UK’s car parks and shopping centres may soon boast a fusion of technology and nature, with the installation of seven-meter tall solar panel-clad metal trees. The innovative structures, designed by British startup SolarBotanic Trees, aim to capture solar energy in their nano photovoltaic “leaves” to charge electric vehicles (EVs).
SolarBotanic Trees have recently reached a milestone with the completion of a prototype at half-scale. The company is now focusing on the creation and testing of a full-scale version, with plans to commence commercial production by the end of the year.
According to a forecast by ZapMap, an EV mapping service, the UK is expected to have over 40,000 public EV charging points by April 2023, a significant increase of 37% from 2022. However, the UK Climate Change Committee projects a need for approximately 325,000 charging points by 2032 to cater to the increasing EV charging requirements.
Chris Shelley, CEO of SolarBotanic Trees, expressed concerns about the current inadequacy of the EV charging infrastructure in the UK. Despite this, the company has received its first order of 200 solar trees from Raw Charging Group, a supplier of EV charging infrastructure. The group intends to incorporate these trees into its charging site network across the UK and Europe.
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Shelley highlighted that many companies are selling solar-powered carports resembling uninspiring bus shelters, merely outfitted with solar panels. In contrast, he envisions solar trees similar to those gracing Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay and Expo 2020 Dubai’s Sustainability Pavilion, offering an optimal blend of aesthetic and practicality.
Although the cost of SolarBotanic Trees, ranging between Rs. 6.2 million to Rs 8.6 million, surpasses that of traditional solar panels, the company asserts that these solar trees will be capable of powering several charging points. Furthermore, these points will provide charging speeds superior to those of standard charging points, positioning the solar trees as a forward-thinking investment for the future of EV charging infrastructure.
