Named as one of TIME magazine’s Girls of the Year, Rebecca Young invented a solar powered blanket to aid homeless. During the day solar panels on a backpack can charge a battery so the heated blanket can run at night. Via BBC:
Rebecca’s idea came out on top in the UK Primary Engineer competition, where more than 70,000 pupils entered ideas aimed around addressing a social issue.
Engineering company Thales then turned the idea into a working prototype, with 35 units given to Homeless Project Scotland to use in Glasgow.
That achievement led Rebecca to a spot on Time’s list, which the magazine’s chief executive Jessica Sibley said highlights “those who are turning imagination into real-world impact”.

Related reading:
- Happy Eco News: Solar-Powered Blanket: A 12-Year-Old’s Innovative Solution for the Homeless
- Glasgow City of Science and Innovation: Glasgow Schoolgirl’s Solar Invention Tackles Homelessness and Wins National Prize
- Primary Engineer: Pupils and Engineers from across the UK Honoured for Innovation at Primary Engineer MacRobert Medal Ceremony
Solar Charging Handbag
Solar Boost Bag





