{"id":16364,"date":"2025-06-21T10:50:48","date_gmt":"2025-06-21T14:50:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ecoticias.com\/en\/?p=16364"},"modified":"2025-06-21T10:50:48","modified_gmt":"2025-06-21T14:50:48","slug":"italy-tests-this-origami-like-cell","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ecoticias.com\/en\/italy-tests-this-origami-like-cell\/16364\/","title":{"rendered":"Goodbye to rooftop panels \u2014 Italy proves we are wasting our space with this origami-like cell"},"content":{"rendered":"

In recent years, the evolution of renewable energy has been marked mainly by the installation of solar panels on rooftops, and Italy is also developing solutions. Homes, businesses, and even school buses have been looking for ways to generate clean energy and reduce costs. But the question arises: are we stuck with an outdated idea of \u200b\u200bwhere and how to capture this energy? That’s what Italian experts thought at Milan Design Week 2024 when they presented a new way to generate solar energy: <\/span>through an origami-like cell.<\/b><\/p>\n

The challenge of solar energy in large cities<\/h2>\n

To better understand this invention, we need to look at large cities, where<\/span> installing solar panels on rooftops faces several challenges. This is because many residents live in apartments without access to the top of the building or in temporary constructions that cannot withstand certain interventions on the permanent structures. In addition, traditional solar panels themselves have been wasting around 66% of the incident light by reflecting this energy, without using it.<\/span><\/p>\n

In other words, we have a very clear challenge with these traditional solar panels: how can we make it possible for residents of urban centers to also benefit from solar energy, without having to rely on a roof or major construction work? <\/span>The answer may lie in glass facades\u2026<\/b> we know that this could be a huge turnaround, since they are often seen as the villains of energy consumption, due to excessive heat input and thermal loss. However, let’s think about it: what if these surfaces could be transformed into sources of energy and comfort?<\/span><\/p>\n

The origami-like cell that will revolutionize solar energy<\/h2>\n

It was with this in mind that this origami-like cell, called <\/span>Solgami<\/b>, came onto the scene. Now, to tell you more about it: it is an origami-inspired curtain that generates solar energy and regulates the entry of light and heat into environments (like this other invention that generates energy through windows).<\/a><\/span> This invention was developed by architect Ben Berwick and his studio, Prevalent. They created it with urban environments in mind, and also presented themselves as a hybrid between product and architecture.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the <\/span>original version of Solgami, it would function as a blind, made of transparent polymer printed with thin-film origami-like cells and reflective conductive inks. And then, when it was folded into an accordion shape, its structure would make light \u201cbounce\u201d between the panels, taking advantage of even part of the light that would normally be wasted.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now, in the most recent version we have of Solgami, <\/span>Solgami ALS<\/b> is a little different. It was created as a retrofit system for windows, that is, it can be easily applied to interior surfaces, without tools and with simple installation. It’s incredible that, in addition to generating energy, it:<\/span><\/p>\n