With human activities causing global warming and climate change, the Solar Land exhibition has turned the Gallery Room and Rooftop Garden of Thailand Creative and Design Center into a fun scientific playground, where visitors can learn how to generate electricity at home or in daily life to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels.
On view until Dec 27, this is a collaboration of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) and the Creative Economy Agency (CEA), aiming to educate people about alternative energy for sustainable living.
In 2018, 28% of global electricity was generated from renewable energy sources, most (96%) of which was produced from hydropower, wind, and solar technologies. By 2050, global electricity generation from renewable sources will increase to 49% and solar energy's share of output is expected to grow the fastest, according to the International Energy Outlook 2019, a study conducted by the US Energy Information Administration (EIA).
As part of the Solar Vengers project, the interactive exhibition is showcasing a selection of 30 cutting-edge prototypes, lifestyle products and IT gadgets powered by solar energy from around the world, along with mobile applications for energy investment.
"Last year, ERC and CEA initiated the Solar Vengers project for people interested in product design and innovation. The participants produced 12 archetypes of eco-friendly products that merged solar cells and lifestyles to show at the Bangkok Design Week 2020. We allowed people to vote on the three best designs and the winners got the chance to exhibit their works at the Solar Land exhibition," said Pubate Vidtayasuk, a senior knowledge management officer at the CEA.
"In the exhibition, our three winning prototypes come with 27 smart green products from around the world to share knowledge about alternative energy. We want to change the perception of Thai consumers. Solar cells are not far from us and they aren't only installed on the roof. Today, they have become components in lifestyle products, IT gadgets and home decor items."
The We Care Solar suitcase provides USB sockets, a rechargeable headlamp, a cell phone charger and medical supplies for emergency obstetric care to support medical personnel working in remote areas. Photo: Apichart Jinakul
Playful and creative, the exhibition is designed to be an interactive life-sized monopoly game with four levels, in which visitors can collect points to become solar millionaires. It also features QR codes so that players can scan and read on their smartphone.
At the entrance of the first level, which is titled "Sun & Solar: Power Of The Sun And Solar Choice", visitors can choose a team of light hunters -- For You, For Us, For the Planet and For Profit. The sun can produce 173,000 terawatts of energy per second which means that if people store solar energy for one hour, we can generate renewable power for a whole year.
"The exhibition comes in a form of a Monopoly game so that people can understand content easier. The four characters of light hunters are based on daily life. For example, those wanting to save money can choose the hunter For Us while the hunter For the Planet is reserved for those wanting to reduce their carbon footprint. Those looking for an application for solar investment have the hunter For Profits option. In the digital age, a game on a device is a good way to share information with visitors and allow them to enjoy a new experience," said Songwad Sukmaungma, senior curator of CEA.
The Solar Land exhibition presents a collection of 30 eco-friendly products powered by solar energy. Photo © Creative Economy Agency (CEA)
Roll your dice and continue your adventure to the level of "Solar Monopoly". It is home to 30 prototypes and commercial products in different designs and functions. The highlights include the iconic Little Sun portable lamp that looks like a sunflower. Designed by Icelandic-Denmark artist Olafur Eliasson, his light represents the educational opportunities for those living in remote areas. With five hours of charging in the sun, it can produce up to 50 hours of light, depending on the chosen setting.
Meanwhile, the Solar Window Charger is perfect for any one to lay in sunlight while travelling. It can convert solar energy into a 2,600mAh battery for mobile phones and home appliances. Another gadget for travellers is the water-proof RavPower Solar Charger that allows three devices to charge at the same time.
Powered by solar energy, the We Care Solar suitcase from the US is designed to support medical personnel working in remote areas. Inside, it has USB sockets, a rechargeable headlamp, a cell phone charger and medical supplies for emergency obstetric care such as Fetal Doppler.
Next, Solar Vengers presents a Bluetooth motorcycle helmet called Foresee. Designed by Chassis Plus Infill, it is fashioned out of carbon fibre and equipped with a turn light, using dye-sensitised solar cell technology to store sunlight to produce electric power. Bikers just have to move their heads to use the turn signal.
Solvatten is a water purifier and a boiling machine. Photo: Apichart Jinakul
Also on view is the SolarPoh, developed by Bencha Sarthong, Sasinan Kirinrattana, Kanyanut Komvichayangyuen and Phongsathorn Laiadon. It's installed at Si Phraya Pier and powered by solar cells with a security system using ocean liner-grade and leak-proof sensors. It also features sensors for preventing passenger overload.
Earn your points and head to the Solaropia at the third level. Here, you can check your ranking and convert your solar energy into electric power for the Charoen Krung community. Next, visitors can climb up to the Solar Rooftop Garden on the fifth floor and play out the game.
Here, Solar Vengers provide an idea of transforming public spaces into power generators with Solyar modular floor tiles. Developed by Shima, it uses monocrystalline-tempered glass laminate solar panel technology to absorb sunlight and can generate 44 to 48 watts of electricity.
Imported from England and powered by solar energy, the Big Belly trash compactor can hold eight times the amount of rubbish than regular bins to provide efficient waste management. Featuring an interactive lid that can be opened without touching, data collecting for monitoring the volume of garbage, it can help plan the route of garbage trucks, making the city free of visual pollution and optimising energy consumption.
There's also a showcase of Solvatten from Sweden. Using solar power, it's designed to be both a water purifier and a boiling machine. Just pour in 11 litres of water and expose it to sunlight for two to six hours and the solar cells will convert sunlight to thermal energy, warming the water for a drink.
The Solar Land exhibition runs until Dec 27 at the Thailand Creative and Design Center. It's open daily from 10.30 to 7pm (except Monday). Admission is free. Find out more details at cea.or.th.
With five hours of charging in the sun, the Little Sun portable lamp can produce up to 50 hours of light. Photo © Creative Economy Agency (CEA)
