DUBAI // A flower-shaped solar panel that can reorient itself to face sunlight has been announced by Dubai Municipality.
The Smart Flower was developed by an Austrian company and contains sensors allowing it to automatically track rays of sunlight, the municipality said on Wednesday.
This feature makes it 23 per cent more efficient than traditional roof-top solar systems.
The device has a weather-adapting feature and a passive ventilation system to ensure it is efficient in high temperatures.
Hussain Nasser Lootah, director general of the municipality, said the Smart Flower is in line with the vision of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai.
“Dubai Municipality’s commitment to innovation and implementation of creative ideas in line with Dubai Government’s vision of becoming the world’s most innovative and sustainable city,” said Mr Lootah.
The Smart Flower is one of several initiatives started by the municipality’s sustainability and renewable energy department, said Khalid Al Awadhi, assistant director general for the municipality’s environment, health and safety control sector.
Another project was the Dubai Lamp, which he said was the world's most efficient LED lamp available commercially. It is expected to reduce energy consumption by 90 per cent.
newsdesk@thenational.ae
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
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Engine: Duel electric motors
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On sale: Available for pre-order now
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Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
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PROFILE OF INVYGO
Started: 2018
Founders: Eslam Hussein and Pulkit Ganjoo
Based: Dubai
Sector: Transport
Size: 9 employees
Investment: $1,275,000
Investors: Class 5 Global, Equitrust, Gulf Islamic Investments, Kairos K50 and William Zeqiri
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Barcelona 3
Messi (27’, 32’, 87’)
Leganes 1
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In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
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Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
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Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
