Current Table is not only a table, but also a natural energy source. Its glass surface is engineered from integrated dye-sensitised solar cells (DSSC) which use the property of colour to create electrical currents – mimicking the process of photosynthesis in plants.

The solar cells work efficiently even under diffuse light, making Current Table the first piece of furniture to harvest energy indoors. The energy is stored using an integrated battery, from which you can then charge your devices at any time. Using a downloadable app, you can monitor light intensity and see how much energy Current Table is creating throughout the day.

Current Table 1.0 by Marjan van Aubel was nominated for London Design Museum’s prestigious Design of the Year Award and is now part of the permanent collection at Boijmans van Beuningen in Rotterdam. Current Table 2.0 was developed under Caventou, a collaboration between Marjan van Aubel and Peter Krige.

Team: Marjan van Aubel, Peter Krige, Samira Qassim, Alicja Pytlewska, Instrument Industries & Aran Dasan

Credit: Made possible by Stichting DOEN and Innovate UK, Photos by Mitch Payne