World’s largest solar tree comes up in West Bengal2 min read

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In a bid to promote renewable energy, scientists at the Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CMERI) in West Bengal have installed a ‘solar tree’. This tree is said to be the largest of its kind in the world!

What is a solar tree?

While a solar tree resembles, well, a tree, it is made up metal and has solar panels fitted on its branches. These solar panels are responsible for generating power. Solar panels are devices used to absorb the sun’s rays and convert them into electricity or heat.

Harish Hirani, director of CMERI, was quoted as saying, “This is the largest solar tree as per our knowledge producing up to 11,500 watts (11.5kw). The second largest tree has been set up in London and produces around 8.6kw.” The CMERI solar tree has 35 panels, each with a capacity of 330 watts.

“Producing around 12,000–14,000 units of clean and green power in a year, the solar tree has the potential to save 10–12 tons of Co2 from being released into the atmosphere every year,” he said.

Giving back

A big challenge with setting up solar panels on a large scale to produce a huge amount of renewable energy is shortage of space. Hence, a design like a tree helps, as the ‘branches’ holding the panels can be adjusted to get maximum output.

The scientists at CMERI said that as the shadow area is minimum in solar trees, they could be set up in agricultural farms to run pumps, e-tractors and tillers as an alternative to diesel. The excess power can be sent to the grid providing economic return to farmers.

Sources: Hindustan Times, Jagran Josh