Solar panels are used to supply energy to our homes and cities, but their use does not end there. Many people have found creative and fun ways to incorporate solar panels into art, building design, and just about anything you can think of.
At the Coachella music festival stands an enormous origami-inspired crane, lined with solar panels to collect energy and light it up at night.
The Lunar Cubit is a complex of solar pyramids designed to power the homes of people living in Abu Dhabi by day while, at night, becoming a public art installation.
In Taiwan a dragon-shaped arena produces all of its electricity from photovoltaic cell energy gathered from its roof, entirely comprised of solar panels.
Solar technology is constantly improving and nothing demonstrates this more than the Swiss company, Solar Impulse, launching the first solar-powered plane that can run day and night. The single-seater plane has the wingspan of a jumbo jet and weight comparable to a small car. The plane landed in Washington D.C. on June 16th and will continue to New York in July.
This is not the end for Solar Impulse, their next challenge is an around the world flight and in 2015 they will release an improved model.
Solar Impulse’s stated their goal is not to change air travel, but to inspire people on the ground to use and be excited about solar technology.
