Solar power really is the answer – Moondog proves it

Never mind the cynics: “oh it can’t make power after dark” or “what about when the sun’s not shining?”

Solar power really is the answer to human race’s long term energy needs. Enough falls on the planet in one day to run everything we have for a year. Harnessing that is fast becoming more and more efficient.

We have been using passive solar design for decades to make buildings comfortable without artificial energy. Here is our dramatic floating demonstration of how sunlight can power our future: Moondog, the cat that runs on the sun. This is an excerpt from NBN News report on the recent Bellingen Energy Festival, which featured  Envirotecture’s Dick Clarke, along with Bob Brown, Dick Smith, Ellen Sandell and Rose Wright.

NBN News – Moondog at Bellingen Energy Festival

Moondog will be making many appearances in coming months, watch out for it!

Dick Smith spoke about an idea of his to use masses of electric cars powered up by solar farms during the day, as the overnight back-up for the grid. This is a great idea, and combined with other strategies means we are not putting all our eggs in one basket.

Moondog will be making another first soon – a World First we think! It will be powering the Envirotecture office computers during the working day, and making a splash on the waterways on the weekends. We are currently working an upgrade of its solar array, and installation of an inverter to make that all happen. Stay tuned for the announcement!

See more of Moondog on the Envirotecture blog, and visit Ecoboats for lots of stuff on solar and electric boating.

We use Torqueedo electric outboard motors, Solbianflex solar panels, and

Redarc solar controllers and inverters.

NBN WMV file direct link: http://soulstream1.sptel.com.au/NBN_News/coffsenergyfestival270712.wmv