SOLAR LILY PADS in Glasgow
Glasgow-based ZM Architecture has just released a provocative new design concept that will place large rotating discs on the River Clyde to harness energy and help reduce the city’s carbon footprint. The concept recently took 1st place in the International Design Awards (IDA) Land and Sea competition and hopes to develop into a small pilot project in conjunction with the Glasgow Science Centre. The project proposes to stimulate river activity and change while sending electricity to the surrounding city grid.
What we find inspiring about these Solar Lily Pads is the direct connection it makes to natural systems. Inspired by nature, these lily pads could be tethered to the river bed and use integrated motors to rotate the discs as the sun moves across the sky. Designer Peter Richardson explains that “we are delighted to be recognized for our commitment to providing alternative energy solutions and are excited about the potential of this idea in a range of contexts.”
This is exactly the out-of-the-box type of thinking that more designers need to pursue in the hopes of inspiring change. What good does solar panel integration do for public awareness when they are placed on top of inaccessible roof tops? Bringing technology and design innovation to the ground level is the best way to reveal the connection we have to our surrounding environment.
Source: BBC News Via: Inhabitat
Very interesting solar application. I wonder what the benefit is to cover a natural system with a man made one, rather than a building. This application definitely gets me thinking in regards to spaces, or ecosystem in this case, we typically see functioning in a different capacity. I wonder how people who protect riverine ecosystems would respond to such an idea,….until then bravo.
Interesting comments Wetlander. I do think that these Solar Lily Pads can have a benefit to urban riverine systems in addition to providing renewable energy to the city.
Undisturbed riverine edge habitate functions to filter, shade, and supply the river system with nutrients. In urban settings this habitat and function have been destroyed from development. Depending on the materials used, the Solor Lily Pads could actually provid fish with shade and surface area for algae and other aquatic plants to grow on, This could in turn help lower daily water tempuratures which only helps all aquatic flora and fauna thrive.
This could be a very viable restoration concept if the river’s edge is unattainable.