Solar Protocol (2021–2023); Can the sun do the thinking? (2023)

»Solar Protocol«, 2021–2023

Solar server network, custom network software, website, live data visualization.

Courtesy Tega Brain, Benedetta Piantella, Alex Nathanson (Solar Protocol collective)

»Can the sun do the thinking?«, 2023

Video installation, color, sound, 8'00" min. in loop

Courtesy Tega Brain


In 2021, Tega Brain co-founded the Solar Protocol collective with Alex Nathanson and Benedetta Piantella, setting out to establish a solar-powered server network that is installed and maintained around the globe. Currently, the project website is hosted by whichever server can process the data at a location with the most sunshine.

The collective counters the technological concept of artificial intelligence with a form of natural intelligence. Internet traffic routing decisions are made automatically, based on an environmental logic resulting from the current season, time of day, and weather conditions.

Tega Brain’s two-part installation shows a live data visualization that represents the activities of the individual servers of the network. The video »Can the sun do the thinking?« explains the functional logic of “natural” programming using infographics and footage.

Solar Protocol raises questions about what a climate-friendly use of data might look like, and how the internet could change if it were powered by solar energy. The urgency of these questions is obvious: In terms of power consumption, the internet could currently be considered the third largest country in the world.

»Solar Protocol«: With Server Stewards in Kalinago Territory/DM, Sydney/AU, Alice Springs/AU, Nairobi/KE, Peterborough/CA, Santiago/CL, Bangalore/IN; thanks to the 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, Jarl Schulp sowie Taeyoon Choi, Sam Lavigne, Johnathan Dehan; supported by: Mozilla Creative Media Award, Eyebeam, Code for Science & Society.

»Can the sun do the thinking?«: animation assistant: Yixun Li, sound assistant: Alex Davies; supported by: Mozilla Creative Media Award; produced in cooperation with ZKM | Karlsruhe