The Tourism centre in my city now greets visitors with a giant, photovoltaic metal tree, and companion solar panels, that will produce 10,000 kW of solar energy annually.
Click the pic to enlarge
The Solar Tree is designed in the image of the City logo; a visual landmark to highlight this clean, renewable energy project. The giant metal tree features twenty-seven solar panels, each mounted to a leaf.
- It is a 8.6 kilowatt (kW) solar photovoltaic, ground-mounted system
- 3 pole mounted arrays (about 8 kWs) plus one unique, solar tree (about 0.5 kWs)
- Solar Tree is 7 meters (23 feet) tall, has 27 leaves, each producing power
- The system will generate 10,000 kWh’s per year, about ½ of the annual electricity needs for the tourism building . (When the sun is shining, these panels could power up to 7 homes)
- Cost of project: $160,000
- Expected revenue: $165,000 over the 20-year contract
- The system will offset up to 10 tonnes of CO2 per year from coal-fired power plants
See more photos from around the world HERE
What an interesting post for the day, Karen! Terrific capture and I love the information you've shared with us! Hope you have a wonderful week!
ReplyDeleteSylvia
I call it the tree of light!
ReplyDeleteNice post!
Great idea! Now I am wondering where you live! :) I love the shadow cast by the Solar Tree.
ReplyDeleteThere might not be sap running through the veins of this tree but there is plenty of energy as your unique photo shows. Thanks for sharing this interesting part of your world, Karen!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting and I love the shot of it.
ReplyDeleteGreat photo, great idea, and great explanation. Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River.
ReplyDeleteI´ve seen solar trees in science programs, but they did not look like that. It´s cool. :)
ReplyDeleteVery interesting and what a bright idea!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting, I had wondered if solar cells would pay for themselves so far north, I guess they do.
ReplyDeleteOur primary residence generates about 90% of our usage from solar and our vacation home 100% and is off the grid.
how interesting and cool! which city are you speaking of?
ReplyDeleteAn interesting and creative way to get the message across. Not to mention, quite the conversation starter!
ReplyDeleteI like that idea! Much better looking than just plain panels.
ReplyDeleteI love that tree, it looks awesome! In my town, the Air Force Academy just broke ground on a 30-acre, $18-million solar panel project, which is supposed to generate 6 megawatts! At least until we get our next major hailstorm...
ReplyDeleteThis is a great way to generate energy. Design is very good.
ReplyDeleteIt's actually quite attractive! I wish I had one in my backyard hooked up to my house!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Betsy. I was just looking at catalogues of trees, shrubs and flowers, but this beats even the honeysuckle hedge! I love it.
ReplyDeleteWe live in the sunniest part of Canada, southeastern Alberta, and I can't convince my husband to put solar panels on our south-facing roof.
Wow, this tree is more than awesome.
-- K
Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel
Wow! What a fantastic functional sculpture. Great photo.
ReplyDeleteFascinating and meaningful endeavor... in Singapore, where I am from, there is growing interest in transparent solar panels for homes, bus shelters, walkways, etc.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful solar tree, and very unique!
ReplyDeleteGreat photo and an interesting post. The solar tree is quite attractive...better than solar panels. It makes a nice photo against the blue sky and white snow.
ReplyDeleteWhat a brilliant concept.
ReplyDeleteThank you for featuring this.
So much better than the ghastly wind turbines. I wonder how they compare in output.
Awesome project- love the design. Something to be proud of.
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