Floating MicroturbineKen Phillips
Belief◦ Using technology to produce locally produced
goods, food, power will be critical to sustainability Problem
◦ How can we enable individuals who don’t own homes and cant afford solar panels to produce their own electricity.
◦ Electric Bills keep rising Usage vs. production/distribution cost
Goal ◦ Disrupt the Energy market
Project Motivation
Need◦ Meeting current and future energy demand by turning
consumers into producers of electricity Approach
◦ Find/develop/invent an energy production method or device to meet this demand. still unknown
Benefits◦ Consumers should care because this will reduce/eliminate
utility costs on a monthly/yearly basis and provide more renewable energy platforms
Competition◦ solar panels, current electrical companies, altearos, v^2
wind, and coal powered power plants are all competitors.
Napkin Pitch
Users are limited in where/from who they receive electricity from
Convenience, necessity, reliable Users want to be environmentally conscious People only made a change in their
lives when it was convenient, and economically advantageous
Key Insights
Issues uncovered
Ease of Use
Installation
Upfront Cost
ROI
Governmental Regulations
aesthetics
Durable maintenance
Reliable
Perception of Alternative
Energy
Birds
Current State Process Centrally produced
power Transmission distance Additional Equipment
(i.e. transformers, towers, substations)
Metering US Energy
Administration avg. = 909 kWh/month (2013)
Solution part 1 Floating micro turbine
design P~V^2 Portable-people can
take it with them when they move
Could offset or eliminate electric bills
Change the energy market
Solution
Control System Logic Energy Management Prototype
The Pivot
Business Centered Floating micro turbine
design Advertising to offset
upfront costs Device now doubles as
energy production and advertising billboard
Reduce electricity cost for large businesses (car dealerships, factories, stadiums)
Current Progress Initial prototype Wind Tunnel Testing Solidworks modeling Problem Interviews
Competition Altaeros Energy
◦ Provides portable power to difficult to reach locations
◦ Large scale power generation
Wind Tree Microturbine◦ Provides onsite power to
residential customers Google X Makani
◦ Wind energy Kites
Genuis Behind High Altitude Turbines
Altaeros Turbine operates at higher altitudes than any existing turbine.
Wind Power density increases with height
Business Value Map
Kens Company
Businesses
Business Advertisers
Utility Company
Good PR
Less $
The Pivot 2.0
Great product concept Lacking a market Need to find an application for this product
◦ Ski lodges, remote homes, NU applications?
Why Now?
Continue working on this project Meet with Altaeros engineers Apply to NU prototype fund to try and build
a complete system Try to understand where to apply this
technology
Next Steps