Copenhagen’s harbor may soon become the home of more than old vessels along with The Little Mermaid. A giant duck with a 12-story height that combines hydropower and solar energy could also join the ranks. A group of British creators and designers that took part in a recent contest suggested the idea of a duck to help the Danish capital transition to carbon neutral by 2025.
The duck is only an idea, though the creators of it have laid out a detailed outline of how it will function. The duck would be constructed using a lightweight steel frame, Time explains it, and completely covered with solar panels. It will change color in the evening according to hydro turbines that draw power from the harbor’s current ebb flow. Visitors could enter the boat and have a look inside. DesignBoom provides more details on the potential green of the duck.
The energy collected is stored in the waterbird’s belly, taking advantage of the design’s floating character that is secured due to the different H2O elevations within out of and around the body. If power is required to be dispersed, the body of the duck gets flooded to create the required electric power to be transferred to a grid in the national grid using the same method as the PV panel produces electricity.
Copenhagen or any city could release a massive flock of ducks to meet particular energy requirements. As DesignBoom notes, the duck’s capacity is expandable. A 40-meter-tall bird could provide the majority of power needed for an extensive solar farm to power a city. The 20-meter-tall duck could serve an entire town. A whole family could use a four-meter duck.