Eco Factor: Device fabricated to produce and store renewable energy and supply free electricity to residential homes.
The Solar Tree by industrial designer Matthew Seibert is an artificial tree that has been fabricated to withstand all weather conditions, and is made from molded fiber-reinforced plastic and tempered stainless steel. The overall height of the tree spans 50-75 feet, with greater efficiency as it reaches further toward direct sunlight and higher velocity winds.
The Solar Tree produces wind and solar power and stores it in a battery pack placed at the bottom of the tree. The stored energy is monitored by an internal meter, and can be manually released for household consumption at the user’s discretion. The energy stored in the battery is transformed into an electric current to be passed through a home’s wiring system. The user can save on utility bills while contributing to a more sustainable lifestyle.
The fronds of the tree are connected to a vertical-axis wind turbine. Each frond has a grouping of high-efficiency photovoltaic solar cells, which transmits energy down the tree’s core. The solar cells are connected from the upper turbine to the trunk through wireless energy transfer. This is made possible by way of induction. The upper trunk also bears a large grouping of solar cells around its circumference.
The wind turbine rotates due to a clever alignment of fronds and lightweight design. The palm leaves are arranged to capture all directions of wind while still resembling a natural palm tree.
Thanks: [Matthew Seibert]
