The beautiful future of solar power | Marjan van Aubel

Scientific Concepts, Discoveries, and Nature/Energy Phenomena

• Solar photovoltaic energy

  • Sunlight (free and widely available) can be converted into electricity using solar panels/solar cells.
  • The talk highlights rapid progress in efficiency and cost, driven by large-scale manufacturing.

• Solar irradiance rule-of-thumb (“Solar Revolution” claim)

  • Citing Solar Revolution: within one hour, Earth receives enough sunlight to supply the world with enough electricity for an entire year.

• Efficiency of modern solar cells

  • Peak performance mentioned: ~44.5% efficiency.

• Limitations of conventional solar panel form factor

  • Even with efficiency improvements, the visual/structural appearance of solar technology is described as largely unchanged for ~60 years—motivating designs that better integrate aesthetically and environmentally.

• Dye-sensitized / colored solar cells inspired by photosynthesis

  • The mechanism is compared to photosynthesis in plants:
    • Chlorophyll converts light into chemical energy (sugar).
    • Dye-sensitized solar cells use dye/colored sensitizers to convert light into electricity.
  • Indoor operation: claimed to work indoors.
  • Color-dependent performance: efficiency varies with light wavelength. Example given:
    • Red light reportedly performs better than blue (depending on which part of the spectrum is used).

• Light manipulation for improved solar harvesting (optics)

  • Using crystal cutting/geometry (with Swarovski) to bend/direct incoming light onto a solar panel to improve effectiveness while preserving aesthetics.
  • Example application: using directed light to help power indoor fixtures (e.g., chandeliers).

• Energy harvesting from ambient indoor light using sensing + feedback

  • Tables/windows incorporate:
    • Light-intensity sensors
    • An app for tracking room lighting and battery state
  • Idea: adapt energy harvesting to the lighting conditions of the installed location.

• Transparent solar glass integrated into agriculture and buildings

  • Proposal: transparent solar glass can provide energy while allowing light needed for plant growth and/or indoor climate control.

• Hydroponics and water savings

  • “Power Plant” concept uses hydroponics with nutrified water recirculation.
  • Claim: ~90% water usage reduction.

• LED-assisted plant growth (extra light besides sunlight)

  • Additional colored LED lighting improves plant growth and yield alongside natural sunlight.

• Stacking/vertical farming for increased yield

  • By layering growth beds, the concept increases yield per square meter.

• Off-grid sustainability as an ecosystem

  • The “big dream” is to combine rooftop/indoor farming with energy harvesting in off-grid areas (regions lacking reliable electricity/water access), creating an independent ecosystem.

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Design/Build Concepts (Process-Style Lists)

Workflow for a Colored Indoor Power Table (“Current Table”)

• Colored solar-cell tabletop with a battery in the legs
• Sensors measure indoor light intensity
• An app displays:
  • current light level
  • projected/actual battery charge status
• Users charge devices via USB ports

“Power Plant” Operation (Transparent Solar + Hydroponics + LEDs)

• Use transparent solar glass to generate electricity and support indoor climate needs
• Run hydroponics with nutrient-rich recirculating water
• Use stacked layers to increase productivity per area
• Add colored LED lighting to enhance plant growth
• Combine local growing and energy generation (“double harvest”)

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Researchers / Sources Featured (Named)

• Marjan van Aubel (speaker; solar designer)
• Queen Maxima (mentioned during a charging demonstration)
• MoMA (museum; referenced as a place where the speaker’s work appears)
• Swarovski (crystal company; collaboration)
• Stichting Doen (Amsterdam offices where a table was installed)
• Solar Revolution (book source mentioned)
• China (referenced as a driving force behind large-scale solar panel production)
• Design Biennial (event referenced)
• Stichting Doen’s Amsterdam offices / London Soho gallery (venues referenced; no individual names)