When you think of “do-it-yourself,” you might picture old magazines with instructions for fixing radios or building model engines. But in our recent H-HOPE Mid-Term Webinar (April 2025), the spotlight was on something much bigger: DIY energy harvesters and how they could inspire a new generation of prosumers.
Marco, from the University of Ljubljana, kicked things off with a mix of nostalgia and innovation. He reminded us that decades ago, even books on how to build your own hydropower plant were bestsellers. Fast forward to today, and the challenge is how to make DIY exciting again—this time with 3D printing, open-source designs, and small-scale harvesters you can actually build at home.
The session showcased how Work Package 8 is experimenting with:
🔹 3D-printed devices like velocity meters to measure stream potential
🔹 Harvester prototypes using oscillating cylinders and hydrofoils
🔹 Open-source files and guides on a new GitHub Data Hub
But the real buzz came during the discussion: could these designs become educational kits for schools, a way to attract teenagers into STEM, or even a new market for prosumers who want to produce their own clean energy? Ideas flew—from turning DIY harvesters into Christmas gifts for kids, to municipalities using them in water systems, to companies creating “all-in-a-box” assembly kits.
What struck many participants was how hands-on projects like this change our perspective. Building a harvester from scratch shows just how much effort it takes to produce energy—something we often take for granted when we flip a switch. And it brings together the best of engineering: mechanics, electronics, design, and coding all in one project.
As one participant put it: “Every school should have one.”
The conversation also touched on bigger questions: How do we balance open-source sharing with business opportunities? How can we scale DIY designs into more durable, commercial-ready technologies? And how do we ensure these ideas live on beyond the project?
One thing was clear: DIY energy harvesters aren’t just about devices—they’re about sparking curiosity, connecting disciplines, and giving more people a role in the clean energy transition.
