The Solar Trees simply remind us of a greener future and the best part about some of them is that they are really beautiful to look at. Designers and architects from around the globe have shown us their beautiful green creations in the form of solar trees that serve one or the other purpose. Here we have for you some of the most spectacular solar trees standing tall to save energy.
• Solar Sunflowers:
Harries/Heder, a public art team has set up an amazing field of solar sunflowers in Austen, Texas. The 15 flower-like solar photovoltaic panels soak up the sun’s energy to produce a steady stream of renewable energy while providing shade to the passers-by. Located on a pedestrian and bike path between the village of Mueller and Austin’s highway I-35, these eye appealing solar flowers not only offer shade to walkers and bikers, but also gather energy during the day to power the installation’s blue LED lights at night. The surplus energy is sent to the grid to offset the cost of maintaining the installation.
• Solar Mallee Trees, Adelaide:
The Solar Mallee trees installed in Adelaide make a spectacular view. Residing just outside the Adelaide Festival Centre, these beautiful indigenous mallee tree shaped solar collectors were built as part of the Adelaide Green City program. The solar trees with solar panels on top provide lighting around the area and each one is estimated to have the same environmental impact of planting six trees per year. Each tree is capable of producing 864 KWh per year. The energy generated is used to power the night lighting, while the surplus power is returned to the electricity grid.
• SonUmbra:
Folks over at Loop.pH have designed a unique interactive solar-powered tree, which was unveiled at the London Design Festival. The structure comes with strands of light-emitting fabric woven into a lucent web of branches. The structure, dubbed SonUmbra, gets power from a PV-equipped canopy that harnesses solar energy during the day and stores it in onboard batteries to light the tree up after dark. As a visitor moves around the tree, he/she is greeted with an interplay of light and sound that encourages interaction.
• Solar Tree by Ross Lovegrove:
For the Museum for Angewandte Kunst in Vienna renowned designer Ross Lovegrove has come up with a solar-powered street lighting system. Dubbed the ‘Solar Tree’, his creation commemorates design, nature and art. Bringing nature to the grayness of urban environments, the Solar Tree has been constructed paying complete attention to aesthetics and eco-friendly technology. Artemide has engineered the lighting in collaboration with Sharp Solar.
• Solar Tree Sculpture, Taos, NM:
Here is a solar tree sculpture that will mesmerize you with its exceptional beauty. Standing below the smiling sun it is a true depiction of ingenuity and sustainability. This interestingly made tree has photovoltaic panels at the end of its each branch. These panels absorb sun’s energy and generate renewable energy.
• Photosynthesis Solar Tree Concept:
Vivien Muller has designed one of the most aesthetical pleasing solar tree concepts in the world. The modular tiny bonsai tree features up to 54 mini-photovoltaic cells that behave as tree leaves and soak up juice from the sun. The energy is stored in a battery during the day and can be used to charge your gadgets whenever required. To give it a neat look all the wires are hidden under the electronic bonsai tray. Several modules that can be rotated individually have gone into making the tree. You can obtain different shapes by arranging it according to your choice.
• The Helios Power Tree:
The Helios Power Tree is a design aimed at taking the conventional eco-power generation technology to the next level. Created by Oscar G. Torres, the Helios features thin solar cells as leaves, which are connected to the large battery installed at the base of the tree via a network that runs through branches and trunk. A USB hub located at the tree’s base allows people to charge their gizmos using the solar power stored by the “tree”. When you touch one of the branches a charge runs through the tree allowing you to see the channel of the power within the design that charge and light the blue lights around the tree.
• Solar Forest:
As the name suggests, this concept brings trees like structures into action. The Solar Forest Concept consists of trees that are made up of photovoltaic leaves, whose sole purpose is to collect solar power. At the truck of each tree is a power outlet that is used to charge up electric vehicles. Apart from providing charge, the photovoltaic leaves also gives shade to the cars.
• The Solar tree by Gurdeep Sandhu:
Designed by Gurdeep Sandhu who has sent in this fine gadget, the Solar Tree is something that is far more flexible and for more efficient that the traditional solar roof. With its adjustable and movable solar ‘wings’ the entire structure will always give you maximum solar energy. It is almost like solar panels that manoeuvre like a birds wings and adjust to the angle and intensity of the sun to produce maximum solar energy. It is also easily accessible for repairs and also reduces the damages as it can just fold up at night. The Solar Tree can go in your garden or probably also on your roof and makes for wonderful sustainable technology that has been innovatively altered by a creative designer. They can not only power your garden and other accessories but also your home if utilized properly.
• Solar Supertrees:
Deriving inspiration from the shape of an orchid Grant Associates planned the largest garden project ever to be constructed in Singapore. Dubbed the ‘Marina South Gardens’, the structure is a mix of cooled conservatories placed in the center and a series of huge solar supertrees. The series of 25 to 50 meters tall supertrees form a vertical garden that supplies the structure renewable energy. Grant Associate won an international design competition for this incredible design.