GLOBAL INNOVATIONS

While renewable energy now makes up roughly 25 percent of Germany ’ s infrastructure , local inventor Wolfram Walter doesn ’ t seem to be satisfied . Traditional solar panels only provide power during the day , and complex generators are out of reach for most German homeowners . Walter ’ s solution ? A portable box the size of a college dorm fridge .

When wired to a solar panel system , the box functions as a miniature power plant all year long . Named the Sonnenspeicher , meaning “ Sun Storage ,” the device addresses two major roadblocks on the path to a green energy-based infrastructure : intermittence and storage . It does this by harnessing the most efficient batteries on the market – lithium-iron-phosphate – and maximizing their potential with specialized software and electronics .

Walter ’ s idea isn ’ t new , but it ’ s refined enough to have won him an award for Renewable Product of the Year . The award , which was given to him in 2013 , was based on the first Sonnenspeicher model that he built in his basement .

While the Sonnenspeicher hasn ’ t reached the stage for national adoption , many homes and small businesses can now benefit from cleaner energy and significant cost savings . More importantly , the Sun Storage and the other innovations listed above serve as inspirations and stepping stones on the path to clean energy worldwide .

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