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.
16 thoughts on “Solar Ark makes its solar calculator cousins run away in fear”
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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?
@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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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