this post was submitted on 22 Aug 2024
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Solarpunk

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I recently started making solarpunk postcards again, and I had a lot of fun with a quick scene of a solarpunk cargo ship (a steel-hulled, four-masted barque) in a storm. I'd like to do more but don't yet have any strong points to make or designs I'm excited to feature.

So what would you like to see? What scene is missing from solarpunk art of humans interacting with oceans, rivers, lakes, canals? What weird idea, or old, practical design should make a comeback?

I can't promise that I'll make everything but I really do try to include as many suggestions as possible.

So far suggestions from reddit and discord have included:

  • Showing more of the mooring ropes and foundations festooned with underwater life (perhaps in another storm or low tide?)
  • Boats or ships with soft wing sails which are apparently good (in theory) when it comes to performance as they maintain their shape regardless of wind conditions.
  • edit to add: a clipper ship

I'll state up front that I'm not a nautical kinda guy. I like to pick up terminology and learn but I've never sailed anything larger than a sunfish and I see the ocean maybe once every five years. So feel free to spell out practical considerations and realism stuff because I probably won't think of it.

And thanks!

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[โ€“] MrMakabar 6 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

Tidal power of some sort would be pretty solar punk. The big advantage is that it is much more predictable then wind.

Algaculture would be intressting as well. It is still relativly uncommon in the West.

For canals electric ships are an intressting option. Solar powered ferries are a thing, but also cable powered ferries. Solar powered ferry "Helio" on the Untersee

In rivers reaction ferries are a wonderfull alternative. They use the flow of water to power the ferry over the river using nothing else but ropes. Really call and very much solarpunk.

Another one is swimming in canals and rivers. Especially in cities this is often not a good idea, due to bad water quality.

Commuting via boats and ferries. When you have a large river, why not commute to work via stand up paddling or in a kayak?

EDIT:

Also hydrofoils are pretty cool. They allow for greater speed on water.

Soviet hydrofoil on the Neva speeding away

[โ€“] JacobCoffinWrites 3 points 3 months ago

These are all awesome! You've given me a bunch to think about