French Company Unéole Launches Hybrid Power Generation Device That Increases Energy Output by 40% Compared to Traditional Solar Panels.
Unéole’s power generation device tested in Loos-en-Gohelle, France. (Video: Unéole).
The demand for renewable energy is driving innovation in the market. While companies like Siemens focus on manufacturing massive wind turbines to harness offshore energy, the startup Unéole is seeking to optimize electricity production with much smaller devices that can be installed on urban buildings.
Structurally, Unéole’s device combines vertical-axis wind turbines and solar panels with a total height of approximately 4 meters. Its length and width can be adjusted based on the number of turbines and solar panels, using algorithms tailored to fit specific buildings.
While photovoltaic systems rely on sunlight, wind turbines can operate at night or during winter conditions with weak sunlight, creating a perfect complement. According to Unéole, their solution can maximize energy output by 40% compared to purely solar solutions.
To ensure low carbon emissions, the wind turbines are made from recycled materials such as aluminum and stainless steel. Local production will also help reduce the system’s overall emissions.
Simulation of Unéole’s power generation device installed on a rooftop of an urban building. (Video: Unéole)
Founded in 2014, Unéole has tested its device for various clients at different locations. The company’s wind turbines have been certified by the French public authority CEREMA as “operating quietly and not generating any harmful electromagnetic waves.”
Last year, Unéole installed a test device at the CD2e LumiWatt site in Loos-en-Gohelle, France. If performance continues to be promising, the company hopes to move towards large-scale production with the capital currently being raised.
