The growth of renewables is generating an obvious paradox: land use. In the fight to produce clean energy, natural spaces are being taken advantage of that they want to keep intact, as is the case of Jaén. However, a recent study suggests an alternative as simple as ingenious: solar trees.
A megavatio without deforestation. Research, Published in Scientific Reports and led by DAN-BI UM of the Maritime Institute of Korea, modeled through geospatial simulations in 3D how these structures would behave in a coastal forest of the County of Geoseong, in South Korea.
The chosen scenario was not hypothetical. In this area there has been a conventional solar plant since 2014 that covers 22,856 m² and houses 4,347 230 W flat panels, with a capacity of 1 MW. However, the environmental cost paid a high price: the elimination of 98% of forest coverage.
Instead, simulation with solar trees threw a radically different panorama. To reach the same power megavatio, 87 trees with 330 W panels are enough, or just 63 trees with 450 W panels, preserving up to 99% of the forest.
Clean energy without losing forests. As we have pointed out in Xatakathe expansion of solar energy usually causes conflicts between renewable energy objectives and the preservation of ecosystems. In fact, As detailed by the study, South Korea is an illustrative example: deforestation linked to solar plants went from 529 hectares in 2016 to 2,443 in 2018.
In this way, solar trees offer a dual response: generating electricity while forests continue to function as carbon sinks, biodiverse habitats and natural barriers against erosion. According to UM, this proposal is aligned with international commitments such as Glasgow’s declaration on forests and the Global Renewable Pact of the COP28, which proposes to triple the renewable capacity to 2030 without destroying ecosystems.
How are trees? Far from being a metaphor, these structures imitate the shape of a real tree. The first prototype was installed in 2017 in front of the National Assembly in Seoul, designed by Hanwha Q Cells. As for structure, it measures 4.8 meters high and 4.1 wide and its steel branches hold 35 solar panels. In total, each tree reaches a capacity of 11.5 kW (with modules of 330 W) or 15.8 kW (with 450 W panels), enough to supply several homes.
In the simulation, the trees arranged at the edges of the land and along paths, separated every 20 meters. The design not only raises solar collection, it also allows light to reach the undergrowth and retain the original vegetation. In addition, the study adds an interesting nuance: solar trees could be integrated into spaces for social use. In urban parks or forest paths, they would also serve to feed night lighting with LED, offer shadow to walkers or even become fauna and flora observation points.
Obstacles along the way. At the moment, technology is still incipient. According to a 2022 studythe so-called Forest-Thotovoltaic has higher construction costs than flat panels, since it requires reinforced support structures. However, in Korea – one of the countries with the most expensive ground in the world – to reduce the territorial footprint may be more advantageous in the long term. The problem is that there are still no international standards to certify the resistance of these structures to the wind or snow, or large manufacturers producing solar trees at an industrial scale. Today they are, above all, prototypes or pilot facilities.
Beyond Korea. Although the study focused on South Korea, UM argues that the methodology is applicable in other countries that seek to expand renewables without sacrificing forests. In addition, the concept is related to other emerging trends such as agrevoltaic: use solar energy and at the same time maintain productive activities under panels.
In Korea, for example, variants have already been tested in mountainous areas where mountain garlic is grown under solar trees installed per 100 meters. And in Europe, agrevoltaic begins to gain ground with vineyards and tomato garden that take advantage of the shadow of the panels to improve the quality and resilience of the crops.
Symbolic solution or real revolution? The study offers the first rigorous quantitative comparison between a flat solar park and an installation of solar trees in the same land. Its results are clear: the same electricity can occur with a much lower environmental impact.
As the investigation has concludedsolar trees represent “a promising dual solution” at a time when humanity seems forced to choose between clean energy and forests. Perhaps, with innovations like this, we no longer have to give up either.
Image | Freepik
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