NEWSSTAND Interni Magazine 03
With IN&OUTDOORS supplement, all about exterior furniture.
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Concept
“Making energy visible is always difficult. We know how much we need it, we know where it flows, where it comes from, yet in itself, electrical energy has no shape, has no body, has no face, it does not have a sufficiently credible symbol to refer to. The diamond – a sort of multifaceted photovoltaic solid – captures the rays of the sun and generates enough energy to meet the needs of a small condominium and we know this and we believe in this, however the mystery of how solar panels can capture the energy of light to turn it into electrical energy, we can hardly imagine it. In the Endless Energy installation we have therefore connected diamond to propellers rotating on a vertical pin thanks to the energy of light translated into electric power by the panels of the central diamond; these endless screws then rotate for an endless effect and for an endless time. The energy of light, of the sun rays, is the most ‘endless’ concept we can imagine. Light will accompany us until the end because when there will be no more light we will also not be there. Light is our endless energy.”
Project
The original Diamond is made of a sphere with a diameter of 8 m and 38 photovoltaic panels of polycrystalline silicon located on the top dome and in the side facing south. The remaining spherical surface is covered by glass panels protecting the construction. On the inside, in three spheres of 2m diameter, there are located hydrogen tanks, by means of the advanced technology of metal hydrides. The prototype utilised for InterniDesignEnergies is really functioning and has the same features, but a smaller diameter (2m). The electric energy generated can meet the needs of a small condominium. Visible transmission cables start from the Diamond, which convey the accrued energy necessary to move the propellers, and which measure its flow. Mounted on an electric motor supplied by the Diamond, the coils are made of tubular iron on which the propeller part (in steel sheet) is welded. They are mounted on a cylindrical base of approximately 1.80 m 80 diameter and height 60 cm, in wood and metal. The gears generating the “endless” movement are hidden under a platform.
Enel
Enel is an International group active in 22 countries with growing commitment in technological innovation supporting the environment. The 94.300 MW of installed capacity in its power stations are supplied for more than one third by water, sun, wind and earth warmth. Enel Research offers innovative projects that promote a widespread application of renewable sources and support its economic competitiveness. Among its most audacious projects: the Diamond, a futureoriented mini-power station that utilizes sunlight to generate electricity and preserve it in the form of hydrogen, Archilede, an innovative smart street lamp with LED technology, the e-mobility project for urban electric mobility, the smart grids, future smart networks and many more. Architect Michele De Lucchi contributed to this effort with projects that have modernized Enel systems and facilities. The company Auditorium has been renovated by the Ferrara born architect, just like the information centres and the itineraries for visitors to the stations. De Lucchi has also designed the most recent stations in Porto Corsini (Ravenna) and Priolo Gargallo (Siracusa) characterizing them with an extremely innovative and high tech design. Last in terms of time, the partnership to take the Diamond to the FuoriSalone, transforming an industrial project into a contemporary work of art on energy.
