#energyharvestingtrees

[mercurious-minds-blog]

Energy Harvesting Trees Might Be the Next Big Thing to Power the World

Energy harvesting trees are probably the greatest thing in solar history. Imagine a forest of trees generating electricity for entire blocks and cities. Not only are they aesthetically pleasing, but they would also blend in seamlessly anywhere. Solar Botanic, a London based company, is leading the industry in this revolutionary technology. Energy harvesting trees are much more efficient than your typical solar energy systems. Traditional solar energy requires a lot of space and at times, expensive transmission networks which ultimately results in a loss of power. These solar trees, however, not only generate maximum amounts of electricity with little land usage through the combined large surface area of each leaf, but they also double as wind turbines. Solar Botanic’s technology makes use of “nanoleaves” which are thin, leaf-like solar panels that reflect only a small portion of sunlight and turns the rest, including UV rays, into usable electricity. Not only do the nanoleaves make use of photovoltaics (transforming light to electricity), it also has thermovoltaic properties (transforming heat into electricity) that work even after the sun has set. In addition to gathering energy from the sun, when the wind pushes the nanoleaves back and forth, it stresses piezoelectric components which generate electricity. The stronger the wind, the more electricity is generated. One tree with thousands of nanoleaves blowing in the wind can generate millions of watts. These energy harvesting trees are nothing short of amazing. One tree would be able to power a three bedroom house, while a small forest could power an entire neighborhood. On top of that, they could even be used in parking lots to power electric cars thanks to compatible attachments and the piezoelectric components mean available power, rain or shine. If that wasn’t enough to excite you, any extra electricity you don’t use can be sold back to the grid for a little extra cash in your pockets at the end of each month! What would really impress me, though, would be if the trees could somehow release oxygen back into the atmosphere, then we’d really be in business. Read the full article