SOLAR TREES

Researchers create solar electric forest with 3D-printed trees

February 19, 2015 (NanoWerk)

“Scientists at [the VTT Technical Research Center] of Finland] have developed a prototype of a tree that harvests solar energy from its surroundings - whether indoors or outdoors - stores it and turns it into electricity to power small devices such as mobile phones, humidifiers, thermometers and LED light bulbs. The technology can also be used to harvest kinetic energy from the environment…The ‘leaves’ of the tree are flexible, patterned [ultra-thin] solar panels made using a technique developed by VTT on a printing process…[They] form an electronic system complete with wiring that conduct energy into a converter that feeds electricity to devices such as mobile phones or sensors analysing the environment. The tree trunk is made with 3D technology by exploiting wood-based biomaterials VTT has developed…The more solar panels there are in a tree, the more energy it can harvest.” click here for more

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