Neighbourhood Satellites
Energy Harvests

Claiming Energy Leaks as Resource

Our energy distribution infrastructures are clumsy, spilling off large amounts of energy as heat, light, and vibration in the process of delivering their goods. But these structural leakages are, in essence, a multitude of free power outlets for anyone wishing to collect them.

The city map below identifies energy leaks in urban space that can be tapped into, such as sound pollution from sirens, vibration surplus of construction sites, streams of waste air from ventilation systems, waste water run offs etc.

Alternative Energy Networks

How might people literally plug in to surplus energies that they’ve accumulated, powering their own objects or feeding a local micro energy network? What kind of social and economic models might appear with such infrastructre? Would people extend the system to their homes? Would people donate the energy they collected or claim ownership? Would new service providers emerge, such as people charging energy for others?

Energy Harvests in the City

Portable Harvesters

  • With its solar panels under its wings and suction cups as feet, this harvester can easily be attached to shop windows, street lamps or illuminated advertising at night for charging.
  • As stars remain invisible in the city night sky, this telescope zooms into artificial light sources, harvesting their energies at a distance.
  • With piezos as feet, this harvester collects vibrations on buses, trams, next to construction sites or busy streets.
  • The propeller works in strong winds of exhaust or when attached to bus windows.
  • To be positioned where differences in temperature appear: badly isolated buildings, engines, street lamps etc.
  • Just like a reversed speaker, this Harvester transforms sound into energy. Intended for sirens, public speakers, construction sites and so on.

Early Sketches

The Very Beginning

Early Sketches of our Energy Harvesters.

Energy Harvesting in the Streets

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  • More coming soon

Energy Harvesting in Action

Using Waste Energy.