By Milena Viljoen
When many of us think of solar panels, we think of large black panels bolted to a house roof. But photovoltaic (PV) solar cells have gone through many changes in recent years. New and innovative uses of solar cells have put them on building windows, above parking garages, and on portable products.
Now, a couple of entrepreneurs have been inspired by nature to provide new, fun, and functional uses for solar panels: solar trees and PV leaves.
Solar Trees
Produced by Envision Solar, these attractive setups allow you to use your solar panels as shade structures in your yard. Not only do they look pretty cool, they provide shade and eliminate the hassle of having them installed on your roof. Keep in mind that the solar trees still need to be hooked up to your meter by an electrician. A 1.4-kilowatt system costs approximately $18,500 before shipping, installation, and federal or state rebates.
Photovoltaic (PV) leaves
Industrial designer Jongoh Lee was recently awarded an International Design Excellence Award (IDEA) for his innovative “invisible streetlight.” The streetlight consists of a branch of leaf-shaped photovoltaic cells, which soak up sunlight during the day. As daylight fades, light sensors lining the underside of the leaves trigger energy-efficient LEDs that use the stored energy to stay lit. The flexible stem allows the branch to be wound onto an existing tree branch or other structure, eliminating the need for stand-alone fixtures and seamlessly integrating the lights into existing visual spaces.
Have you seen other interesting applications of solar cells? Share what you've seen here!
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