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Solar panels that work in the shade
CategoriesSustainable News

Solar panels that work in the shade

By Zarkon Group,

Spotted: Solar panels offer a safe and environmentally friendly alternative to polluting fossil fuels such as coal and oil. And in full, direct sunlight, they are a highly efficient way to power your home. However, in the shade, they will produce significantly less energy than they would in the full glare of the sun. In fact, US startup Optivolt claims that a shadow covering just 1 per cent of a conventional solar panel will reduce power output by 33 per cent, while a 10 per cent covering will render the panel essentially useless.

The company is tackling this problem with its patented technology, Pulse. When partially in the shade, the Pulse technology ensures the whole panel continues to work effectively by ‘stretching’ the shadow across the entire panel, mimicking a direct sunlight scenario that is slightly dimmer. According to Optivolt, this enables up to 25 times more power to be generated in real-world shading conditions.  

By optimising shaded panels, Pulse claims it unlocks 261 terawatt-hours of untapped energy, which equates to an additional 34 billion dollars worth of solar energy per year.

In addition to the utility and rooftop applications we are all familiar with, OptiVolt’s technology could unlock new applications for solar power. In a field study conducted by Anduril Industries, Optivolt’s solar panel proved capable of powering Anduril’s military devices through harsh winter conditions. The technology is also battle-tested by the United States Homeland Security and Ukrainian front-line units to provide mission-critical power where traditional solar falls short.

Optivolt’s home installations will begin in 2024. 

Solar panels are a vital tool in fighting climate change, and it’s no wonder Springwise has spotted many innovations in the archive looking to make the most out of them. Solar AI provides rent-to-own solar panels to make renewable energy affordable for many, while Terabase Energy is producing a digital field factory to speed up the construction of solar farms.

Written By: Anam Alam

Reference

FADAA uses bio-concrete screens to shade D/O Aqaba retail space
CategoriesInterior Design

FADAA uses bio-concrete screens to shade D/O Aqaba retail space

By Zarkon Group,

Crushed shells were used to form the bio-brick partitions at this store for a decor brand in Aqaba, Jordan, by architecture studio FADAA.

Designed by the Jordanian studio for Decoration One, the D/O Aqaba retail space is a flexible showcase for the local brand’s craft-focused homeware and ornaments.

Objects on display in the D/O Aqaba store
Bricks made from crushed shells act as sun shades and spatial dividers in the D/O Aqaba store

To protect the interior from the harsh south sun, the studio implemented partitions of stacked hollow rectangular bricks based on the traditional mashrabiya screens found in Islamic architecture.

These bricks are made from the shells of oysters, mussels and clams left over as waste from the coastal city’s seafood restaurants.

Bio-brick screens used as spatial dividers
The bio-bricks are stacked into gridded screens

The shells were crushed and used as aggregate for a bio-based concrete that sequesters the carbon from the molluscs’ protective calcium carbonate coverings.

This material is pressed into a mould to form the brick shapes, dried to harden, and finally assembled into the gridded screens.

Store interior with furniture and displays

As well as shading the shop, the partitions help to divide the boutique and guide customers around the interior.

“Working alongside Decoration One’s craftspeople, a materiality-driven approach created the concept of a flexible retail store that embraces craft and low-carbon materials,” said the FADAA team, led by architects Bisher Tabbaa, Sarah Hejazin and Qussai Yousef.

Sales counter clad in blue tiles
Colour is introduced through blue zellige ceramic tiles cladding the sales counter

Lime-plastered walls and native plant species also feature in the store to create a “healthy indoor environment”.

To accommodate Decoration One’s ever-changing collections, modular oak tables and sheer curtains can be moved and rearranged to organise the space as desired.

More tables, made from hand-chiselled local basalt and limestone, contrast the wood furniture and offer alternative ways to display the products.

A splash of colour is introduced by the zellige ceramic tiles that clad the curved sales counter.

Crushed shells form an aggregate for a bio concrete that is moulded into bricks
The bio-bricks are formed in moulds and feature hollow centres

“Embracing the craft nature of the project as well as economically supporting local industries, materials such as zellige and mother of pearl inlaying were used throughout the design,” FADAA said.

D/O Aqaba is shortlisted in the Sustainable Interior category for this year’s Dezeen Awards, along with projects including a restaurant in London and an office in Tokyo.

The bricks offer a sustainable alternative
The crushed shells form aggregate for the bricks and are visible across the surfaces

Bio-bricks are growing in popularity as a sustainable building material and a variety of compositions have been trialled over the past few years.

Bricks made from mushroom mycelium, sugar cane, charcoal and even human urine have all been put forward as environmentally friendly options.

The photography is by Bisher Tabbaa.

Reference