Solar Protocol

This solar computing project is an exper­i­men­tal web platform hosted across a network of solar-powered servers. Installed in various regions around the world and maintained by volunteers, these servers are inter­con­nect­ed and auto­mat­i­cal­ly redirect web traffic to whichever location is receiving the most sunlight at any given time.

Solar Protocol uses the dis­tri­b­u­tion of sunlight across the Earth as the logic governing the network’s operation. Rather than relying on traditional opti­mi­sa­tion strategies, the project explores a form of ​“natural intel­li­gence” as an alternative to artificial intel­li­gence. By grounding decisions in envi­ron­men­tal dynamics, rather than purely in performance metrics, it brings questions of energy and its limits back to the heart of the design process.

The project also inves­ti­gates what a low-carbon internet infra­struc­ture and energy-aware web design might look like. The website solarpro​to​col​.net offers educational resources on solar computing and serves as an online exhibition space. 

Solar Protocol, 2021 – 2025
Network of solar servers, custom network software, website, real-time data visu­al­i­sa­tion.
Courtesy of Solar Protocol 

Front end, visu­al­iza­tion and writing: Tega Brain
Networking, back-end software and hardware design: Alex Nathanson
Hardware design and community management: Benedetta Piantella
Server stewards: Anne Pasek , Caddie Brain, Brendan Phelan, John Samoza, Camilo Rodriguez Beltran, Daniel Ñuñez, Alejandro Rebolledo, Graham Wilfred Jnr, Tim Chatwin, Bridgit Chappell, Baoyang Chen, Denzel J. Wamburu, Cyrus K, Chris Stone, Jesse Li, Zoë Horsten, and Jarl Schulp
Solar Protocol is by Tega Brain, Alex Nathanson, and Benedetta Piantella

Solar Protocol is supported by the Eyebeam Rapid Response for a Better Digital Future program, Code for Science & Society’s Digital Infra­struc­ture Incubator, and a Mozilla Creative Media Award.

Can the sun do the thinking?, 2023
Two-channel video instal­la­tion, colour, sound, 8 min., looped
Courtesy of Tega Brain

Selected ASCII drawings made in spring 2025 by third‑, fourth‑, and fifth-grade students from Brooklyn Arbor Elementary, Waterside Studio School, PS 96, and PS 1 in New York City during the workshop ​“Solar Web in Schools” by Rhizome. More drawings are hosted on Rhizome’s solar-powered server as part of Solar Protocol.
Courtesy of Rhizome