Open source since 2018
Produce electricity
and empower people
655 million
> 85 %
300 W
24/7
The idea
Electricity out of the box
The Rotor provides electricity as an out-of-the-box, plug-and-play solution in various geographic settings with a convincing cost-performance ratio. It is made of worldwide available materials that can be substituted by a variety of recycled materials. Maintenance is therefore simple and affordable.
Access to flowing water is available almost everywhere. Unlike solar panels, the Rotor generates electricity day and night – for light, cooling of medicine or charging batteries and mobile phones in remote regions.
Project history
From art project to open source
2009 – 2012
The art project wasser-werke
2012
First prototype
2013
Start-up mobile hydro
2014 – 2017
Development and pilots
Since 2018
Open source
Since 2025
Designing Energy
Today
Designing Energy
The story continues: Designing Energy is an art-science project exploring the future of energy at the intersection of science, technology, architecture and art. The Rotor – a hydro power plant that grew out of an art project – is part of the Designing Energy exhibition.
Origin
Born from art and science
The Rotor is an idea of the installation artist Markus Heinsdorff. His art and science collaboration wasser-werke, a joint project with the Hydromechanics Laboratory of TUM, presented objects, installations, video and photography with and about water.
From this dialogue between art and engineering grew the question of how flowing water could be used as simply as possible to supply people without grid connection with electricity. On the initiative of environmental engineer Andreas Zeiselmair, a team of engineers and students was formed to develop a deployable prototype – with the support of several universities.
Our world at night, lit by electricity
Our major rivers
Status quo at project start (2014)
Off-grid energy supply
95% diesel, 2% wind power, 3% solar (market analysis 2014)
Since then, off-grid solar and solar mini-grids have grown considerably – yet diesel generators are still widely used, and solar cannot supply power at night without storage.
The challenge
Problems of conventional solutions
- High running costs
- Don’t generate 24/7
- Face unreliable fuel supply
- Need high initial investment
- Emit a lot of CO₂
- Need professional operation because they are difficult to maintain
Market assumption 2014
Assumptions
At least 10% of people without power, but with access to rivers, spend $20 for lamp oil every year.
Technology
Simple, scalable, local
Energy production
- Power range 100 to 300 W
- Generator on water surface
- Battery buffer (car battery) and load controller
- Scaling through parallel operation
Hydraulics
- Floating pico water turbine with vertical axis
- Usage of kinetic energy in streaming water
- Based on approved principle (Darrieus turbine)
Production
- Use of cost-efficient standard components
- Use of recycling materials
- Local production
Power consumption of various consumers
Up to 300 W per Rotor
Pilot project 2015
Bangladesh
This Rotor was produced and tested with the given possibilities in Bangladesh by Benoit Durillon (Association Watever) in 2015. It is one of the first prototypes.
Intention
- Building up a network for rural energy supply
- Reach users without access to electricity until now
- Replace diesel generators as the main off-grid energy source
Field test 2012
Test with the first prototype
Network 2013–2017
Partners and supporters
Recognition
Awards
