This 5kw solar power tree might be the answer for all the solar enthusiasts who want to cut costs by using their solar panels. Indian scientists developed the project and aim to use small space to harness maximum solar energy and make a better India.
Solar Power Tree – The Advent
Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences in New Delhi, launched the solar power tree project. CSIR-CMERI (Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute), the constituent laboratory of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) developed it.
A Little About Dr. Harsh Vardhan
Dr. Harsh Vardhan is the Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Science and Technology, and Earth Sciences. He is an ENT surgeon by profession who branched out into public life after getting elected to the Delhi Assembly from Krishna Nagar constituency in East Delhi in 1993. He got elected to the Delhi Assembly for four more successive terms. Dr. Harsh Vardhan bagged several achievements in the fields of health, education, law, environment, and science and technology. He is known for inspiring people with his innovative ideas with a vision to turn them into reality. He has also implemented the Rational Drug Policy, which was recognized by the WHO as the Delhi Model and was adopted by several countries.
Design of the Model
They have designed it in a tree-like structure with branches made of steel that holds the photovoltaic panel. It produces electricity by harnessing solar energy with an innovative vertical arrangement of solar cells. This arrangement helps in reducing the area of land used compared to conventional Solar Photovoltaic layouts. This project layout utilizes 4 square meters of land where the Solar Photovoltaic layout uses 400 cover meters of land. The best part about the solar power tree is that it can be useful in both rural and urban areas. Even the cultivable land can be used for harnessing solar energy, along with continuing farming.
Salient Features of the Model
The solar power tree comes with the following features:-
- This 5KW solar power tree uses only 4 square feet of land.
2. As it holds the photovoltaic panels at a higher height, it absorbs more sunrays for one hour in a single day. Because of this, the solar power tree harness 10-15% more power compared to a solar conventional layout on land.
3. Because of its power backup of 2 hours on the full load it gives light even after sunset.
4. To facilitate self-cleansing, they have added a water sprinkler at the top. This, in turn, increases the efficiency of the solar panels in the long run.
5. The solar power tree costs around Rs.5 lakhs for a 5KW specification.
The Success Story of the Solar Power Tree
Dr. Girish Sahni, the DG of CSIR said in an interview that the solar power tree has been functioning effectively at three places in West Bengal as a pilot project. The further plans include developing the tree in a rotatable module that would have a motorized mechanism to align itself with the movement of the Sun during the day. This would help in harnessing 10-15% more power over and above the current capacity. This solar power tree also addresses the increasing demand for Green Energy by gainfully using scarce land resources in India.
Dr. Harsh Vardhan also emphasized the need for greater partnerships and linkage with the stakeholders to make the indigenously developed technologies reach out to the masses.
Featured image – Twitter
To know more about Dr. Harsh Vardhan, please check – Website, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.
If you liked this story, do check out the story of Charu Monga making solar backpacks for children living in difficult terrains so that the light from their bags can guide them home in the dark due to no electricity in the area.
If you know more inspirational stories about a person, company, new idea, or social initiative, and want us to write it on mad4india.com, share such information with us on Facebook and LinkedIn.
