It’s a $5 cooker that uses two cardboard boxes – one inside another – and an acrylic cover to trap the sun’s power for boiling and cooking.  The design is simple enough that it can be produced in existing cardboard factories in Africa.  In fact, a Nairobi, Kenya factory has been set up to manufacture 2.5 million boxes a month.

Kyoto Box would allow villagers to cook without firewood and fossil fuel, which would lead to a significant reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.  Another added benefit… reduced indoor smoke inhalation – a major health threat in much of the developing world.

In winning the challenge, Kyoto Energy, which makes the Kyoto Box, will receive $75,000.

Links:
Solar-powered cardboard cooker (Financial Times)

Solar cookers are used to cook cleanly and inexpensively when the sun is shining. Fuel efficient stoves (“rocket stoves”) are made out of organic materials and use only a few pieces of wood to cook when the sun isn’t shining. Haybaskets are insulated woven baskets used to retain heat and finish cooking a meal when the sun goes away or to conserve firewood.

I did a school science project on solar cooking last year and learned how it can help women in developing countries who have to spend long hours collecting firewood and don’t have time to work or get an education.

After I finished my project I met a priest from Uganda who lives here in Ohio; he told me about life in his village and I told him how solar cookers could help. I started this project to help the people in Obia-Zeu have an alternative to walking long distances, to cutting down all their trees and to cooking over smoky fires.

Me, on day 4 of the solar cooking workshop in Uganda. For more photos see: www.imageevent.com/uganda. You can lalso ink to my wiki site.

But not Eden Full.  The 16-year-old Canadian teen knows enough about the field that she has even invented a new device that can help solar panels maximize their performance.

How?  Her invention helps solar panels track the sun as it moves across the sky during the day so they get more direct exposure.  Tracking devices do exist but hers is made from affordable materials that are commonly found – even in developing countries.

We interviewed Eden to get to know the origins of her invention and how she thinks as an inventor.

Dynamic Photovoltaics uses bimetallic thermal expansion and hydraulic restrictor control to limit the rotational movement of a solar panel when following sunlight.

1) Describe the moment when you first thought of yourself as an inventor. What happened?

I decided I would be a scientist when I was three years old but I first thought of myself as an inventor in Grade 9 when I realized that I could take my lifelong interest in science and technology and apply it to an everyday issue that needed to be addressed in our global community.

Since I was nine years old, I have been doing solar panel-related research projects that gradually developed my interest and knowledge of renewable energy technologies.

I wanted to be able to explore this field further while helping others in lighting up their homes every night. As a child, I had always had a passion for learning more and increasing my knowledge. I believe that by improving energy accessibility, I can make this opportunity available to many others who have potential to make a difference as well.

2) How did the idea for Dynamic Photovoltaics come about?

Optimization of photovoltaic technology in energy collection has been a passion of mine for many years. I began conducting my own research on improving the efficiency and potential of solar energy. I have had the opportunity to present this research at science fairs for the past seven years, obtaining recognition on a national and international level.

Because of my involvement, I have also developed an awareness of environmental and energy accessibility concerns, which I hope to tackle through my work. My research is what has inspired me to utilize my lifelong passion for science to become a social entrepreneur.

3) What’s the greatest challenge in this project?

The greatest challenge in this project is gathering the financial resources necessary to continue revising prototypes and increasing awareness for the project. A majority of my research requires the purchase of very specific electrical and mechanical components in order to evaluate the function of particular aspects of my invention. As I am a high school student, it is difficult to find adequate resources and support for my initiative. Primarily, the monetary awards that Dynamic Photovoltaics have won are what support this project in purchasing components.

In the future, I hope that Dynamic Photovoltaics will be able to garner more support from the community for this cause. The more resources available will improve and increase the impact that this project has on society.

4) Which inventors do you find most inspirational? Why?

Hideki Kozima

Hideki Kozima is an inventor I find inspirational because he invented a robot that is not only capable of advancing modern technology in robotics, but also integrates into typical environments with people of all ages.

Geared particularly towards improving social communication in children with developmental disorders, Keepon is a lovable robot that embodies the concept of taking something innovative and using it to help others. Its user-friendliness also helps deliver a message to the world that inventions truly make a difference in our everyday lives. I believe that this is a very important principle to keep in mind as an inventor.

5) What do you think are the three essential qualities or skills of a great inventor?

• An inventor needs to be passionate about what they are doing in order to find the motivation to continue pursuing it.
• An inventor also needs to never give up, despite how difficult the situation is and how hopeless it may seem.
• An inventor needs to be creative in order to open their mind to new ideas and the input of others for the improvement of their invention.

6) Why are you so passionate about being an inventor?

I want to make a difference. Ultimately, I have yet to truly figure out how I will do so, but I believe that inventing is a good start on my part.

7) In the years to come, what issue or problem would you like to tackle with your inventive spirit?

I am very passionate about energy accessibility. I hope that I can continue to pursue this issue in developing a technology that is accessible to all audiences of different educational backgrounds.

Related Post:
VENTURE: Dynamic Photovoltaics

Not only is the system easy to operate, it is made of commonly found affordable materials.

This project is the first of its kind to be able to achieve this kind of accessibility for different audiences, whether it be mass energy farms or a local village in a developing country.

Being constructed from common materials with minimal maintenance required, this project is financially viable for energy collection in developing countries.

It is also easy to calibrate and use, thus allowing anybody capable of reading basic instructions to be able to repair and correct it, without a specialized education in electrical engineering.

Goals:

1. Develop a more effective solution that improves upon the current Dynamic Photovoltaics prototype.  This will increase the power output, making the system more efficient.
2. Establish a pilot site.
3. Increase awareness of the project.
4. Gather more financial and social support from academic, commercial, non-profit and private organizations.

Dynamic Photovoltaics uses bimetallic thermal expansion and hydraulic restrictor control to limit the rotational movement of a solar panel when following sunlight.

Many wood drying facilities are electrical but a solar powered wood kiln would save tons of money and wood could possibly still be dried at a high rate. 

The solar wood kiln is a very high tech yet low tech idea. 

This idea is being explored by my father and I in Pakistan.

This invention could help and could even enable other inventions to work better. For example, the One Laptop Per Child project is supposed to bring education to underprivileged areas in Africa. However, the laptop is charged by a wall outlet. This stops people living without electricity from having access to the free laptops.

Electricity could bring small villages other benefits. My miniature solar powered outlet station could even help combat diseases like malaria by enabling electrically powered mosquito eliminators.

The best part about this invention is that it is easy to produce and could provide power to a village for under $100. It has a 12V solar panel sitting on top of a weatherproof box. It is wired to a solar controller, which keeps the battery from overloading. This controller is, in turn wired to the battery. The battery is a 12V battery, like in a car. The battery then provides 12V to the transformer, which outputs 120V for the outlets. This can all be seen in the photo of my prototype.

I haven't made a prototype yet, but I made a schematic of the wiring. All of this will be closed in a weather proof box.

The SOLAR Food Cart will be run by volunteers from environmental groups/organizations such as the Solar Generation-Pilipinas which advocates Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency. The solar cart can be passed from one community/school/volunteer’s house to another. Every stop the food cart will sell food and set-up an exhibit to campaign for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency.

The SOLAR Food Cart: campaigns renewable energy, advocates healthy living through exercise like cycling, shows alternative way of transport, promotes organic and locally grown healthy foods which the cart will sell, and establishes a sustainable and eco-friendly business.

The SOLAR Food Cart targets the local government sector, transport sector, business sector, energy sector and every citizen.

Solar Food Cart powered by PV (Photovoltaic) Panels and driven by a bicycle which also recharges the batteries mechanically.