Unlike solar panels that can only generate power while the sun’s shining, Aurea Technologies’ new Shine 2.0 portable wind turbine can potentially work all day long. That is, as long as the weather cooperates and provides an 8mph breeze needed to keep the turbine’s blades spinning.
Now available for preorder through a Kickstarter campaign offering discounts on its full $571 retail pricing for early backers, the Shine 2.0 is an improved version of the company’s first portable wind turbine that arrives with several welcome upgrades.
The Shine 2.0, and an included three-foot-tall support with stability cables, all fold up into a three-pound package that looks like an elongated football. The company compares its size to a water bottle, and while it’s a bit larger than that, the turbine is still portable enough to be carried in a backpack.
The Shine 2.0 generates power in wind speeds ranging from eight to 28mph, and at max speed, it can produce up to 50W of power, which is enough to fully charge a laptop in about two hours. With wind speeds at the bare minimum of 8mph, charging speeds will be well below 5W, and the company estimates it would take over 11 hours to just charge a smartphone in a “slight breeze.”
As portable power solutions go, the compact wind turbine is designed for campers, van lifers, or anyone expecting to find themselves without a reliable source of power for a while, including those who frequently experience power outages. To help improve its performance, the Shine 2.0 can be upgraded with an optional six-foot tall mount that positions it higher in the air where winds can be stronger. Like solar panels, its power output is dependent on weather conditions and can vary greatly throughout the day, but unlike solar, the Shine 2.0 won’t necessarily stop when the sun sets.
A switch from a 13W Micro USB port to USB-C now allows the Shine 2.0 to charge connected devices at 75W speeds (from its internal 12,000mAh battery), and it can be used to charge larger portable power stations using an optional new “Power Station Adapter.”
The most welcome upgrade on the Shine 2.0 is a new Bluetooth-connected mobile app, which allows you to monitor its performance from afar. The app provides details on the current wind speed, including how much power is being generated and how much is being consumed.
There are always risks when backing products being delivered through crowdfunding campaigns and potentially even greater risks with electronic devices. Aurea Technologies successfully delivered its original Shine wind turbine to customers using crowdfunding, so while there may be less risk here, there’s still the potential for delays that could push the Shine 2.0’s expected April 2025 delivery back even further.
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