The PowerCube looks like any other shipping container, but after it unfolds its ‘wings’ you start realizing there’s more than meets the eye. Designing for humanitarian relief efforts, the PowerCube is meant to deliver electrical power, purify water and offer WiFi signal to disaster inflicted areas all through harnessing solar power. While the idea is noble and sounds very good, there are still a lot of problem that the system has yet to meet and which, unfortunately, might keep it from becoming a success.
Ecosphere Technologies, the company behind the PowerCube, says its system designed as a flexible solution that delivers solar power to off-grid areas. So far, it comes in three models: 10-foot, 20-foot, and 40-foot shipping containers. The largest installation can provide up to 15KW of power or enough to supply multiple missions, from hospitals and sleeping quarters, to providing water treatment or internet.
Obviously, it’s a really neat idea since you get free power anywhere in the world and you don’t have to rely on a diesel supply, in the case of the generator alternative. Anywhere, but not anytime unfortunately. When the sun doesn’t shine powerfully enough or during night time, the system can’t be used. And it doesn’t come with any included batteries either. That’s alright if you’re buying a flashlight, but maybe not that convenient when you need to buy and install your own energy storage 15 Kw system.
This is only scratching the surface. An equivalent diesel generator power system in size would supply anywhere between 600kW and 1.7MW – that’s almost 100 times more power density. It’s unclear for now, what the company’s business strategy is, considering a diesel generator is more reliable, cheaper to buy (excluding gas) and a lot more powerful. The only plus you get from the PowerCube is free solar energy and no emissions or fumes, neither of which cause much concern during a disaster situation. This being said, the concept truly sounds interesting, and I guess there are some particular situations where the PowerCube is the most convenient solution (no gas supply, high solar flux areas). Looking forward to an upgraded version!
When you are far from fuel sources, it is easier to drop one of these than to drop a generator and establish regular fuel supplies. This may have less power density, but I could see it being incredibly useful during protracted incidents, like national power-grid failures, supplement to storm or earthquake ravaged areas where the infrastructure has been badly damaged, or additional support for field shelters or field hospitals responding to mass evacuations or mass transport incidents away from infrastructure. I’d like to see this maybe turned into a kit for fitting onto response trailers to form a more comprehensive whole. I will be watching for the development of this.
(laugh) If you are close enough to drop one of these in, you are close enough to drop in regular fuel supplies. This thing, after all, doesnt get there all by itself, now does it?
They already have emergency power, containerized Gennys *with fuel*. All militarys have hundreds of these, inventoried and ready to go.
As the article said: “considering a diesel generator is more reliable, cheaper to buy (excluding gas) and a lot more powerful.”
And the fuel is an insignificant cost in disaster relief.
Further – if you get past the part where the Chief CEO seems to be a convicted felon, and the Chief technical officer has an associates degree from a community college. (and that they are one in the same guy)
You should have no problem investing in this company.