platio integrates solar panels to street furniture and pedestrian walkways

budapest startup platio has been developing intelligent, modular paving panels that can harvest solar energy to produce electric power for the past two years. they have been installed in front of a shopping mall, at a harbor, and integrated into public seating in astana, kazakhstan. the company has also supplied a pop-up park in budapest, hungary, with its solar panels so visitors can now charge their smart devices.

all images © platio

working in collaboration with hungary-based educational platform in design and architecture, hello wood, platio has integrated panels installed in curved public benches at a pop-up park in budapest. electricity produced by these ‘smart benches’ can be used to charge mobile devices plugged into USB ports on the furniture, or wirelessly with QI-compatible smartphones, and tablets.

platio’s photovoltaic-paving units feature a veneer of high strength, anti-slip glass, and are manufactured using recycled plastic waste. the startup’s first permanent system is comprised of two paving panel walkways, located at either side of the entrance to the green quarter shopping mall in astana, kazakhstan. the PV-paving units cover a total of 80 square meters, and are rated for a 11.7 kW power output. the electricity created reduces the huge shopping mall’s need for a huge carbon footprint.