The quest to speed up the energy transition means that, these days, just about any surface can be used for clean energy—even those you’d never expect to see covered in solar panels. Let’s rewind to 1705 Paris: the modern foldable umbrella, created by merchant Jean Marius, was designed with a singular mission in mind—keep you dry. And it’s done that job with unwavering efficiency for centuries. But now, in a sunny twist, the humble umbrella could be about to do much more than simply fend off a drizzle.
Inspired by this idea, Victoria García Moreno, a student at Universidad Casa Blanca in Mexico, set out to create the first umbrella that can generate electricity. Presented at the James Dyson Award, this prototype is still very much a concept, but it’s fully functional. The umbrella’s canopy—a decent-sized surface for collecting sunlight—has been completely covered with photovoltaic panels.
In fact, let’s take a quick detour to the world’s thinnest solar cells: these feather-light marvels could make virtually any surface a potential electricity generator! For example, in Singapore, researchers at Nanyang Technological University have developed a semi-transparent perovskite solar cell that’s only one ten-thousandth the thickness of a human hair, and boasts a record-setting energy efficiency for its slenderness.
All the electronics—from the external battery to the activation circuit and output ports—are neatly tucked into the umbrella’s handle, inside a cylindrical housing that keeps the classic umbrella silhouette intact. Two buttons are placed on the front: one to turn the system on, another to charge. Around the back, you’ll find USB and USB-C ports for charging your smartphone or, perhaps, your e-cigarette. Altogether, it looks and feels like a high-end umbrella.
Material choices were made with typical umbrella mechanics in mind. The photovoltaic panels are flexible enough to endure twists and bumps, and can naturally follow the curves of the umbrella canopy for a smooth fit. Of course, they’re also waterproof—no need to worry about the rain ruining your new eco-friendly gadget!
But even the brightest innovations have their challenges. Here, the main issue is the umbrella’s folding design. Current flexible panels can certainly take some mechanical stress, but repeated opening and closing causes stress points where traditional rigid cells don’t hold up well over time.
And eventually, after a few years’ use, there’s a real risk that the cells could get damaged, work less efficiently—or just break entirely.
This means the prototype needs further improvements before it can go commercial. Still, it’s a promising sign: this project proves that even umbrellas can join the clean energy revolution!

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