Solar Floating Resort Concept by Michele Puzzolante

Italian industrial designer Michele Puzzolante introduced us her latest concept: a Solar Flaoting Resortthat would be entirely self-powering thanks to the dye-sensitized solar cells which would be integrated into the vessel’s walls.

Convinced that solar energy is the solution to global warming and environment issues, Michele Puzzolante, Italian Industrial Designer, decided to get involved in the green energy new era by inventing a unique building integrated photovoltaic concept totally self-sufficient energy generator, non-polluting and in unison with its natural surroundings.


Michele Puzzolante’s invention is based on a new structural element that is composed of a fifteen millimeter outside skin and a fifteen millimeter inside skin in balsa reinforced fiberglass. Thin films photovoltaic are integrated into the two skins to absorb sunlight energy from the outside and artificial lighting energy from the inside. Between the two skins there is a thirty centimeter vacuum insulation to protect the habitation from outside heat as well as reducing the consummation of air conditioning to the minimum.

With SFR we enter a new era of advanced construction techniques, based on industrial design rather than traditional architecture.

SFR uses advanced materials, systems and techniques that have been applied successfully in the car and naval industries.

SFR has been designed with the industrial viewpoint of fabricating repetitive standard elements, using molding technology. This way, the master molds can reproduce hundreds of pieces cutting down considerably the fabrication costs, like in the car industry

Therefore, the main originality of SFR resides in its modular system that permits to construct all the parts in a factory, transport them by containers on site by ground, air or sea and to assemble the whole in a few weeks, like a “Lego”.

SFR is composed of a central tower, a deck with thirty-two modules and an habitation part with twenty modules.

Each module is composed of two skins in composite balsa reinforced fiberglass that has been extensively used in the naval industry due to its lightweight and high structural performances. It’s more resistant than a twenty centimeters wall stone!

The outside skin integrates thinfilms photovoltaic that absorbs sunlight energy and the inside skin integrates thin films photovoltaic that absorbs artificial lighting energy generated by the electrical bulbs. Between the two skins there is a thirty centimeters vacuum insulation thanks to the airtightness properties of the composite balsa reinforced fiberglass.

The whole is perfectly integrated and makes a modular construction element self-sufficient energy generator, non-polluting and lightweight which, has never been achieved before.

Power for the electrical and propulsion systems comes from the thin films photovoltaic that are integrated into the structure of SFR. The propulsion system is not intended for ocean crossing but to be sufficient for moving SFR to nearby reefs to explore marine life.

Thin films photovoltaic work under low light conditions as well as artificial light. The electrical current produced by the thin films photovoltaic is stored into batteries with an inverter converting direct current (DC) into alternative current (AC), almost twenty four hours the day, providing enough energy to the entire electrical and propulsion systems.

Thin films photovoltaic have a dye that absorbs light and transforms it into electricity. It is a solar cell very cheap compare to the silicon cell. The dye is based on a chlorophyll molecule, the chemical that plants use to absorb sunlight.

That’s science imitating nature! It’s called artificial photosynthesis. A molecule of chlorophyll absorbs light and generates electrical charges and then those charges are conducted to produce an electrical current which is stored into batteries.

Thin films photovoltaic are made of low cost materials and do not need elaborated apparatus to manufacture. They can be engineered into flexible sheets that are mechanically robust.

They absorb light from sunlight, low light conditions, cloudy skies, non-direct sunlight and artificial indoor lighting.

Thus, we can recycle the energy wasted in the electrical indoor lighting process!
And store it back to where it comes from….the batteries!

After a thorough research and programming step Michele Puzzolante designed a building integrated photovoltaic concept that could be used for terrestrial as well as floating applications.

The niche market selected was the luxury island resort development that will put to test the Solar Floating Resort in its predicted environment.

SOLAR FLOATING RESORT DESCRIPTION (SFR)

SFR is a unique building integrated photovoltaic hospitality concept, part habitation, part yacht and part submarine, totally self-sufficient energy generator, non-polluting and in unison with its natural surroundings.

SFR is a hospitality product that will enhance the standards of front beach hotels and island resorts bringing them to a seven stars level!

SFR has been designed like a luxury yacht and a luxury hotel suite, with a fully submerged observation bulb because the majority of people are fascinated by watching and photographing exotic fishes, dolphins, sharks and marine turtle.

SFR reaches twenty meters in length, is designed for six people at sea and is ideal for living in marinas connected to front beach hotels or island resorts.

SFR sleeps six with a premium on privacy. The design calls for two single and two double bedrooms, each with private a bathroom. A large kitchen, a dining area, a lounge area and a pilot room complete the 110 m2 interior layout, treated in the purest Italian style.

Outside, the teak deck is set up with a large semicircular lounge/dining area, six individual day beds and a six places Jacuzzi.

But, the most distinctive feature is its fully submerged observation bulb. It’s big enough for six armchairs and it’s built like a tourist submarine with a thick glass enclosure that provides a 360 degrees view.

With an estimated 30,000 front beach hotels and island resorts around the world, the Solar Floating Resort has good chances to become a reality.

Moreover, setting the good example by using renewable and clean energy in any type of industry is today a must.