Dubai Municipality launches Smart Flower solar panel

The Smart Flower has a weather adaptation mechanism and a ventilation system.

A flower-shaped solar panel that can reorient itself to face sunlight has been announced by Dubai Municipality. Courtesy Dubai Municipality

DUBAI // A flower-shaped solar panel that can reorient itself to face sunlight has been announced by Dubai Municipality.

The Smart Flower was developed by an Austrian company and contains sensors allowing it to automatically track rays of sunlight, the municipality said on Wednesday.

This feature makes it 23 per cent more efficient than traditional roof-top solar systems.

The device has a weather-adapting feature and a passive ventilation system to ensure it is efficient in high temperatures.

Hussain Nasser Lootah, director general of the municipality, said the Smart Flower is in line with the vision of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai.

“Dubai Municipality’s commitment to innovation and implementation of creative ideas in line with Dubai Government’s vision of becoming the world’s most innovative and sustainable city,” said Mr Lootah.

The Smart Flower is one of several initiatives started by the municipality’s sustainability and renewable energy department, said Khalid Al Awadhi, assistant director general for the municipality’s environment, health and safety control sector.

Another project was the Dubai Lamp, which he said was the world's most efficient LED lamp available commercially. It is expected to reduce energy consumption by 90 per cent.