Have you ever experienced running out of battery in the middle of nowhere? What a bummer, right? At that moment, it would be great to be able to use wind to generate your own energy, but what if that could be true? Today, we are going to talk about a small portable wind turbine called Shine Turbine. This device promises to produce electricity by using only wind, even just a moderate breeze would be enough. So, let’s find out more about this invention.
Shine 2.0
The Shine 2.0 is a small generator of energy that works like a portable wind turbine. Its size is similar to a water bottle, which is perfect to take inside your bag without taking too much space.
Okay, it’s small, but how much does it weigh? The device weighs around 1.3 kg (almost 3 pounds), which makes it perfect to easily take it with you for outdoor activities.
When the wind is constant, the turbine blades spin, and this movement converts the air movement into electricity. According to the information from the manufacturer, the portable wind turbine starts to work with winds of about 13 km per hour (8 miles per hour).
Charging your battery anywhere
Apart from being able to generate electricity when the weather is windy, one of the main features of the Shine 2.0 is that it can also store that energy. It includes an inner battery of 12,000 milliamp-hour (mAh). But, what does this mean?
- It can store the electricity it produces from the wind.
- It can work as a regular power bank when there is no wind.
- It can be charged from a wall outlet before a trip.
Basically, it’s a tiny portable wind turbine for charging your battery anywhere, especially if you are in areas with no electric network.
The 2.0 version increases the maximum power output from 40 watts to 50 watts. It also includes an internal controller that automatically adjusts performance as wind speeds change, within a range of about 13 to 45 kilometers per hour. In addition, a Bluetooth app allows users to check battery levels and monitor recent energy production.
Other portable wind turbines
Portable wind turbines are not a new idea because they have existed for years. However, many previous versions faced some issues: some of them were very fragile, others produced little energy, and some didn’t do what was promised.
For this reason, many people who normally do outdoor activities tend to trust more in small solar panels, since they are more popular and more stable.
Price and availability
The Shine 2.0 was launched in September on the crowdfunding platform Indiegogo. The campaign is scheduled to run until March, with shipments expected in April 2025.
What about the price? An early-bird price lists the turbine at 400 US dollars. Campaign figures show that more than 772,000 dollars have been pledged by nearly 1,500 supporters.
The company states that it has already shipped over 2,300 units of the first-generation turbine across North America and Europe. This gives it a track record that many crowdfunded products do not achieve.
Who is this thought for?
If you are interested in this product but you are not sure if this is for you, the company says the device is designed for:
- Overland travelers
- Surfers
- Field researchers
- Rural homeowners
- People who need backup power during home outages
- Individuals in coastal or open areas where wind is steady
You should also know the company is planning on a larger system called Shine 3.0 for bigger devices and vehicle charging.
How incredible is technological advances when they are helpful and used for good purposes? This portable device is going to let people be outside without running out of battery so soon. That’s amazing!