Winner Clean Energy Challenge
Track: Startup
Briefing: CITYSCAPES OF AMSTERDAM
About Solar Visuals
Solar Visuals are high-tech photovoltaic modules which enables the application of solar power on a much larger scale; not only as a rooftop coverage, but as a cladding material for the facade, or the entire envelope of buildings. At the same time, the technology is highly aesthetic: combining a revolutionary dot-pattern technique, to optimize energy output without compromising design value.
Read more on this project on the Clean Energy Challenge Platform
What’s your story?
‘Our team is composed of designers from the world of architecture, researchers with many years of experience in photovoltaics and producers of large scale prints in buildings and public spaces.’
“Creativity and good design is needed to make it possible that innovative clean energy concepts and products not only are feasible in a lab setting, but are accepted and implemented by people and in cities all around the world.”
How did your project come about?
‘It started with a research project trying to answer the question: Is it possible to generate clean solar energy while also making the panels attractive enough so that they can be integrated in buildings and cities on a much larger scale? This has led to a joint research consortium, different prototypes and eventually the launch of the company Solar Visuals and our first product.’
What was your reaction to finding out your project had been selected?
‘We were very happy, of course, and also acknowledged that the WDCD Clean Energy Challenge really fits with our project: using the power of design to make clean energy more beautiful and more acceptable and therefore implementable on a very large scale.
In your opinion, why is creativity important in climate action and the transition to clean energy?
‘Creativity and good design is needed to make it possible that innovative clean energy concepts and products not only are feasible in a lab setting, but are accepted and implemented by people and in cities all around the world.’
Where do you see your project one year from now?
‘We will then have multiple live installations of the Solar Visuals product on buildings in Amsterdam, in the Netherlands and in Europe.’