‘Sun laced’

solar cell weaving with pauline van dongen

summer 2019

Pauline van Dongen has pioneered several research projects integrating solar energy into textiles. We are accustomed to rigid solar panels but for this project Pauline’s aim was to challenge their material qualities, introducing softness, tactility, texture and transparency.

My role was to work with engineers at the Holst Centre and their neighbours Solliance Solar Research to explore how to develop this concept and challenge its limits. I deconstructed solar panels and reconstructed them using traditional weaving techniques with conductive threads.

PLAYING WITH material combinations

refined flexible & translucent WOVEN samples

A small LED was attached to test the the continuity of the woven circuit. When the solar panels were fully exposed in direct sunlight the LED shone bright. By curving a small part of the solar cells, less energy was converted in the circuit and therefore the light in the LED dimmed.