We have seen several initiatives regarding the use of solar power to help people who live in off-grid regions to have access to modern electricity services. LuminAID, Solar Pebble, and the amazing work that SELF does to bring solar power to emergency areas.
Now, Olafur Eliasson, an Icelandic artist known for his light-based installations, is joining the solar power revolution with the beautifully designed Little Sun, a collaboration with engineer Frederik Ottesen. They presented their solar solution last Friday at the World Economic Forum in Addis Baba, Ethiopia.
Little Sun is a LED light powered by solar energy captured with a 6 x 6 cm (2.4 x 2.4 inch) solar module. The designers say it requires four hours of charging to make it work for another five. It’s a nifty, pretty little number that can be used as a lantern, table lamp or even as a bicycle lamp.
Solutions like this bring hope to the 1.6 billion people who lack access to electricity. Little Sun will be launched in London during the arts festival that accompanies the Olympic Games in the summer. In the video below Olafur talks about his new art work for the masses.
Article by Antonio Pasolini, a Brazilian writer and video art curator based in London, UK. He holds a BA in journalism and an MA in film and television.
