Iron Sustainable Products, Projects and Green Design · 2023
Photosynthetic City Biomass Power System
by Industrial Design College of LAFA
- A' Design Award 2023 Iron Winner in Sustainable Products, Projects and Green Design
- Awarded April 15, 2023
- CLIENT: LuXun Academy of Fine Arts
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 24,158
- Verification code DB00600055 · Verify this award
About Photosynthetic City Biomass Power System
Photosynthetic City is a combined solar and biomass energy system designed for existing city buildings. Solar panels on steel frames are mounted on the roof, while planting modules made of recycled injection molded plastic cover the building surface. The planting modules have small holes that guide excess rainwater downward, so every plant receives water and nutrients. Plant waste is collected and burned in a combined heat and power steam turbine to produce electricity. The plants also store carbon, clean the air and reduce noise, lowering the demand for traditional energy.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- The project provides a new type of energy structure for the future, that is, the combined energy of solar energy and biomass. It is implanted into the city by means of building transformation, reducing the use of traditional energy and relieving the pressure on the environment brought by energy. It is worth mentioning that the planting part can not only sequester carbon, but also purify the air and reduce noise, which can create a good community environment.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Small solar installation:Width 1810mm x Depth 1640mm x Height 1224mm
Big solar installation:Width 14000mm x Depth 10000mm x Height 4400mm
Planting Module:Width 1000mm x Depth 460mm x Height 900mm - Tags
- Clean Energy, Green Plant, Modularization, System, Environment
- Production Technology
- The solar power generation device involves steel frames and solar panels, and the planting part of the building is made of recycled plastic injection molding。
- Design Challenge
- How to combine the whole system with the original building and minimize the cost of plant maintenance is a huge challenge for this project. The most distinctive feature of the photosynthetic city is the planting module, which has holes on its surface, and its unique shape can drain excess water along the surface and collect it downwards, so that all plants can obtain nutrients.
- Project Duration
- The project started in November 2022 and finished in February 2023 in Lu Xun Academy of Fine Arts.
- Operation Flow
- The solar power generation module and the plant planting module are installed on the surface of the building, and the plant waste is collected and sent to the CHP steam turbine power generation device to be converted into electrical energy. The solar energy will power the building together with the plant waste.
- Research
- Conduct research on the current energy structure and try to replace it with clean energy. The energy source of the photosynthetic city is the sun, and the plants are irrigated by rainwater. When the plants grow, they absorb carbon dioxide and purify the air. When they decay, they are burned to generate electricity and remove trace amounts of waste gas. During the whole process, the external energy source of the system is only light energy, and the only waste produced is carbon dioxide that was originally absorbed.
- Inspiration
- Inspired by the energy structure of Gardens by the Bay in Singapore. Singapore's Gardens by the Bay is clever enough to keep its energy consumption at the same level as a large shopping mall through solar and biomass energy. It is interesting to place such energy structures in cities.
- Image Credits
- Image #1: Designer Xue Wenkai, Du Heli, Li Yuankai, Xue Bomu and Wang Xi, Photosynthetic City, 2023
Image #2: Designer Xue Wenkai, Du Heli, Li Yuankai, Xue Bomu and Wang Xi, Photosynthetic City, 2023
Image #3: Designer Xue Wenkai, Du Heli, Li Yuankai, Xue Bomu and Wang Xi, Photosynthetic City, 2023
Image #4: Designer Xue Wenkai, Du Heli, Li Yuankai, Xue Bomu and Wang Xi, Photosynthetic City, 2023
Image #5: Designer Xue Wenkai, Du Heli, Li Yuankai, Xue Bomu and Wang Xi, Photosynthetic City, 2023