The oldest known sundial in Egypt was made 3,000 years ago to show when the sun crossed the daytime sky. Since then, we have greatly improved time tracking technology, but the need to track the sun still remains.
Today, solar energy is regarded as a way to obtain clean, renewable energy through photovoltaic and thermal solar cells. Recently unveiled in Houston, Texas, the permanent artwork will help honor the solar-centric technology of the past. Artist and architect Riccardo Mariano plans to build the world's largest independent solar panel that will simultaneously produce clean energy. The 100-foot arch is expected to generate approximately 400,000 kilowatt hours of solar energy annually.
[Related: In 2015, scientists think we'll have 90% clean energy by 2035.]
Artist and architect Ricardo Mariano first submitted his idea for the Arco del Tiempo (Arch of Time) to the 2019 Land Art Generator Initiative (LAGI) design competition in Abu Dhabi. While the Arch has found its new home, it serves as a gateway to Houston's Second Ward community. The shape looks like a giant clock as the different rays of light create geometric shapes that correspond to the seasons and times of the day. In the evenings, the arch serves as a stage for concerts and other public events.
"The movement of the sun across the sky enlivens the space with light and color and engages the audience to participate in the creation of the piece," Mariano said. "This is a practical example to show the movement of the Earth around the Sun."
The exterior of the giant south-facing arch is connected by solar panels, allowing the artwork to be self-powered by the Talento Billingue Community Art Center near Houston. According to LAGI, the artwork is capable of generating more than 12 million kilowatts of energy over its lifetime, which can "pay" for the space required to produce the artwork and its materials.
[Related: Solar panels are now even more efficient thanks to perovskites.]
The pursuit of renewable energy as an art is the first and probably not the last. While some critics of clean energy projects find scenic solar panels or wind turbines attractive, new projects can turn energy projects into stunning murals or whimsical sculptures that double as charging stations.
Robert Ferry, one of the co-founders of the Land Art Generator Initiative, hopes that Arco del Tiempo will serve as an "antidote to climate despair" in the regions of the United States most affected by climate change. The installation is expected to be completed in 2024.
