13-Year-Old Getting Patent for “Efficient” Solar Power Panel Array

August 21st, 2011 by Zachary Shahan

Aidan evaluating data he collected.

Update: yes, this kid’s conclusions have been debunked. But his effort, initial research skills, and goals are still something worthy of great commendation.

Now, I don’t know yet if this kid’s solar power panel arrays will beat out those of major competitors, but you have to give props to 13-year-old Aidan Dwyer no matter where they go.

Aidan, of Long Island and Northport Middle School, applied the Fibonacci sequence of some tree branches to some solar panel arrays “in a months-long backyard experiment” and found that they were more energy efficient than typical, flat panel arrays, about 20% more.

In Winter exposure, they beat traditional solar panel arrays by 50%!

(Note: see link above, those findings were off for a number of reasons.)

Realizing he was on to something, he went ahead and filed a provisional patent for the technology (I’m sure he got the help of his parents or others for that part). He received the honor of “2011 Young Naturalist” in July from the Museum of Natural History in New York as well, along with just 12 other students from grades 7-12. (Me thinks he’s got a bright future ahead of him.)

Here’s more from the Northport Patch:

Dwyer has been awarded a provisional patent from the United States Patent and Trademark Office for his innovation, which he says has garnered a lot of interest. When asked just how many entities expressed interest, he simply stated, “alot.”

Outside of precocious pursuits, 13-year-old Dwyer is a regular kid. He loves to sail around Northport Bay in his Optimist and play golf with his family. He is also a kind soul and said he will remain dedicated to scientific discovery in the interest of the greater good when he grows up.

“I’m interested in science because it helps the world,” he said.

Looks like he’s got his ducks in order.

Photo Credit: The Dwyer Family

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Tags: solar panel arrays, solar panel kid, solar panel kid patent, solar power kid, solar power panel arrays, solar power panels, whiz kids, wiz kids, young naturalist award

About the Author

Zachary Shahan spends most of his time here on CleanTechnica as the director/chief editor. Otherwise, he's probably enthusiastically fulfilling his duties as the director/editor of Solar Love, EV Obsession, Planetsave, or Bikocity. Zach is recognized globally as a solar energy, electric car, and wind energy expert. If you would like him to speak at a related conference or event, connect with him via social media. You can connect with Zach on any popular social networking site you like. Links to all of his main social media profiles are on ZacharyShahan.com.

Anonymous

Not a bad idea but also first see “Golden Book of Mathematics – page 31 – Irving Adler, 1962″!

Did he reference this (or any other) texts for his work (there are many to chose from)? So, one must ask, what happened to “scholarship” as part of the measure of academic and creative achievement? Will now everyone in the future be allowed to just re-invent science and get media attention by any means necessary?

Anyway, this is nothing compared to the 2004 Siemens Science Competition!!! Now THAT was a really bad job by the media, especially ABC News that got completely suckered by it (so much so, that they have not reported on this particular competition again!).
Pingback: 13-Year-Old Creates Breakthrough Solar Technology.. Then Gets Debunked (+ Top Green Living Stories) | Planetsave
Theresa Veronica Kennedy

We have a bright future with children thinking about these things at such a young age. Our children are very bright if we just give them the proper tools and support they can CREATE solutions to many problems.
- Anonymous
  
  agreed!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Energy-Savers/100002147885548 Energy Savers

Americas financial sustainability begins with Made in America

Americans must wake up and take action to protect our liberty and way of life.

America must rejuvenate itself and become the huge industrial power it once was.

It starts by re-inventing the wheel and building manufacturing facilities in the United States that employ Americans who produce quality goods at a competitive price with space age technology and modernization.

Organized workforce and benefits has to be revamped to meet today’s economic conditions.

Government and its bureaucracy must be reduced and streamlined. Rules and regulations must be revamped to be conducive to business growth and development.

“Good leaders create a vision, articulate the vision, passionately own the vision, and relentlessly drive it to completion”
“It is Cheaper to Save Energy than Make Energy”

YJ Draiman for Mayor of Los Angeles
Stephen Adolph

you should edit your article – this kid did not get a patent. He filed a provisional…
- Anonymous
  
  thanks, has been updated.
Anonymous

Woops..

My bet is the kid’s got a pretty bright future ahead of him, though, and will likely do more for the world than the large percentage of the population
Yoshiee

Sigh…

The kid’s conclusions were proven false. His theory and the way he tested it (measuring voltage instead of power) is incorrect.

For a pro-renewable energy site, you’d figure you would do a little research before you post articles like this…
- Anonymous
  
  Thanks, i’ve included an update now.
http://www.facebook.com/wicasta Wicasta Lovelace

Of course there’s a “provisional patent”. According to U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, a provisional patent allows filing without a formal patent claim, oath or declaration, or any information disclosure (prior art) statement. It provides the means to establish an early effective filing date in a later filed non-provisional patent application filed under 35 U.S.C. §111(a). It also allows the term “Patent Pending” to be applied in connection with the description of the invention. When you see something that says “patent pending”, that means someone has a provisional patent. It’s a way of protecting an idea until the long and winding process of being awarded a full patent is still ongoing.
Anonymous

Learning patterns and sequences is important, because the same patterns keep showing up.
Zipper1

There is no such thing as a “provisional” patent.