If you think about turbines, you might think about large windmills on hills or offshore farms, right? However, it can also be a small device you can carry with you. And that’s today’s issue: the Shine 2.0 portable wind turbine designed to generate electricity almost everywhere there’s a breeze.
In a world where we constantly depend on mobile phones, laptops, and other electronic devices, this type of technology aims to offer a simple solution to when we run out of power and there’s no socket. So, let’s learn more about this Shine 2.0 portable wind turbine.
The Shine 2.0
The Shine 2.0 is a portable wind turbine, it’s a small device that produces electric energy using the wind. Its size is similar to a water bottle and it weighs about 3 pounds, which makes it easy to carry.
Its main function is to charge electronic devices, like mobile phones, wireless earbuds, laptops, and even power stations. Opposite to solar panels, this turbine only needs an 8 miles per hour wind and no sun, which means it can generate energy 24 hours even when it’s cloudy or rainy.
Issue about portable wind turbines
Portable wind turbines are not a new idea. There are many models on the internet and a lot of tutorials to build them at home. However, most of them have serious issues: they easily break, produce little energy, or stop working when the wind changes the direction or intensity.
For this reason, many campers and travellers have chosen solar panels because they tend to be more reliable in sunny areas. As a result, wind power has gained a reputation for being unpredictable when used on a small scale.
But, the Canadian brand Shine stated that the Shine 2.0 solves many of these issues thanks to its more resistant, lighter, and more efficient design.
What makes the Shine 2.0 so special
According to Vanessa Ferguson, Shine spokesperson, the Shine 2.0 has one of the best power-to-weight ratios among portable renewable energy products. In simple terms, this means it produces a lot of power for how small and light it is.
The Shine 2.0 is an improved version of the Shine 1.0, which was successfully launched in 2021 through a crowdfunding campaign. More than 2,300 customers in the United States, Canada, and Europe purchased the original model. Then, Shine used feedback from those users to improve the new version and make it:
- With more power output, from 40W to 50W.
- With a faster and more modern USB-C charging.
- With the ability to charge laptops and power stations.
- With a mobile app that shows battery level and performance.
How the turbine works
This is very simple. When the wind blows, the turbine’s blades spin and through that movement generates electricity inside the device. The turbine has a built-in system that automatically adjusts when the wind speed changes, which helps it stay efficient even when the wind is not steady. This system improves how much energy the turbine can capture.
It also includes a 12,000 mAh internal battery, which stores electricity. This means you can charge the Shine 2.0 at home before leaving and still use it later, even if the wind is weak or stops completely.
What’s more, it’s weatherproof and automatically turns itself to face the wind, so users do not need to adjust it manually.
Where a portable wind turbine works best
As we have mentioned, this turbine works with the wind, so the best places to use this device is where the wind is consistent, like coastal areas, open landscapes, mountain regions, and on top of TVs or camper vans.
So, in places with dense forests or many obstacles, the wind tends to be weaker and the turbine may not be as effective as it should. This is why in these cases, solar panels are the best choice.
Price and future plans
The Shine 2.0 was launched on Indiegogo, with the campaign running from September through March, but the shipping is expected to begin in April 2025.
During the campaign, the price is $400, which is lower than the expected retail price of $571. The campaign has already raised more than $772,000 from nearly 1,500 backers, showing strong interest in the product.
Shine has also announced plans for future models, including the Shine 3.0, which will be larger, more powerful, and designed for charging bigger devices and vehicles.
Now that you know more about the Shine 2.0, would you like to have one or you think it’s not worth it?