The Netherlands – Dutch designer Boudewijn Buitenhek has constructed a solar-powered kettle and coffee bean roaster as part of an experiment in which he lived without gas or electricity for a week. As part of his wider studies for the industrial design master’s programme at KABK in The Hague, the project, Living with the Sun, explores the use of solar panels in rented accommodation without roof access. Exploring his curiosity for alternative solar methods, during the experiment Buitenhek found ways to live without mains power, including a method to make his daily coffee.
The kettle and bean roaster were inspired by an 18th-century method that consists of two glass tubes: one traps solar heat, reaching temperatures of over 200°C, and the second converts the heat into energy.
He hopes this will empower people to take the initiative to create solar systems. The devices help to give people a greater understanding of how energy is used in the home. This is further explored in our piece on solar-powered futures.
Strategic opportunity
Take inspiration from Boudewijn Buitenhek and investigate ways to design electrical appliances that can harness solar energy. With the energy crisis and the rise in gas prices, the need for self-powered products is likely to increase