AuREUS System Technology

Filipino Student Wins Global Award for AuREUS: A Solar Technology that Turns Crop Waste into Clean Energy

Manila, Philippines – Carvey Ehren Maigue, an engineering student from Mapúa University, has gained international recognition, including the inaugural James Dyson Award for Sustainability in 2020, for his revolutionary AuREUS (Aurora Renewable Energy & UV Sequestration) system. The technology offers a creative solution to two major global problems: food waste and intermittent solar energy production.

Unlike traditional photovoltaic (PV) panels that primarily rely on direct visible light, the AuREUS system uses luminescent particles extracted from discarded fruits and vegetables to absorb high-energy ultraviolet (UV) light. This UV light is then re-emitted as visible light, which is channeled to conventional PV cells placed along the edges of the panel, converting it into electricity.

The panel's core advantage is its ability to generate electricity even on cloudy days or from scattered UV light that bounces off city surfaces. This makes it ideal for vertical installations, transforming building facades and windows into "vertical solar farms." Preliminary tests show that AuREUS can produce energy close to 50% of the time, a significant improvement over standard solar panels. Furthermore, by upcycling agricultural crop waste, it offers farmers a new revenue stream for damaged produce, providing a truly sustainable closed-loop system.

Exam Perspective Points (Science, Technology, and Environment)

Category	Key Concept/Term	Description & Significance
Technology	AuREUS System Technology	Innovative solar energy solution that captures UV light using organic luminescent particles extracted from crop waste.
Principle	UV Sequestration	The process of absorbing high-energy UV radiation and re-emitting it as lower-energy visible light. This is inspired by the physics of the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights).
Core Material	Organic Luminescent Compounds	Extracted from specific fruits and vegetables (e.g., red, green, yellow crops) and suspended in a resin substrate. They are the key to absorbing UV light.
Functionality	Light Conversion Process	UV light → Absorbed by luminescent particles → Re-emitted as visible light → Directed to the edges by Internal Reflectance → Converted to DC electricity by perimeter PV Cells.
Key Advantage	Efficiency in Low Light	Can generate electricity even on cloudy days or from reflected UV, unlike traditional solar cells. Preliminary tests show it can function close to 50% of the time.
Application	Vertical Solar Farms	The transparent, flexible design allows it to be applied to windows (Borealis Solar Window) and building walls (Astralis Solar Wall), maximizing energy capture in dense urban areas.
Sustainability	Circular Economy	Addresses both renewable energy and waste management by turning otherwise wasted agricultural crops into a high-value technological resource.