Part of the City of Ottawa’s Energy Evolution Catalyst Project Program
Prototype D TEAM Inc’s Urban Innovation Pods
Project Description
PrototypeD designed and constructed two innovation Pods which are completely solar powered, off grid buildings used for delivering innovation products and services. The pods are full season units. These Pods benefit from being entirely prefabricated, custom designed, locally built (within the Ottawa valley) and bring together clean technology connectivity.
They can be placed throughout the urban centres of Ottawa to create an innovative hub of off-grid buildings and establish a network of high-tech and sustainable stations. There are three solar panels per pod that result in an instantaneous generating capacity of 765 W. That power is delivered into four storage batteries resulting in a storage capacity of 5.6 kWh. The Pods are heated by a 8000 btu propane furnace with direct venting and no electrical power requirements.
There is no water supply as on-board water and wastewater systems would increase the weight of these small trailers to the point where they would require extra axles, wheels, brakes and would a larger towing vehicle. The energy systems within the Pods do not currently track power generation and consumption.
Results
Two social enterprises have made use of the pods to date. Growcer, a company focused on food security for northern communities has just finished a research and development (R&D) project. This R&D will be implemented into Growcer’s larger hydroponic shipping container system to increase food growing yields. This will increase access to fresh food, and profit in remote communities. Robot Missions, an organization that uses open source, 3D printed beach cleaning robots has made the final arrangements with the city to deploy a pod on Westboro beach for the summer. Robot Missions will use the pod to engage with community members and get children interested in Robotics.
More tentative agreements with several social enterprises have been made throughout Ottawa. These groups will bring the mobile Pods and green energy services to their members to offer new services. The length of time each pod will remain in each location will change depending on the partner. Due to the increased capacity with the addition of two new pods, prototypeD will be able to offer them for longer intervals.
Scalability
PrototypeB will link with the Bayview Yards Innovation Centre, local BIAs, and local social enterprises to demonstrate the potential of clean, renewable and sustainable infill buildings. Pods will be deployed in the urban and suburban core and will highlight potential use as greenhouses, home offices, educational centres, and workshops. As the public begins interacting with organizations within the Pods, new design changes may discovered that could improve future designs, just as the first two Pods influenced design decisions with the latest Pods.
