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We have seen solar energy used in playgrounds before, with the Son-X Octavia adding an electronic game element to children’s swings. Now energy company NRG Solar has broadened this approach by installing photovoltaic panels at a school playground in New Orleans. Located at the Dr Martin Luther King, Jr Charter School for Science and Technology in the Louisiana city, almost 400 panels have been included on a canopy that shelters the playground. The electricity generated is used to make the space more engaging for children, powering fans, water dispensers, garden irrigation systems and illuminated inspirational sayings. Additionally, the renewable energy can be diverted to power one-third of the school’s peak electricity demand if necessary. Seeing as solar power can provide a more interactive environment for children without using unnecessary energy, perhaps all entrepreneurs working on outdoor installations or games should be considering solar power add-ons? Spotted by: Murtaza Patel