marjan van aubel: the energy collection

dutch designer marjan van aubel has created ‘the energy collection’ a collection of everyday objects that absorb energy from daylight. the solar glassware gathers energy from the light around it. whether you are drinking from your glass or have left it on the side, it is constantly working to gather energy. the solar cells are completely integrated into the objects themselves as a unique self-sufficient system. when you put the glass away, the specially designed cabinet collects and stores this energy; it’s a way to gather and harvest energy all within one room. the unit works as a battery where power can be adapted in many ways, from charging your phone to powering a light source.

bottom cup / all images © wai ming NG

shelf

voltmeter

within each glass is a photovoltaic layer of dye synthesized solar cells. here, the properties of colour are being used to create an electrical current. invented by michael graetzel at EPFL, it is a technique based on the process of photosynthesis in plants. like the green chlorophyll which absorbs light energy, the colours in these cells collect energy. the glassware uses sunlight as a sustainable source of energy, but can also work under diffused light. this makes them much more efficient for use inside the home compared to standard solar panels, which only work in direct sunlight and are not suitable for indoor use.

phone

light

table

tests

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

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