World’s largest solar tree

Context:

Scientists at the Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CMERI) in West Bengal have installed a ‘solar tree’ that is likely to be the largest of its kind in the world.

What is the solar tree?

• A solar tree is a structure resembling a tree that has solar panels fitted on the branches.
• The solar panels connected through branches produce solar power.
• The working of a solar tree is much like that of a real one—leaf-like solar panels connected through metal branches using sunlight to make energy.
• The Solar tree panels charge batteries during the day. At dusk, the tree automatically switches on LED lights. It is programmed to regulate the amount of light it produces.
• Solar trees are flexible and rotate to face the sun and produce the maximum possible amount of energy using a technique called “spiraling phyllotaxy”.

Key details of CMERI solar tree

• This is producing up to 11,500 watts (11.5kw).
• The CMERI solar tree has 35 panels each with a capacity of 330 watts.
• The solar tree has capabilities to adapt a group of Internet of Things (IoT)-based features, such as
  • round-the-clock CCTV surveillance in agricultural fields
  • real-time humidity, wind speed, rainfall prediction ” soil analytics sensors
• The solar tree can also be connected to CSIR-CMERI’s solar-powered e-suvidha kiosks for real-time access to the massive agricultural database, as well as to the eNAM (National Agricultural Marketplace) for instant and real-time access to a unified online market.