Shady Twist on an Ancient Idea

Could the energy sheilding that reduces the direct sunlight also be used to collect the sun's energy for use in lighting, etc?

Let's hope they're talking to these people:

PHOTOVOLTAICS Applied Materials
www.amat.com

Photovoltaic electricity, which converts light into electricity, has the potential to greatly increase global energy production. Applied Materials (AMAT) occupies the leadership position in supplying photovoltaic manufacturing equipment for use in factories around the world. Several thin-film photovoltaic factories are currently under construction using AMAT tools, including some designed to output 500 megawatts of thin film panels per year. This is a staggering achievement, given the entire manufacturing output of photovoltaics in the world in 2006 was only about 3.0 gigawatts, and the entire installed base of photovoltaics worldwide is still only about 10 gigawatts. AMAT also is a leading supplier of tools to manufacture crystaline photovoltaics, which still dominate the photovoltaic market, and which are finally free of the shortage of polysilicon. The only primary materials you need to manufacture photovoltaics are sand and electricity - which itself is a product of photovoltaics. With manufacturing costs dropping below $1.00 per watt, and installed costs falling below $10.00 per watt, look for this energy source to explode in the coming years.

The fabric awning idea is still used a lot too. Many fabric shade structures exist - both large and small. From small awnings to arena coverings to entire buildings made of tensioned fabric. Using a metallic fabric may have some advantages over the PVC "fabric" currently in use.