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Design harnesses sun god's energy

9 April 2008

The RAVI solar generator could reduce the amount of non-renewable energy we need to use around the home.

Monash Industrial Design graduate Leigh Ryan has developed a novel way to make the reduction of greenhouse emissions achievable for individuals.

Named after the Hindu sun god and constructed to look like a flower, the RAVI solar generator absorbs energy through its petals during the day, storing it in an internal battery. At night, you can remove the battery pack to power small electronic goods and home appliances.

Mr Ryan said he wanted to design a product that people could connect with.

"Although the technology in RAVI is nothing new, it's a product that you want to engage with; it has an emotional connection with the user," Mr Ryan said.

Mr Ryan said the RAVI could reduce the amount of non-renewable energy we need to use around the home.

"Even though the energy required to power items like mobile phones and mp3 players is quite minimal on an individual level, when you take into consideration how many users there are world-wide the figures start to add up," Mr Ryan said.

"Initially I looked into kinetic powered products, but I wanted to make the product easy for people to adopt into their daily routines, hence opting for solar power."

Mr Ryan completed his four year degree in 2007 and is now employed in his dream job at Dyson in the UK.

"Towards the end of my degree I thought if I could have any job in the world what it be? My answer was Dyson, as I've always been a fan not only of their design and innovation but more importantly their philosophy," Mr Ryan said.

"Before I had even put pen to paper for the RAVI I knew that whatever the design, I needed to make a working prototype. I felt it was a necessary step to bridge the gap between my current skill set and where I wanted to be in the professional world.

"I also thought it would impress Dyson … which it did."

And where to now for the RAVI?

"The concept and design has enough validation behind it, but realistically to get something like RAVI off the ground and into production would require a huge investment," Mr Ryan said.

"I guess where I am now at Dyson provides the best opportunity for me to progress the concept into further development."