This is a great innovation — the streets of Europe could soon be lit by "solar trees". These self-contained streetlights could save cities energy and money too. Unlike regular streetlights, they do not require costly underground wiring to install, and they are immune to blackouts. Designed by Ross Lovegrove, the lights have 10 solar panels arrayed at the top of tree-like branches, which charge built-in batteries. The batteries then power LEDs for illumination. Compared to conventional streetlights, they emit much less light pollution, because LEDs generate a very directed light. The trees also incorporate light detectors! So the lights automatically turn on sunset and off at sunrise.
The solar trees went on display for four weeks in October on a busy street — the Ringstrasse — in Vienna, Austria. They were able to provide enough light during the night-time even when the sun did not show for as much as four days in a row. The director of the program, Christina Werner said. "Someday soon solar trees could well be the main form of street lighting in Europe."
Putting solar powered LED light systems on trees would cut down on the carbon emissions and also slash the bills of local authorities, she said.
Street lighting consumed 10 percent of all the electricity used in Europe in 2006 or 2,000 billion KWh, and resulted in carbon emissions of 2,900 million ton.
The use of more energy-efficient lighting in the Austrian city of Graz, with a population of almost 300,000 saved the city 524,000 KWh of electricity and 67,200 euros [US $96,800] in 2005.
25 responses so far ↓
1 bhaktapurgirl // Dec 24, 2007 at 3:47 am
solar tree ,wow!! Thats great
nice article
thanks for sharing it
bhaktapurgirl
2 BillSalem // Dec 24, 2007 at 4:56 am
This is Real thinking. What good design! This is more Sci-fi than sci-fi. Definitely the way into the future. We need more like this. So hopeful.
3 Mangetout // Dec 24, 2007 at 5:16 am
Lovely design, but I think the pigeons might like it a bit too much.
4 Bryan // Dec 24, 2007 at 6:47 am
This is cool, I am sure we will see all sorts of variations of this soon in all cities!
5 Phil E. Drifter // Dec 24, 2007 at 9:29 am
Awesome innovation.
May I suggest, for Solar Tree 2.0, panels that can be calibrated (depending on which way they ‘face’ when they are installed (planted?) so that the panels tilt slightly to follow the sun, so they’re always at a 90° angle to it, which will maximize the amount of energy received and stored.
6 Dave Pen // Dec 24, 2007 at 9:47 am
I would suggest that you keep doing this great and wonderful content.
7 Richard B. Salazar/ Apartment & Home Maintenance/25yrs // Dec 26, 2007 at 12:52 am
very interesting …I do maintenance all over San Antonio../ send info or call 210 913 5433
8 shawn // Dec 26, 2007 at 1:58 am
Hope to see this wonder soon!!
9 Adam Kamerer - JoyChaser.com // Dec 26, 2007 at 9:26 pm
At first glance, they seemed a bit alien-like, but the more I studied the pictures, the more I grew to like the design. They almost look organic.
I think it’s great that these innovations are being made. Now if only there was a way to integrate these with actually live trees, so as to bring some real plant-life back into our cities.
10 Makhan Sarda // Dec 27, 2007 at 6:17 am
Good enovation.
Could change the Environmental problem if it succeds at a large.
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15 Iftikhar A. Bhatti // Feb 19, 2008 at 1:23 pm
I was really bowled over by the Solar Tree. I wish more products should come in which are eco friendly.
16 ToddB // Feb 25, 2008 at 10:56 am
This will only work in cities with no or very few tall buildings. There are countless locals in NY that never see more than an hour of sunlight on a bright summer day. To work there the panels would have to be mounted atop the buildings and connected via cable to the batteries. Long cable runs using DC electricity to charge batteries don’t usually work so well.
17 solar lights // Mar 17, 2008 at 10:01 pm
Wow those are nice designs of solar tree lights. I wonder if they are actually functional solar lights or are just for prettiness like these homemade solar lights.
18 tahir aljunaidi // Apr 6, 2008 at 7:43 am
what is the coastr of Solar Trees as i migth have some good bussines with you in my home country UAE.
we have enougt sun??
19 Denise // Apr 11, 2008 at 8:38 pm
Someone has been reading too many comic books. Those trees look like something we may one day see on the streets of Mars, but I’ve got an idea — How about installing solar panels along the streets to power our cars with sunlight? Now there would be free energy. Of course, you’d have to have back up power, and the panels would have to rotate with the sun.
20 Nour Omar // Apr 22, 2008 at 4:51 am
Dear Sir
we are Interesting in Solar Street light , and we have seen the solar trees light
please send us more details about solar street light .
prices and catalogs
thank you
Nour
21 himmat anand // Apr 27, 2008 at 7:47 am
i am building a small resort in jaipur, india which has a lot of sun. this would be a great idea, provided the cost is not prohibitive. could i get some info on who can supply this and the costs, etc. certainly worth looking at.
22 Kirst // May 8, 2008 at 5:51 pm
I’m wondering what their output light amount is. My experience with solar powered lighting is that it’s barely lighting at all, and does not last significantly long enough. If it were indeed to be used to light the streets, it would have to be bright enough to SAFELY illuminate the area. Otherwise, it’s there, but you’d still need additional lighting for actual functionality. Just a comment…
23 udoka okolo // Jun 13, 2008 at 3:48 am
send me more pics
24 Rubi Sulyma // Jul 31, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Need more info on the solar tees. Where can they currently be purchased? Could someone please email me this info.
Thank you
25 Kim Heseltine // Aug 15, 2008 at 11:57 am
Sounds like an excellent idea Hopefully, the US will follow..
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