Amsterdam’s city center is filled with monuments and protected buildings, leaving little space for new clean energy infrastructure. As a result, only 9% of the energy Amsterdam generates now is classed as ‘sustainable’ (including fuel and heat). Can design help create a shared vision for the city, and prepare its urban dwellers for a much-needed clean energy transition? → Dive deeper into stories about Amsterdam here
Out of the more than 70 submissions for Amsterdam, the jury nominated 2 projects for the Student Track, 3 for the Professional Track and 5 for the Startup Track.
CHARGEON BIKE
SUBMITTED BY VENUS CHUNG | NOMINEE STUDENT TRACK
ChargeOn Bike is a dynamo which charges smartphones with clean energy generated from cycling. An accompanying mobile app helps to raise awareness about the city’s energy transition. → go to project page
BLOCK-E: RECHARGING A GREEN CURRENCY
SUBMITTED BY TIES SCHOTEL | NOMINEE STUDENT TRACK
Block-e is a product system that offers a new way to pay with clean energy. At the core of the system is a powerful powerbank, that acts as a wallet and that can exchange its energy by stacking it. → go to project page
ELECTRIC LIFE
SUBMITTED BY TERESA VAN DONGEN | NOMINEE PROFESSIONAL TRACK
An unconventional light installation that is entirely powered by micro-organisms collected from the muddy soil of rivers and lakes. As they excrete electrons through metabolic processes, these bacteria act as alternative and natural sources of energy and light. → go to project page
AMSTERDAM DROPS
SUBMITTED BY STUDIO SINDS 1416 + STUDIO FLORIS SCHOONDERBEEK | NOMINEE PROFESSIONAL TRACK
Amsterdam Drops makes use of the city’s existing, historical architecture to provide a new way of generating and storing electricity. Using gravity and kinetic energy, it converts the so called ‘Hijsbalk’ or traditional lifting beams of canal houses, into low-tech batteries able to power street lights at night. → go to project page
ICONIC ENERGY STORAGE
SUBMITTED BY CLEO DE BRABANDER | NOMINEE PROFESSIONAL TRACK
The project aims to create clean energy storage units while preserving historic landscapes by repurposing the city’s 180 currently functionless water towers. → go to project page
SOLAR VISUALS
SUBMITTED BY ROGER TAN | NOMINEE STARTUP TRACK
Solar Visuals is a revolutionary energy-generating facade material for buildings that is smart, efficient and visually attractive. → go to project page
BOAT BATTERY SWAP
SUBMITTED BY JOB VELTMAN | NOMINEE STARTUP TRACK
Voltogo is a universal battery for boats that is high capacity and still portable. It enables boat users to switch to clean and silent electric boating, without the need for a charging point at their boat. → go to project page
SUPER POWER: WORLD’S FIRST HOME SUBSCRIPTION
SUBMITTED BY RICK VLEGHERT | NOMINEE STARTUP TRACK
Super Power is a monthly subscription for sustainable home technologies. It combines energy-efficient techniques like solar panels, LED light and smart appliances in a one-stop-shop package. → go to project page
AETHERIUS
SUBMITTED BY MARILU VALENTE | NOMINEE STARTUP TRACK
Aetherius is a public art installation which generates electricity from wind. Using hydraulic piston pumps and a generator, the installation aims to generate enough energy for 600 local households. It also provides an attractive communal public space. → go to project page
CIRCULAR SYSTEMS OFF-GRID LIGHTING
SUBMITTED BY KARLIJN ARTS | NOMINEE STARTUP TRACK
Living Light is an atmospheric lamp which harvests its energy from the photosynthesis process of the plants living in its proximity. → go to project page