The "Solar Ark" by Sanyo is a 630 kW solar energy-collecting building built using over 5,000 solar panel rejects that were rescued from the scrap pile. Located in Gifu, Japan, the Solar Ark generates over 500,000 kWh of energy per year and it features more than 75,000 red, green and blue computer-controlled LEDs lit up between the PV panels of The Solar Ark's 315 meter (1033 foot) long façade. Very cool example of renewable energy practice mixed with recycling and repurposing.
Posted by Jonah Brucker-Cohen |
Jan 15, 2008 06:00 AM
Green |
Permalink
| Comments (8)
| Email This |
| Digg this!
Oldest comments listed first.
Subscribe to MAKE Magazine!
Subscribe today, save 42% and get web access to MAKE free. MAKE Digital Edition is available only to subscribers.
$34.95 / 1 year
(4 Quarterly Issues)
Check out more videos from MAKE.
 |
MAKE on Facebook Visit our Facebook page and become a fan of MAKE! |
 |
MAKE on Twitter Follow our MAKE tweets! |
 |
MAKE on Flickr Join our MAKE Flickr Pool! |
Gareth Branwyn
Editor-in-Chief
Phillip Torrone
Senior Editor
| Web | Twitter
Becky Stern
Associate Editor
| AIM | Twitter
Marc de Vinck
Contributing Writer
| AIM | Twitter
John Park
Contributing Writer
| Twitter
Sean Ragan
Contributing Writer
| Twitter
Matt Mets
Contributing Writer
| AIM | Twitter
Dale Dougherty
Editor & Publisher
| Twitter
Shawn Connally
Managing Editor
| Twitter
Goli Mohammadi
Associate Managing Editor
Kip Kay
Weekend Projects
| AIM | Twitter
Collin Cunningham
Contributing Writer
| AIM | Twitter
Adam Flaherty
Contributing Writer
| AIM | Twitter
John Baichtal
Contributing Writer
| AIM | Twitter
More contributors: Mark Frauenfelder (Editor-in-Chief, MAKE magazine), Kipp Bradford (Technical Consultant/Writer), Chris Connors (Education), Diana Eng (Guest Author), Peter Horvath (Intern), Brian Jepson (O'Reilly Media), Robert Bruce Thompson (Science Room)
Why advertise on MAKE?
Read what folks are saying about us!
Click here to advertise on MAKE!
Weekend Project: Pinhole Panoramic Camera
A sturdy, panoramic design pinhole camera that uses 120 film. Thanks go to Ross Orr for the original article in MAKE Volume 09. To download The Pinhole Panoramic Camera video video click here and subscribe in iTunes. Check out...
More...
Help | Write for MAKE | Contact Us | Subscribe | Advertise with Us | Privacy Policy| About MAKE | FAQ
© 2010 O'Reilly Media, Inc.
All trademarks and registered trademarks appearing on makezine.com are the property of their respective owners.
RSS
Cool. So how do I make it? Do you have a link to the instructions?
I've become really disappointed in this site lately. Who is the editor responsible for making sure articles are relevant to the site? Are you awake when people post this crap?
Reply to this comment
@AnonymousMaker - 99.99999% of the posts are how-tos and projects, but that's not enough to get folks to make things. we all need inspiration, and for makers who *do* make amazing things (like this solar ark) we need to celebrate them.
Reply to this comment
Yes, I think it's an extremely false assumption to think that every post is or should be a "how to" on the MAKE blog. If you think that way then you are really confused about what MAKE is all about. Getting inspiration from projects like these is the reason we "MAKE" anything at all. Time to rethink about what is "relevant" again and also not to post "anonymously" anymore.
Reply to this comment
Besides all of these points mentioned...
ITS NOT YOUR BLOG.
This is sweet. Japanese architecture tends to really impress me when it comes to innovative designs.
Reply to this comment
AnonymousMaker, just because it doesn't show you how to make it doesn't mean it hasn't shown you how to make it.
Its a building with reused/rejected/saved-from-the-scrap-heap solar collectors
So build a building and line the outside with solar panels, connecting them in series/parallel like normal. Reuse things that might go to waste.
Reply to this comment
Hey, Anonymous Maker, if you're so disappointed, there's plenty of other sites you can play at.
How 'bout noggin.com -- is that more your speed?
Reply to this comment
so 500,000 kWh per year. do that division and you get a dab over 57kW generated. Around 1/3rd of my cars engine, for a gigantic solar array. Damn that's a low power density.
Reply to this comment
Having gone past it on the Shinkansen, I can say it is truly impressive. Go here for more info:
http://www.solar-ark.com/english/index.html
Reply to this comment