Solar tree

Intent and Context

Solar trees are intended to enhance visibility to solar technology and to enhance the landscape and to complement, usually in a commercial or public context. An objective of many solar installations is to promote awareness, understanding, and adoption of renewable energy. They are not typically used as a primary source of energy for a property which is accomplished by rooftop solar systems. Solar trees are complementary to rooftop solar systems, or other green building measures, symbolizing these larger investments and their environmental benefits.

Benefits of solar tree

Solar trees may build awareness and interest in solar technology.

Origin and Progress of solar tree

Unique sculptural creations for a single sites began in 1998 (eg, the 7 kW tree in Gleisdorf, Austria) or earlier. A number of variants of solar trees have been conceived, not all of them realized in installations. Vacation rentals include roads, public areas in cities, schools and universities, office buildings, science museums, and more. Recently, designers and manufacturers have introduced solar panels, designed to deliver the benefits of solar panels. Examples include Ross Lovegrove’s Solar Tree, Envision Solar , Envision Solar , Envision Solar Solar park, and Spotlight Solar’s line of architectural structures and most recently CSIR Solar Power Tree from India.

Examples of solar tree

Example 1: Original Solar Tree Artworks

A number of sculptural structures which solar photovoltaic cells have been erected. Gleisdorf, Austria hosts a tree with 7kW capacity and other solar sculptures, many less tree-ish. Tree-like solar structures have been commissioned for retail stores like Halfmoon Outfitters , and for towns like Cherokee, NC .

Example 2: Ross Lovegrove’s Solar Tree

Ross Lovegrove , a Welsh industrial designer known for his organic designs and designs, conceived an organic-looking solar structure with multiple curve stems and circular collections of photovoltaic cells. It was first manufactured by Artemide , a manufacturer of differentiated design products, based in Milan, Italy. In an effort to follow an environmentally conscious road, the company seeks to incorporate solar power into their architectural designs. ^[1]

Artemide defines the Solar Tree as “The successful marriage of the most advanced technology and the aesthetic requirements of the renewable energy environment.” ^[2]

Ross Lovegrove’s original design consists of a sinuous tree constructed of steel pipes, measuring 5 meters, supporting a light bubble in which 38 solar cells, each with 38 watts of power, connected to a hidden 12V battery system which includes 1W LEDs at the tip. The solar cells for the project were commissioned by Sharp Solar .

How it works: The Solar Tree battery charge panels during the day. At dusk the Solar Tree automatically switches on its LEDs. The internal control can also regulate the amount of light in the batteries. ^[3] Artemide claims the Solar Tree will produce light for three consecutive overcast days. ^[4] The designer Ross Lovegrove claims, “Solar Tree represents the DNA of our time and it is possible to create beautiful things using the most advanced technology.” ^[5] In 2007 Lovegrove was awarded the Vogue Traveler Ecology Prize for his work with the Solar Tree.

Example 3: Spotlight Solar structures

In 2011, Spotlight Solar introduced a line of architectural products. While sculptural, these are repeatable engineered products designed for solar energy technology in high visibility locations. Sandy Grove Middle School, ^[6] the St. Louis Rams’ headquarters, ^[7] NC State University, and the Orange County Convention Center to demonstrate environmental stewardship. complement other sustainability measures.

Example 4: CSIR’s Solar Power Tree

In 2016, CSIR- Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute , Durgapur, India invented another model of solar power for its application at villages, besides national highway and power grid system to meet the electricity crisis. The developed structure is capable of generating the electricity in a 3-7 Kwh with a bare footprint of 2×2 sqft area. These solar trees are already installed and operating at the developer’s campus, CSIR’s Headquarter and at the residential campus of the Minister of Science and Technology of India ^[8] to demonstrate the success of the technology. Researchers at CSIR-CMERI are also working on the need for public parks, gardens, market places, etc.

Example 5: Solar Power Tree Artifact

In 2017, the 2.5 KW solar power tree was first used by Durgapur Municipal Corporation, West Bengal, India at its Srijani Auditorium. The solar power tree is designed and developed by Indian researchers. ^[9] Apart from the aesthetics, the power generated from this planet is stored in a battery and used for the purpose.

Further interpretations

The Strawberry Tree , invented by the Serbian company Strawberry Energy , is a variation of the Solar Tree in which it is specifically designed to recharge mobile devices. The company won the Sustainable Energy Week 2011 “competition for its revolutionary contribution. ^[10]

There is a distinction between the two, which has been adopted to create efficient parking lots. ^[11] Companies such as General Electric ^[12] have installed solar panels in car parking lots to collect solar energy and protect vehicles from sun damage. Solar Trees in their natural environment. In contrast to the field of solar artwork, they would more appropriately be dubbed elevated solar panels.

The Solar Tree Foundation

Rein Triefeldt is a solar environmentalist who has also begun to construct solar trees. He is one of the founders and president of the Solar Tree Foundation, which began in 2008. ^[13]

The Solar Tree Foundation designs for solar panels in the classroom. Solar Tree in order to educate a broad audience on the environmental and technological materials. It is also designed with the intention of instilling an appreciation for an aesthetics and an understanding of the medium of expression. This article was written by online readings and webcams in which the students can engage with the architects and see the construction process in real time. ^[14] Triefeldt believes that it will help to preserve natural trees in the long run.

The Solar Tree Foundation was developed for North Hillsborough Elementary School in Hillsborough California. At peak efficiency, the 10,000 lb. Solar Tree is claimed to produce 20,000 watts of energy per day. ^[15]

References