Solar Energy Kiosk

2022 | Machine
Sunshine is something people intuitively associate with energy. But since weather conditions are fluctuating constantly, its potential remains hard to grasp. The Solar Energy Kiosk is a conversation piece that makes the different qualities of sunlight tangible: The kiosk collects solar energy through photovoltaic panels and uses it to run an orange juicer. The more sun, the faster new oranges roll down the track, and the more frequently the juicer switches on – converting one form of energy (sunlight) into a more visible one (juice). How many minutes of sunlight did your cup of orange juice consume? The value can reach between less than 2 minutes of sunlight per cup at bright noon, to almost 60 minutes at sunset.

The Solar Energy Kiosk is part of Alcova’s international group presentation open from 5 to 12 June 2022. After its appearance during the Milan Design Week, the kiosk will travel to Het Nieuwe Instituut in Rotterdam. The Solar Energy Kiosk is a preview and the first commissioned exhibit of the exhibition The Energy Show – Sun, Solar and Human Power, curated by Matylda Krzykowski. The exhibition will be on show at Het Nieuwe Instituut in Rotterdam from 3 September 2022 to 5 March 2023. Both the exhibition and the kiosk pose the question: what would the world look like if it ran on solar energy? The kiosk therefore invites a conversation on the possibilities and limitations of solar design.