SolarBotanic is working on a new technology known as Energy Harvesting Trees. While we know these trees won’t be real, but they’ll be modeled on actual biological examples. On these trees you will find Nanoleafs that rely on nanotechnology to capture the “sun’s energy in photovoltaic and thermovoltaic cells, then convert the radiation into electricity.” These will also come complete with stems and twigs that hold nano-piezovoltaic material to further produce even more electricity from movement or kinetic energy whenever rain falls or wind blows. This is interesting, but it does leave us wondering whether nature’s critters will be able to tell the difference between a real and fake tree in the forest – what happens when a woodpecker attempts to drill a hole through the material used?
Filed in ..