Florida-based Ecosphere Technologies Inc. has received a U.S. patent for its Ecos PowerCube photovoltaic solar and wind energy generation and battery storage system for providing off-grid electricity.
The company says the Ecos PowerCube incorporates an array of stacked solar panels, a wind turbine and batteries into a package that fits in standard shipping container footprints. Once on location, the system has generating capacity of up to 15 kW.
Ecosphere says the Ecos PowerCube can be transported by land, air or sea and is suited to support off-grid military, disaster relief, humanitarian and mobile communications applications. The company indicates it regards the U.S. Department of Defense as a promising customer.
The military has expressed interest in transportable solar-storage hybrid systems as a substitute for diesel generators, particularly for vulnerable forward operating bases in war zones.
