This giant duck could provide solar and hydro power

22/07/2014

Once built, this floating sculpture covered with solar cells will produce clean energy for Denmark’s capital city.

Inspired by Florentijn Hofman’s giant Rubber Duck sculpture, which graced Australian waters back in 2013, a team of UK designers have developed Energy Duck, an energy generator.

Hundreds of photovoltaic panels will cover this 12-storey high floating solar farm, which also has hydro turbines to produce energy at night. According to Matt Hickman at Mother Nature Network, Energy Duck is also a reminder of “how climate change has adversely impacted the breeding habitats of the common elder duck, a large sea duck found in the northern coasts of Europe and North America.”

Image: Land Art Generator Initiative

The 'duck' will be constructed from a lightweight steel frame and will be installed at Refshaleøen, a former industrial site that’s across Copenhagen Harbour's most famous public art statue—The Little Mermaid.

Energy Duck has been designed to transmit all the energy it produced to Copenhagen's public grid. According to Gizmag's Bridget Borgobello, "the giant structure has been designed not only to generate clean electricity for the local residents of Copenhagen, but also to provide a unique visitor centre".

According to Mother Nature Network, Denmark’s capital aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2025.

Sciencealert.com.au

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