Top 10 Coolest Uses Of Solar Panels

You already know all the common uses for solar power, but these days people have started using solar panels in some crazy, creative ways. Who knew solar panels could look so cool?


Solar Powered Desert Structure

 This amazing structure brings solar technology into a context of art,beauty and architecture. On a sunny day, the solar panels will be ableto generate up to 10 MW of electrical power for the local community. Inaddition to generating renewable energy, the structure will alsoshelter visitors from the hot sun. 

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 Solar Trash Cans

 

These amazing solar trash cans were designed to reduce the impact oftrash in cities. Powered by the sun, these compactors allow the cans tostore more trash, thus lowering the operating costs, fuel consumption,and greenhouse gas emissions associated with garbage collection by upto 80%.

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Solar Powered Artificial Plant

A team of Japanese scientists and engineers created an artificial houseplant with high-efficiency organic thin-film solar cells as leaves. Each flexible leaf has a complexstructure protected by a thin plastic layer which means that in the future thesegenerators could be embedded into buildings, clothes, and toys. 

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Solar Crane at Coachella

We love this spectacular oversized origami installation at Coachella. As thousands offans enter the festival they will pass under the welcoming wings, lit by solar-poweredLED lights. The giant creature is a living art installation, a beacon, shelter, destination,as well as a universal message of peace. 

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Solar Paint

 Paint on your solar power. Solar paint entails a nanoscale mixture of photovoltaiccomponents that can be painted or sprayed on to any number of surfaces to createcheap, efficient solar cells. Research on this technology is still in its infancy, but welove the huge potential for creative applications.

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 Solar Intersections

 Solar art doesn't have to be outdoor art. These site-specific installations that aredesigned with the sun in mind to maximize the visual impact of renewable powergeneration. They work by simply collecting energy though embedded solar cells to inturn power interior lighting. 

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Flower Power

 This stunning installation built on an old industrial site in Austin,TX is made up of 15 flower-like solar photovoltaic panels that soak upthe sun's rays to generate a steady stream of renewable energy andprovide shade. The flowers collect energy during the day to power theinstallation's blue LED lights at night. 

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Solar Pyramids

 

 The Lunar Cubit is an award winning design proposal which consists of aseries ofsolar panel pyramids forming a renewal energy plant. This amazingseries of pyramids will power homes in Abu Dhabi and will also serve asa stunning, illuminated public art installation by night. 

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Solar Powered Stadium

 Taiwan's dragon-shaped arena is the perfect example of the scalabilityof solar power. Designed by Toyo Ito, this 50,000 seat area generates100% of its electricity from photovoltaic technology through its 8,844solar panels that illuminate the track and field with 3,300 lux.

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Solar Powered Plane

 

The sky's the limit with solar power. Literally. As wide as a jumbo jetand the weight of a mid-sized car, the Solar Impulse plane, composed of12,000 solar panels, can fly day and night. It's currently undergoingtest flights, but it's working towards a record-breakinground-the-world journey. 

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