Homeowners, businesses, universities, municipalities, and even sports teams have embraced solar energy as a way to save on electric costs and do their part for the environment. The art world has also flocked to solar, leading to innovations for both artists and the solar industry.

Here are some examples of the creative ways solar power is being used in the arts.

Powerful Shows

Powering a museum can get costly, so to free up funds for adding to its collection, London’s Tate Modern Museum has decided to install solar panels. The addition of solar panels, which were installed in Fall of 2015, is part of a larger plan to make the museum more energy efficient.

“For Tate Modern, installing a solar PV system is another small but important step in making the gallery as sustainable and efficient as possible,” said Judith Nesbitt, Director of National & International Programmes for Tate. “Together with our plans for heat recovery and natural ventilation in the new building, we are exploring a whole range of approaches to reducing energy use.”

Especially for large institutions like the Tate Modern, solar power can translate to substantial savings. Ironically, the Tate is inside a former power plant, so the addition of solar panels will also harken back to its original use.

Artists have also found ways to use solar power to bypass traditional venues. Los Angeles-based band, Trapdoor set up a 1.64 kW solar trailer so they can power up their instruments, sound system, and lights anywhere. The solar set-up allows the band to support clean energy efforts and skip playing clubs that their younger fans can’t get into.

“For us, it’s such a super practical thing, because we go on tour and we can’t always find venues to do all age shows. Which is a logistical hang-up for us because some of our fans aren’t 21 yet, and we can’t reach them when we are in their town if they don’t let them in,” said Trapdoor singer Merritt Graves.

“So we thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be great to put on our own show?’ The trailer runs on solar energy and is basically a generator we can use anywhere. The trailer not only has a practical usage about it, by allowing us to reach all our fans and put on our own shows, but it also has a symbolic side to it. It really ties in our band’s purpose, our lyrics, our fundraisers, and tech stuff we’ve done.”

Giving Solar Some Flair

Artists from around the world have found ways to incorporate solar into their work. These pieces both raise awareness of the benefits of solar energy and offer more aesthetically appealing alternatives to the traditional solar panel.

“Nature is three-dimensional and filled with living organisms. Future cities should be similar if they are to coexist with nature. And solar panels hold greater potential to actually create more livable cities, aesthetically speaking, than their current form suggests,” said Akihisi Hirata, an architect and sculptor from Japan.

In Los Angeles, the Environmental Defense Fund teamed up with community members and organizers to create Eastside Sol. The music and arts festival, which is totally powered by solar energy, offers a fun way for residents in East Los Angeles to learn about solar power while celebrating culture and their community.

Artful Innovation

Scientists have turned to artistic techniques to help tackle some of the challenges of providing solar power. Researchers at the University of Michigan are currently using kirigami, a Japanese paper art, to help solar panels track the sun more effectively.

“I have done research in the area of solar cells previously and was aware of the different problems there, including the need to do solar tracking more effectively,”  said Max Shtein, an associate professor of Materials Science and Engineering at the University.

As solar power usage continues to proliferate in the United States and abroad, we can likely expect more artists to innovate new ways to incorporate solar energy into their work.

If you’d like to find out how installing solar panels on your roof can help you drive your electric bill down to zero, contact us today for a free quote.