Twenty-three novel concepts were submitted for consideration by the panel, following 130 initial expressions of interest from 37 countries since the Challenge was launched at the beginning of the year. The short-listed projects were selected on the basis of their conformance to the competition’s four key design criteria: their integration into the urban environment; their use of new technological PV concepts or new applications for conventional PV technology; the potential for broad replication; and how well they communicate the PV functionality embedded within the design to the general public.
The ten finalists – three from Portugal and one each from Brazil, Egypt, France, Ireland, Israel, Netherlands and Turkey – have identified opportunities for PV to meet a wide range of energy, form and function challenges in the urban context. The ideas range from an entire sustainable village concept to specific applications for PV in street furniture and even a novel road safety application.
The Smart Village project has created a concept for developments based on a series of smart building designs which integrate electronic systems to manage buildings’ internal energy, water and waste systems as well as other external community services. Project 602 focuses on the ecologically and socially sustainable renovation of apartment blocks as an alternative to demolition and replacement.
The renovation strategy incorporates PV cells into sun-facing facades and roofs, alongside active solar components. Another concept oriented at the residential sector is the PV Sunroom module, which proposes an ‘energy extension’. The design uses the construction logic of the mass produced timber roof and can be adapted to work as a conservatory.
ODAK, Sun Square and Parasol Solaire incorporate PV into urban furniture for some familiar applications. ODAK is a stand-alone energy source and seating unit for public areas which allows users to recharge mobile devices, while Sun Square is conceived as a structure for the creation of a solar powered multimedia esplanade. As its name hints,
Parasol Solaire provides daytime shade against sun exposure, but also incorporates PV to charge a battery which allows the units to function as lights at night-time. Also focused on street furniture, but with versatility highlighted above specific functions, PV4All explores PV overlaid onto a simple spatial container that may provide many other functions from water storage to communication transmitters. Power Fold takes this further still, emphasizing flexibility and mobility integrated into a foldable design that promises ‘a multitude of energy generation possibilities’.
At the other end of the scale, with specific functionality very much in mind, Skin incorporate PV power cats’ eyes into painted stripes for pedestrian crossings, while the Basic Housing Unit for Urban Natural Hazards meshes a 3rd generation PV film and an inflatable composite structure to create a self-powered temporary shelter for natural catastrophe victims.
Information
The LIC is organized by the Centre for Innovation, Technology and Policy Research at the Technical University of Lisbon on behalf of IEA PVPS Task 10. The winning concept, selected from the shortlist by an international jury, will be announced at a ceremony in Lisbon in November.Contact Joana Fernandes, joana.fernandes@dem.ist.utl.pt or visit www.lisbonideaschallenge.com.pt
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An inflatable emergency shelter.
An unique folding design providing flexibility and mobility.
A sheltered seating concept providing power for mobile devices.