For immediate release:
SunSaluter aims to reach millions by releasing its solar tracker design to the world
The simple tool can be made from local materials by non-experts in a couple of hours, making 30-40% more solar energy and creating clean drinking water in the process
New York, USA (July, 2018) - SunSaluter, a non-profit 501(c)3 organization, announced plans to open-source its award-winning technology in front of thousands of people at InspireFest in Dublin, Ireland and at the ASME Innovation Showcase in Washington, D.C. SunSaluter’s technology benefits over 17,000 people living off the grid in developing countries to gain access to electricity and clean drinking water.
SunSaluter’s design boosts a solar panel’s output, allowing people to gain several extra hours of electricity per day. It can be built with local materials in a couple of hours at almost no cost. While designed for developing countries, SunSaluter can be used around the world as an answer to many challenges, from providing relief during natural disasters to generating power for remote locations.
The technology can be fitted with a simple water filter, making several litres of clean drinking water as the tracker slowly rotates via a water clock to follow the sun. A guide to building a SunSaluter is available here.
Ms. Laxmipriya from Kuturapali, India, said the SunSaluter made a notable impact on her life. “The extra electricity helps me charge lights for use at night, which keep our family and crops safe from wild animals and gives my children the chance to study in the evenings.”
SunSaluter’s patented design was previously used only by partners, but is now available to anyone for free. The move to open source will allow SunSaluter to impact not just thousands, but millions of people.
“Now that we’ve proven the technology in over 19 countries, we realized there’s only so much we can do as a small organization. We want people around the world to make their own SunSaluter for access to clean, consistent energy,” said Eden Full Goh, Founder of SunSaluter. Full Goh started SunSaluter as a high school science project in 2008, winning multiple awards as she improved upon the design.
Another bonus of open-sourcing is the opportunity for others to innovate. The SunSaluter team found villagers in West Bengal modified the design by mounting panels on poles to avoid theft. Another case from Kenya demonstrated how the technology helped a medical clinic earn income by selling its extra energy for people to charge their phones.
SunSaluter hopes as many people as possible use and modify the design to suit their needs. In particular, they hope to connect with NGOs and solar distributors who are already bringing solar to off-grid communities. Please do what you can to spread the word!
About SunSaluter
SunSaluter started as founder Eden Full Goh’s high school science project, and has grown to a 501(c) non-profit organization with staff and team members around the world. The technology follows the sun, increasing solar output by 30-40%, and can include water filtration.
The SunSaluter design is now open source and can be accessed with videos and pictures through https://www.sunsaluter.org/build/ for anyone wanting to build or share with communities around the world.
More Information:
SunSaluter
Victoria Alleyne, Director
victoria@sunsaluter.com
###