CSIR lab develops 'solar tree' that can light 5 houses
The world is in need of an alternate source of sustainable energy, and this CSIR laboratory in West Bengal is doing its bit. The lab has created a 'solar power tree' that's no bigger than four square feet and generates about three kilowatts (kW) of power, enough to sustain five houses.
Talking to IANS, Sibnath Maity, the chief scientist at the Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CMERI) who made the "tree" in Durgapur, West Bengal said, "The challenge was to come up with a design so as to generate more solar power in less land space.
Facebook/ Dr. Harsh Vardhan
"For one MW of power, one needs five acres of land. To generate 10,000 MW we would need 50,000 acres. Now this poses a dilemma in states like West Bengal and Bihar," he added.
greatlakesscenic/ Representational Image
Why is it called a "solar tree"?
The three kW device resembles a tree with branches at different tiers and can be squeezed on rooftops and highways. The "tree" requires only four square feet, which is an incredible feat to achieve by the scientists since a traditional solar photovoltaic system of five kW takes about 400 square feet of space. The system, Maity said, costs about Rs 3 lakhs including a battery back-up.
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Inauguration
The "solar tree" was inaugurated by the union Science and Technology Minister, Harsh Vardhan, who has also requested a couple of trees to be installed at the minister's office and bungalow.
Kolkata, May 20 (IANS) A CSIR laboratory in West Bengal has designed a 'solar power tree' that takes up only four square feet of space and produces about three kilowatts (kW) of power - enough to power about five households. "The challenge was to come up with a design so as to generate more solar power in less land space," Sibnath Maity, chief scientist at the Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CMERI) in Durgapur, which developed the "tree", told IANS.
"For one MW of power, one needs five acres of land. To generate 10,000 MW we would need 50,000 acres. Now this poses a dilemma in states like West Bengal and Bihar," Maity said. The "solar tree" was inaugurated on Tuesday by union Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan during his maiden visit to the CMERI, which is a constituent of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
Maity said one conventional solar photovoltaic system of five kW requires 400 square feet of area.
The three kW solar power tree resembles a tree with branches at different tiers and could be squeezed on rooftops and highways with a space requirement of around four square feet.
"The branches hold up the 30 photovoltaic panels and the system costs around Rs.3 lakh with battery back-up," Maity said.
Two solar power trees would be installed at the office at Harsh Vardhan's bungalow according to the minister's request, said Maity.
Harsh Vardhan also inaugurated the 'Control Container' developed by the CMERI for lake and sea trial of 'Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV)'.
"I happily took part in live demonstration of the tractors developed by CSIR-CMERI by being literally in the driver's seat and actually driving one vehicle," the minister posted on his official Facebook page.
"I lauded the contribution of the institute in Green Revolution with its immensely successful technological achievements - the 'Swaraj Tractor' followed by the 'Sonalika' and the 'Krishi Shakti'. I also drove the 'e-Rickshaw' developed by the institute with great enthusiasm," Harsh Vardhan added.
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A 'Solar Tree' That Can Light 5 Houses
All India | Indo-Asian News Service | Updated: May 21, 2016 07:51 IST
The "solar tree" was inaugurated on Tuesday by union Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan.
KOLKATA: A CSIR laboratory in West Bengal has designed a 'solar power tree' that takes up only four square feet of space and produces about three kilowatts (kW) of power - enough to power about five households.
"The challenge was to come up with a design so as to generate more solar power in less land space," Sibnath Maity, chief scientist at the Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CMERI) in Durgapur, which developed the "tree", told IANS.
"For one MW of power, one needs five acres of land. To generate 10,000 MW we would need 50,000 acres. Now this poses a dilemma in states like West Bengal and Bihar," Mr Maity said.
The "solar tree" was inaugurated on Tuesday by union Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan during his maiden visit to the CMERI, which is a constituent of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
Mr Maity said one conventional solar photovoltaic system of five kW requires 400 square feet of area.
The three kW solar power tree resembles a tree with branches at different tiers and could be squeezed on rooftops and highways with a space requirement of around four square feet.
"The branches hold up the 30 photovoltaic panels and the system costs around Rs. 3 lakh with battery back-up," Mr Maity said.
Two solar power trees would be installed at the office at Harsh Vardhan's bungalow according to the minister's request, said Mr Maity.
Harsh Vardhan also inaugurated the 'Control Container' developed by the CMERI for lake and sea trial of 'Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV)'.
"I happily took part in live demonstration of the tractors developed by CSIR-CMERI by being literally in the driver's seat and actually driving one vehicle," the minister posted on his official Facebook page.
"I lauded the contribution of the institute in Green Revolution with its immensely successful technological achievements - the 'Swaraj Tractor' followed by the 'Sonalika' and the 'Krishi Shakti'. I also drove the 'e-Rickshaw' developed by the institute with great enthusiasm," Harsh Vardhan added.
"The challenge was to come up with a design so as to generate more solar power in less land space," Sibnath Maity, chief scientist at the Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CMERI) in Durgapur, which developed the "tree", told IANS.
"For one MW of power, one needs five acres of land. To generate 10,000 MW we would need 50,000 acres. Now this poses a dilemma in states like West Bengal and Bihar," Mr Maity said.
The "solar tree" was inaugurated on Tuesday by union Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan during his maiden visit to the CMERI, which is a constituent of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
Mr Maity said one conventional solar photovoltaic system of five kW requires 400 square feet of area.
The three kW solar power tree resembles a tree with branches at different tiers and could be squeezed on rooftops and highways with a space requirement of around four square feet.
"The branches hold up the 30 photovoltaic panels and the system costs around Rs. 3 lakh with battery back-up," Mr Maity said.
Two solar power trees would be installed at the office at Harsh Vardhan's bungalow according to the minister's request, said Mr Maity.
Harsh Vardhan also inaugurated the 'Control Container' developed by the CMERI for lake and sea trial of 'Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV)'.
"I happily took part in live demonstration of the tractors developed by CSIR-CMERI by being literally in the driver's seat and actually driving one vehicle," the minister posted on his official Facebook page.
"I lauded the contribution of the institute in Green Revolution with its immensely successful technological achievements - the 'Swaraj Tractor' followed by the 'Sonalika' and the 'Krishi Shakti'. I also drove the 'e-Rickshaw' developed by the institute with great enthusiasm," Harsh Vardhan added.