If you find yourself low on battery and need somewhere to charge your phone, you may soon be able to plug it straight into your kitchen table.

A London-based designer has created a table which uses solar cells - similar to those used on rooftops to harvest sunlight - in order to capture energy.

It may seem like an invention straight out of the world of tomorrow, but a prototype of a solar powered table is already on display at the Design Museum in London, and commercial production is set to begin next year.

The Current Table uses solar cells to capture indirect sunlight. The steel framed table has an orange top (pictured) and could be used to charge electronic devices, such as your smartphone

The futuristic furniture, called The Current Table, is the creation of Marjan van Aubel, who was a finalist for Design of the Year 2015.

With orange stripes on top of its steel frame, the table uses dye-sensitised solar cells to capture energy. Incorporated into its design is a USB port to plug in a smartphone for charging.

However, unlike traditional solar cells, the table can harvest energy from indirect sunlight.

Ms van Aubel told MailOnline she chose a table for the project 'as tables have quit big surface areas in the house'.

'The bigger the surface, the more energy can be harvested. Also the table is the place where you'll need the electricity, so on the place where you are working from, the table is working for you too.'

The Current Table uses solar cells to generate electricity. The cells contain an orange pigment (pictured) which becomes activated by light, generating an electrical current which can then be used to power devices

The table's orange top (pictured left) is due to the dye used in the solar cells. Electronic devices can be plugged into the table via USB connection (pictured right)

HOW THE CURRENT TABLE WORKS With orange stripes on top of its steel frame, the Current Table uses dye-sensitised solar cells to capture energy. Incorporated into its design is a USB port to plug in a smartphone for charging. However, unlike traditional solar cells, the table can harvest energy from indirect sunlight. When the photosensitive orange dye inside the solar cells is exposed to sunlight, it becomes activated, generating an electrical current. The energy can then either be used directly via the USB connection, or is stored in a battery. Advertisement

When the photosensitive orange dye inside the solar cells is exposed to sunlight, it becomes activated, generating an electrical current.

The energy can then either be used directly via the USB connection, or is stored in a battery.

According to Ms van Aubel, the use of the orange dye came about from her collaborative research into the properties of colour.

She said: 'Applied to functional objects, this innovative technology has the potential to change the way we relate to everyday objects and embed energy harvesting into our daily habits.'

The table is a continuation of one of the designer's previous projects, 'The Energy Collection', which included a cabinet which collected and stored solar energy.

The designer is working with newly established company Caventou to produce the tables with production expected to start next year.

Initial consumer designs expected to fetch between £2,000 and £3,000.

New firm Caventou will start production on the consumer version of the Current Table (pictured) next year. The table will be capable of powering both phones and laptops and will cost between £2000 and £3000

Although the tables can collect indirect light, they will be best-placed in a bright room such a conservatory or kitchen.

The commercially available version of the table is expected to be able to generate enough energy to power both phones and laptops.

Speaking to the Guardian, head of technology for Caventou, Peter Kriege, explained: 'You'll collect the most power from the sun on bright, clear days.

'That being said, dye-sensitised solar panels are less affected by diffuse light levels and shadow from clouds.

The table (pictured) would work best in well lit areas of the house, such as a kitchen or conservatory explained the designer Marjan van Aubel. She was a finalist for Design of the Year 2015.

'Although the efficiency of the solar panel will decrease in cloudy conditions, you'll still be collecting valuable power from the sun.'

In October, designs emerged for a smart table which could harvest heat energy hot drinks and warm electrical gadgets and convert it into useful electricity.

The proposal relies on a thermoelectric generator embedded into the table - and thanks to recent developments in the space, this concept could soon become reality.

The table, dubbed Heat Harvest, is the brainchild of two students who attended a two-week workshop at a 'future-living lab' in Copenhagen called Space 10, partly funded by Ikea.

The table, which is based on an Ikea design, would use thermoelectricity to capture wasted heat and convert it into electricity.

Heat-powered smart tables, such as those being designed by Danish firm Space 10 (video above) would use thermoelectricity to capture wasted heat energy - from hot drinks or electrical devices - and convert it into usable electricity