It inhales sunlight by day and exhales light in the night. Goya is a dune and it is a pioneering proposal for sustainable energy, with a 600 MWh output annually, a design put forward to the Land Art Generator Initiative (LAGI) competition in 2019. Solar power, hydrogen fuel cells, microbial fuel cells, electrolysis, and kinetic art are fused to create something visually appealing and highly operational.
A dune that does so much more than what you might expect it to do
This concept was born in the mind of Ruxandra Iancu-Bratosin, a designer and architect who envisions Goya as a shape that resembles a dune. Photovoltaic solar panels coat the outer layer to collect light, with photovoltaic fabric shaped into balloons at times to gather solar radiation. A portion of that energy drives water through electrolysis, separating it into oxygen and hydrogen. The latter is saved and stored to be mixed with oxygen in fuel cells when it is dark, all to produce electricity.
Dunes and natural vegetation are hallmarks of the landscape. Microbial fuel cells, lagoons, and moss contribute to the humidity, storing more energy and water. Fiber optic cables ferry light in the sun’s unforgiving blaze.
Solar energy is abundantly available in arid climates like Abu Dhabi, where Goya was conceived, but storing that energy when the sun is concealed by clouds and harsh weather is still an obstacle. Goya circumvents this through photovoltaics, electrolysis, hydrogen fuel cells, meshed with landscape artistry and ecological engineering. The immense reliance on batteries is targeted to reduce the strain on the environment.
Lessons learned from the LAGI Field Guide
The tech specifications for Goya, have been pulled from a proposal with a plethora of similarities to the LAGI Field Guide to Renewable Energy Technologies, the second edition. This guide touches on renewable energy strategies, practical materials, and public art with a focus on adapting to context. Climate must be considered along with solar irradiation, the wind, the water that can be accessed, and geography.
Goya uses dunes and indigenous vegetation to fall in line with these principles. Combining technologies by mixing photovoltaic capabilities with the ability to store energy using hydrogen and biological systems sees supply running smoothly during the change from day to night.
The fusion of art and infrastructure is built on not concealing the mechanics but making them artful draws to the public, while systems perform primary tasks. Biodiversity and micro habitats use the landscape by incorporating moss, caves, and the like to provide cover from the severity of the surroundings.
Though the detailed tech specs for Goya are drawn from a proposal, its underpinning strategies align with many principles outlined in the LAGI Field Guide to Renewable Energy Technologies (second edition). That guide surveys renewable energy systems, materials, installations, and public art, emphasizing that successful projects often adapt to context, integrate multiple technologies, and engage the public — approaches that have been proven in past LAGI proposals and endeavors.
How a dune in Abu Dhabi breathes at night
When the heat subsides in the evening, Goya breathes out. The hydrogen stored is oxidized and power is emitted through fuel cells. Water in lagoons and microbial fuel cells regulate humidity in caves, while filtered light is put in place via optics to mimic the day, much like natural cycles. The art installation is not passive but more of a living entity.
Goya is a daring idea, but it has not been built. It does show that projects of this nature need not be concealed, but they can be bright and edgy, artistically if you will, adding to the natural surroundings as though they were always part of the landscape. Deserts can yield more than just magnificent beauty. These sprawling spaces could be power generators that could propel humanity to newer heights when it comes to dealing with energy.
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