied to it.

Poor countries as well as rich countries are free to use it.

We are looking for partners and funds to accelerate the industrialization of the photovoltaic sunflower. Please help!

Road map

[edit]

Refining the photovoltaic sunflower energy production process requires some work:

Seed selection, 300 species

There exists lots of varieties of sunflowers (and some other plants follow the sun as well). The best varieties needs to be selected based on experiments.

However, even the varieties that were selected to produce sunflower oil are adequate. That's because they were selected to produce lots of seeds and have a large central area where the solar cells can be attached.

Some seeds produce tall sunflowers (up to 4 meter). Some produces small ones. Some varieties requires a good soil and water, some grow well on poor soil with little water. Some varieties requires a lot of heat and some other ones can grow in altitude.

The best solution requires a good understanding of the local soil and climate. This is the way to achieve a better synergy between the plant and its environment.

Associated culture, green houses

Growing sunflowers in association with some other plants will help produce stronger sunflowers.

This is specially usefull if sunflowers are grown in a green house, idealy dome shaped, like a yurts. In a greenhouse the sun energy that is not converted into electricity heats the plants. These plants, including the sunflowers themselves grow faster, during a longer period of the year. This is a solution for countries with either few available land or not enough heat.

Rotation of cultures

To avoid land exhaustion, the same plant must not be planted on the same piece of land too many years in a row. The best rotating scheme is yet to be discovered.

This is even more important when sunflowers are planted on poor soils. There, the dead sunflowers are producing soil and the next generation, the next year, will benefit from that better soil.

Mechanization

Tools, technics and machines need to be developed to reduce the man power required to manage the process, much like what was done for sunflower oil production, but for energy production this time.

Partners

[edit]

• DuSoleil, sustainable development, fair trade drugstores and urban campings
• Netergy, provider of pure energy

Contact us at info@bionicflower.org or jeanhuguesrobert@baronmariani.org

Contributors

[edit]

• Florian Galinat. Student, 22 years old, Master in bio-resources and sustainable development, University of Corsica in Corti. "Seed selection and first living prototypes."
• Jean Vincent. Computer scientist and electonician. "Man power estimations".

Obstacles

[edit]

So far the main obstacle that we encounter while promoting the sunflower solution is a rather strange one, an irrational one:

If it were that simple, it would already exist!

Maybe. Maybe not. Indians of America had not invented the wheel.

Sometimes the obvious is not so obvious.

Cost Effectiveness

[edit]

The cost to produce clean energy is said to be higher than the cost to produce energy using fossil material. This is no longer true using photovoltaic sunflowers:

120% due to tracker

When a solar cell is in front of the sun's ray beams, it can be optimized to produce more energy.

Sunflowers follow the sun because they need to focus the sun's energy on the center part of the flower, on the seeds.

That's why sunflowers are natural trackers, the cleanest possible.

220% due to the absence of panels

55% of the cost of solar panels comes from the process to produce and distribute them ; the solar cells are only 45% of the total cost.

Contrary to solar cells in a panel, solar cells without protection won't last 20 years. This is not an issue because solar cell technology improves quickly.

It is more efficient to throw away an old inefficient solar cell when a new more efficient generation of cells becomes available, specially with concentrated solar energy.

Initialy, some basic protection is necessary, to make the first cells last 2/3 years, until much cheaper cells become available.

200% due to "Thin Film" technology

"Thin Film" solar cells are the cheapest ones. They produce less energy per square meter (10%) than the most sophisticated cells (40%) but this is not an issue when large surfaces are available. It is the cost per watt that matters.

5 times more capital efficient

[edit]

As a result (120% + 220% + 200%) a photovoltaic sunflower is more then 500% the financial efficiency of a fixed solar panel, today.

Within 3 years, 5 times more efficient will become 20 times or so more efficient because solar cells are the more expensive part of the solution and its cost will reduce due to Moore's law: it will be divided by 2 twice, once every 18 months.

Man power is not an issue

In developed countries, man power (to plant sunflowers, install solar cells and connect them to an aerial collecting net) contributes 25% of the cost to produce energy at the same price as energy from oil.

In developing countries, man power is much cheaper, 10 times cheaper at least.

In these countries, man power to produce energy that is cheaper than fossil energy becomes almost negligeable (2.5% in Morocco for example).

Concentrated solar energy

Research in photovoltaic energy made huge processes regarding efficiency. But efficient solar cells are expensive. That's why it is necessary to concentrate sun beams and focus them on these expensive solar cells.

As a result, concentrated photovoltaic energy is currently the most financial effective way to produce clean energy.

However, concentrating solar energy requires complex parabols and tracking mechanisms. On the other hand, sunflowers do that naturally.

"Thin Film" solar cells is the other, minority, research sector. Progress came later but now we have processes to mass produce these cells using printers, the same printers utilized to produce other electronic components.

These new cells are light, flexible and semi-transparent ; they can stand on a sunflower without damaging it.

Global Warming

[edit]

The process to produce solar panel is not green at all. It consumes a lot of energy and heavy metal.

Thin Film solar cells made from organic (clean) material exists.

As a result, producing soil with the dead sunflowers will reverse the process of carbon accumulation in the atmosphere due to the burning of fossil material.

This happens thanks to photosynthesis, the process plants use to take carbon from the air to produce plant fibers.

Compost made from these fibers produces soil that will quickly surpass the amount burnt with fossil energy. Much quicker than forests, sunflower fields can restore the purity of the air.

Incentive to plant large sunflower fields comes from the financial benefit, carbon reduction is a side benefit.

Beautifull landscapes is yet another benefit!

This is a virtuous circle.

No patents, funding

[edit]

Because the photovoltaic sunflower is public research initiated by JeanHuguesRobert, no patents can be applied to it.

Poor countries as well as rich countries are free to use it.

We are looking for partners and funds to accelerate the industrialization of the photovoltaic sunflower. Please help!

Road map

[edit]

Refining the photovoltaic sunflower energy production process requires some work:

Seed selection, 300 species

There exists lots of varieties of sunflowers (and some other plants follow the sun as well). The best varieties needs to be selected based on experiments.

However, even the varieties that were selected to produce sunflower oil are adequate. That's because they were selected to produce lots of seeds and have a large central area where the solar cells can be attached.

Some seeds produce tall sunflowers (up to 4 meter). Some produces small ones. Some varieties requires a good soil and water, some grow well on poor soil with little water. Some varieties requires a lot of heat and some other ones can grow in altitude.

The best solution requires a good understanding of the local soil and climate. This is the way to achieve a better synergy between the plant and its environment.

Associated culture, green houses

Growing sunflowers in association with some other plants will help produce stronger sunflowers.

This is specially usefull if sunflowers are grown in a green house, idealy dome shaped, like a yurts. In a greenhouse the sun energy that is not converted into electricity heats the plants. These plants, including the sunflowers themselves grow faster, during a longer period of the year. This is a solution for countries with either few available land or not enough heat.

Rotation of cultures

To avoid land exhaustion, the same plant must not be planted on the same piece of land too many years in a row. The best rotating scheme is yet to be discovered.

This is even more important when sunflowers are planted on poor soils. There, the dead sunflowers are producing soil and the next generation, the next year, will benefit from that better soil.

Mechanization

Tools, technics and machines need to be developed to reduce the man power required to manage the process, much like what was done for sunflower oil production, but for energy production this time.

Partners

[edit]

• DuSoleil, sustainable development, fair trade drugstores and urban campings
• Netergy, provider of pure energy

Contact us at info@bionicflower.org or jeanhuguesrobert@baronmariani.org

Contributors

[edit]

• Florian Galinat. Student, 22 years old, Master in bio-resources and sustainable development, University of Corsica in Corti. "Seed selection and first living prototypes."
• Jean Vincent. Computer scientist and electonician. "Man power estimations".

Obstacles

[edit]

So far the main obstacle that we encounter while promoting the sunflower solution is a rather strange one, an irrational one:

If it were that simple, it would already exist!

Maybe. Maybe not. Indians of America had not invented the wheel.

Sometimes the obvious is not so obvious.

Cost Effectiveness

[edit]

The cost to produce clean energy is said to be higher than the cost to produce energy using fossil material. This is no longer true using photovoltaic sunflowers:

120% due to tracker

When a solar cell is in front of the sun's ray beams, it can be optimized to produce more energy.

Sunflowers follow the sun because they need to focus the sun's energy on the center part of the flower, on the seeds.

That's why sunflowers are natural trackers, the cleanest possible.

220% due to the absence of panels

55% of the cost of solar panels comes from the process to produce and distribute them ; the solar cells are only 45% of the total cost.

Contrary to solar cells in a panel, solar cells without protection won't last 20 years. This is not an issue because solar cell technology improves quickly.

It is more efficient to throw away an old inefficient solar cell when a new more efficient generation of cells becomes available, specially with concentrated solar energy.

Initialy, some basic protection is necessary, to make the first cells last 2/3 years, until much cheaper cells become available.

200% due to "Thin Film" technology

"Thin Film" solar cells are the cheapest ones. They produce less energy per square meter (10%) than the most sophisticated cells (40%) but this is not an issue when large surfaces are available. It is the cost per watt that matters.

5 times more capital efficient

[edit]

As a result (120% + 220% + 200%) a photovoltaic sunflower is more then 500% the financial efficiency of a fixed solar panel, today.

Within 3 years, 5 times more efficient will become 20 times or so more efficient because solar cells are the more expensive part of the solution and its cost will reduce due to Moore's law: it will be divided by 2 twice, once every 18 months.

Man power is not an issue

In developed countries, man power (to plant sunflowers, install solar cells and connect them to an aerial collecting net) contributes 25% of the cost to produce energy at the same price as energy from oil.

In developing countries, man power is much cheaper, 10 times cheaper at least.

In these countries, man power to produce energy that is cheaper than fossil energy becomes almost negligeable (2.5% in Morocco for example).

Concentrated solar energy

Research in photovoltaic energy made huge processes regarding efficiency. But efficient solar cells are expensive. That's why it is necessary to concentrate sun beams and focus them on these expensive solar cells.

As a result, concentrated photovoltaic energy is currently the most financial effective way to produce clean energy.

However, concentrating solar energy requires complex parabols and tracking mechanisms. On the other hand, sunflowers do that naturally.

"Thin Film" solar cells is the other, minority, research sector. Progress came later but now we have processes to mass produce these cells using printers, the same printers utilized to produce other electronic components.

These new cells are light, flexible and semi-transparent ; they can stand on a sunflower without damaging it.

Global Warming

[edit]

The process to produce solar panel is not green at all. It consumes a lot of energy and heavy metal.

Thin Film solar cells made from organic (clean) material exists.

As a result, producing soil with the dead sunflowers will reverse the process of carbon accumulation in the atmosphere due to the burning of fossil material.

This happens thanks to photosynthesis, the process plants use to take carbon from the air to produce plant fibers.

Compost made from these fibers produces soil that will quickly surpass the amount burnt with fossil energy. Much quicker than forests, sunflower fields can restore the purity of the air.

Incentive to plant large sunflower fields comes from the financial benefit, carbon reduction is a side benefit.

Beautifull landscapes is yet another benefit!

This is a virtuous circle.

No patents, funding

[edit]

Because the photovoltaic sunflower is public research initiated by JeanHuguesRobert, no patents can be applied to it.

Poor countries as well as rich countries are free to use it.

We are looking for partners and funds to accelerate the industrialization of the photovoltaic sunflower. Please help!

Road map

[edit]

Refining the photovoltaic sunflower energy production process requires some work:

Seed selection, 300 species

There exists lots of varieties of sunflowers (and some other plants follow the sun as well). The best varieties needs to be selected based on experiments.

However, even the varieties that were selected to produce sunflower oil are adequate. That's because they were selected to produce lots of seeds and have a large central area where the solar cells can be attached.

Some seeds produce tall sunflowers (up to 4 meter). Some produces small ones. Some varieties requires a good soil and water, some grow well on poor soil with little water. Some varieties requires a lot of heat and some other ones can grow in altitude.

The best solution requires a good understanding of the local soil and climate. This is the way to achieve a better synergy between the plant and its environment.

Associated culture, green houses

Growing sunflowers in association with some other plants will help produce stronger sunflowers.

This is specially usefull if sunflowers are grown in a green house, idealy dome shaped, like a yurts. In a greenhouse the sun energy that is not converted into electricity heats the plants. These plants, including the sunflowers themselves grow faster, during a longer period of the year. This is a solution for countries with either few available land or not enough heat.

Rotation of cultures

To avoid land exhaustion, the same plant must not be planted on the same piece of land too many years in a row. The best rotating scheme is yet to be discovered.

This is even more important when sunflowers are planted on poor soils. There, the dead sunflowers are producing soil and the next generation, the next year, will benefit from that better soil.

Mechanization

Tools, technics and machines need to be developed to reduce the man power required to manage the process, much like what was done for sunflower oil production, but for energy production this time.

Partners

[edit]

• DuSoleil, sustainable development, fair trade drugstores and urban campings
• Netergy, provider of pure energy

Contact us at info@bionicflower.org or jeanhuguesrobert@baronmariani.org

Contributors

[edit]

• Florian Galinat. Student, 22 years old, Master in bio-resources and sustainable development, University of Corsica in Corti. "Seed selection and first living prototypes."
• Jean Vincent. Computer scientist and electonician. "Man power estimations".

Obstacles

[edit]

So far the main obstacle that we encounter while promoting the sunflower solution is a rather strange one, an irrational one:

If it were that simple, it would already exist!

Maybe. Maybe not. Indians of America had not invented the wheel.

Sometimes the obvious is not so obvious.

Cost Effectiveness

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The cost to produce clean energy is said to be higher than the cost to produce energy using fossil material. This is no longer true using photovoltaic sunflowers:

120% due to tracker

When a solar cell is in front of the sun's ray beams, it can be optimized to produce more energy.

Sunflowers follow the sun because they need to focus the sun's energy on the center part of the flower, on the seeds.

That's why sunflowers are natural trackers, the cleanest possible.

220% due to the absence of panels

55% of the cost of solar panels comes from the process to produce and distribute them ; the solar cells are only 45% of the total cost.

Contrary to solar cells in a panel, solar cells without protection won't last 20 years. This is not an issue because solar cell technology improves quickly.

It is more efficient to throw away an old inefficient solar cell when a new more efficient generation of cells becomes available, specially with concentrated solar energy.

Initialy, some basic protection is necessary, to make the first cells last 2/3 years, until much cheaper cells become available.

200% due to "Thin Film" technology

"Thin Film" solar cells are the cheapest ones. They produce less energy per square meter (10%) than the most sophisticated cells (40%) but this is not an issue when large surfaces are available. It is the cost per watt that matters.

5 times more capital efficient

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As a result (120% + 220% + 200%) a photovoltaic sunflower is more then 500% the financial efficiency of a fixed solar panel, today.

Within 3 years, 5 times more efficient will become 20 times or so more efficient because solar cells are the more expensive part of the solution and its cost will reduce due to Moore's law: it will be divided by 2 twice, once every 18 months.

Man power is not an issue

In developed countries, man power (to plant sunflowers, install solar cells and connect them to an aerial collecting net) contributes 25% of the cost to produce energy at the same price as energy from oil.

In developing countries, man power is much cheaper, 10 times cheaper at least.

In these countries, man power to produce energy that is cheaper than fossil energy becomes almost negligeable (2.5% in Morocco for example).

Concentrated solar energy

Research in photovoltaic energy made huge processes regarding efficiency. But efficient solar cells are expensive. That's why it is necessary to concentrate sun beams and focus them on these expensive solar cells.

As a result, concentrated photovoltaic energy is currently the most financial effective way to produce clean energy.

However, concentrating solar energy requires complex parabols and tracking mechanisms. On the other hand, sunflowers do that naturally.

"Thin Film" solar cells is the other, minority, research sector. Progress came later but now we have processes to mass produce these cells using printers, the same printers utilized to produce other electronic components.

These new cells are light, flexible and semi-transparent ; they can stand on a sunflower without damaging it.

Global Warming

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The process to produce solar panel is not green at all. It consumes a lot of energy and heavy metal.

Thin Film solar cells made from organic (clean) material exists.

As a result, producing soil with the dead sunflowers will reverse the process of carbon accumulation in the atmosphere due to the burning of fossil material.

This happens thanks to photosynthesis, the process plants use to take carbon from the air to produce plant fibers.

Compost made from these fibers produces soil that will quickly surpass the amount burnt with fossil energy. Much quicker than forests, sunflower fields can restore the purity of the air.

Incentive to plant large sunflower fields comes from the financial benefit, carbon reduction is a side benefit.

Beautifull landscapes is yet another benefit!

This is a virtuous circle.

No patents, funding

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Because the photovoltaic sunflower is public research initiated by JeanHuguesRobert, no patents can be applied to it.

Poor countries as well as rich countries are free to use it.

We are looking for partners and funds to accelerate the industrialization of the photovoltaic sunflower. Please help!

Road map

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Refining the photovoltaic sunflower energy production process requires some work:

Seed selection, 300 species

There exists lots of varieties of sunflowers (and some other plants follow the sun as well). The best varieties needs to be selected based on experiments.

However, even the varieties that were selected to produce sunflower oil are adequate. That's because they were selected to produce lots of seeds and have a large central area where the solar cells can be attached.

Some seeds produce tall sunflowers (up to 4 meter). Some produces small ones. Some varieties requires a good soil and water, some grow well on poor soil with little water. Some varieties requires a lot of heat and some other ones can grow in altitude.

The best solution requires a good understanding of the local soil and climate. This is the way to achieve a better synergy between the plant and its environment.

Associated culture, green houses

Growing sunflowers in association with some other plants will help produce stronger sunflowers.

This is specially usefull if sunflowers are grown in a green house, idealy dome shaped, like a yurts. In a greenhouse the sun energy that is not converted into electricity heats the plants. These plants, including the sunflowers themselves grow faster, during a longer period of the year. This is a solution for countries with either few available land or not enough heat.

Rotation of cultures

To avoid land exhaustion, the same plant must not be planted on the same piece of land too many years in a row. The best rotating scheme is yet to be discovered.

This is even more important when sunflowers are planted on poor soils. There, the dead sunflowers are producing soil and the next generation, the next year, will benefit from that better soil.

Mechanization

Tools, technics and machines need to be developed to reduce the man power required to manage the process, much like what was done for sunflower oil production, but for energy production this time.

Partners

[edit]

• DuSoleil, sustainable development, fair trade drugstores and urban campings
• Netergy, provider of pure energy

Contact us at info@bionicflower.org or jeanhuguesrobert@baronmariani.org

Contributors

[edit]

• Florian Galinat. Student, 22 years old, Master in bio-resources and sustainable development, University of Corsica in Corti. "Seed selection and first living prototypes."
• Jean Vincent. Computer scientist and electonician. "Man power estimations".

Obstacles

[edit]

So far the main obstacle that we encounter while promoting the sunflower solution is a rather strange one, an irrational one:

If it were that simple, it would already exist!

Maybe. Maybe not. Indians of America had not invented the wheel.

Sometimes the obvious is not so obvious.