Design Day, a uOttawa Engineering event where students present projects they’ve designed for real clients during the term, provided a chance to test that brief. One of the most compelling solutions was a portable solar-powered garden system to support year-round plant growth and generate clean electricity.
The challenge centred on designing a dual-use solar system. “The solar panels had to do two things at once, whether that was generating electricity while supporting farming, providing shade or fitting directly into urban design,” says Khaled Atia, a photonics software developer who helped lead the initiative for PEO. The goal, he adds, was to address local sustainability and planning challenges while creating a clear link between academic innovation and everyday use.
Responding to the region’s needs
For the student team Sunthesis, responding to the challenge meant starting with the reality of gardening in Ottawa. Long winters, limited daylight and frozen soil make four-season food production difficult. “The issue we identified was that users needed a way to facilitate year-round plant growth while harnessing renewable energy efficiently,” says Vanessa Tapper, a member of the team.
“The issue we identified was that users needed a way to facilitate year-round plant growth while harnessing renewable energy efficiently.”
Vanessa Tapper
— Mechanical Engineering Student
Their solution was a portable solar garden system. It’s powered by panels that charge a battery, which in turn runs a grow light and an automatic self-watering pump controlled by a timer. “If you’re not able to place your garden bed in optimal lighting conditions, this system compensates for that,” Tapper says, adding that the controlled lighting environment helps keep plants productive through Ottawa’s darker months.
Rethinking soil, portability and materials
Beyond the energy system itself, the team also reconsidered how the garden bed should function in a cold climate. Instead of traditional soil, they opted for LECA (lightweight expanded clay aggregate) beads. “LECA beads absorb water and release it slowly, so plants don’t get drowned,” says Sunthesis member Soumeya Osman. “They can also freeze and thaw repeatedly without degrading.”
That’s a key advantage in Canadian winters. Because LECA suppresses weed growth, it also reduces maintenance for users over time.
“LECA beads absorb water and release it slowly, so plants don’t get drowned. They can also freeze and thaw repeatedly without degrading.”
Soumeya Osman
— Mechanical Engineering Student
Portability quickly emerged as another defining feature. “The fact that it’s portable is really important,” says Jaad Qadadeh, another team member. Being able to roll or gently move the unit instead of lifting heavy planters makes it more accessible for older users or people with back or mobility issues.
“The fact that it’s portable is really important.”
Jaad Qadadeh
— Mechanical Engineering Student
Material choices were guided by both performance and appearance. After testing wood, plastic and metal, the team settled on a plastic interior reservoir to retain water efficiently, paired with a dark-stained wooden exterior. “Wood wasn’t sustainable for the interior because water would seep into it,” Tapper says, especially since the system also captures rainwater. “But the wooden exterior makes the system more appealing for people to actually want it in their homes.”
What partners gain from student-driven prototyping
For Atia and PEO, the project underscored the value of working with students. They bring curiosity and adaptability to today’s complex challenges. Getting user feedback during prototyping helped teams refine their ideas. And Atia says there’s strong confidence in the solution’s appeal: “We’re pretty sure homeowners are really going to want this.”
“The project underscored the value of working with students. They bring curiosity and adaptability to today’s complex challenges.”
Khaled Atia
— Photonics Software Developer
From a user perspective, the prototype already functions as intended. Solar charging, energy storage, automated watering, grow lighting and LECA-based planting are all in place. “It’s ready,” the team says. “You can use it now and take it home.” Together, these elements demonstrate how industry-defined constraints can lead to workable concepts.
The project highlights the value of engaging with students as creative problemsolvers. They can rapidly test ideas, challenge assumptions and translate technical requirements into tangible outcomes. The collaboration benefits students by allowing them to explore design grounded in real user needs. But it also offers partners fresh perspectives and timely access to creative solutions in a lowrisk environment.
