Self-Powered Hydroponic Solar Greenhouse Harvests Food and Electricity

September 26, 2018 by Robin Plaskoff Horton

What does the future of urban farming look like? For Marjan van Aubel, it’s Power Plant, a self-powered hydroponic solar greenhouse she showcased last week at the London Design Biennale.

Power Plant’s transparent solar glass is not only visually appealing, it’s the power source for a hydroponic system that pumps nutrient enriched water to nourish plants, saving up to 90% of water usage compared to traditional soil farming.

Plants grow vertically while sunlight and specifically colored LEDs maintain the greenhouse’s temperature, enabling year-round growth and yielding about four times more food.

An award-winning solar designer whose innovative practice spans the fields of sustainability, design and technology, Aubel’s vision is to place Power Plant on city rooftops to sustainably reduce food miles and energy consumption by harvesting both plants and electricity.

By 2050, 2.5 billion people will live in cities. Power Plant offers a sustainable solution for feeding people and reducing further damage to the planet at a time when climate change’s extreme weather is expanding deserts and making fertile land scarcer.

Power Plant brings aesthetics and function to social design with stylish solar panels that are adaptable to different settings.

“Solar energy doesn’t have to be ugly and can be implemented in the most unexpected places,” says Aubel. “Design gives us the ability to imagine a future where efficiency and functionality are on an equal footing with beauty.”

Thumbs up for botanical technology embedded in the urban environment that’s designed to cultivate awareness and contribute to the future of urban farming.

Photos: via Ed Reeve for London Design Biennale; Renderings via Marjan van Aubel and Het Nieuwe Instituut and Marjan van Aubel.

Category: Container Gardening, Edible Landscaping, Green & Sustainable, Green Roofs, Greening, Hydroponics, Indoor Gardening, Irrigation, Rooftop Gardens, Solar Energy, Travel, Urban Agriculture, Vertical Gardens

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Self-Powered Hydroponic Solar Greenhouse Harvests Food and Electricity | Worm Farm Adviser Pingback said:

[…] Source: http://www.urbangardensweb.com/2018/09/26/power-plant_self-powered_solar_greenhouse/ […]

— September 26, 2018 @ 19:30

self-powered solar greenhouse harvests food and electricity - Hood GardensHood Gardens Pingback said:

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— November 3, 2018 @ 16:55

Bilan 2018: Papier pour économiser les abeilles, Maisons solaires pour chiens, Relooking de maisons et jardins, Détection de bombes par des plantes, Fleurs imprimées en 3D, Couture compostable ... - Box Harry Potter Pingback said:

[…] 18. Une serre solaire hydroponique auto-alimentée récolte de la nourriture et de l'électricit… […]

— June 5, 2019 @ 17:42

self-powered solar greenhouse harvests food and electricity - Hood GardensHood Gardens Pingback said:

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— July 13, 2020 @ 04:51

Osiris Stevens said:

I would like to know more about these rooftop greenhouses. I am currently developing tiny solar mobile greenhouses to compliment the tiny home movement and to support farm to table and other industries. I am also using solar glass. My company is http://www.nextstepelectric.com

— August 11, 2020 @ 12:32

camella manors said:

I’ve never seen this one before! Very informative blog. I am having interesting thoughts regarding this idea. with this, i hope that i can avail this one in the future when it’s possible to be live.

— March 9, 2022 @ 00:39

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