Solar Tree: A step towards Carbon Negative Power Generation and the Journey Ahead

The Journey of Solar Tree at CSIR-CMERI started in the year 2009, as an experiment to explore the potential of harnessing solar energy through pole-mounted PV panels. During that period a 1 kWp Solar Tree was developed which had PV modules mounted on a pole. The cost of this initial experimental set-up was around Rs 4.2 lakhs.

The First CSIR-CMERI developed Solar Tree

It was followed by another experiment to upgrade the existing simple set-up and increase the power generation capacity of the Solar Tree. Thus, 3 kWp Solar Tree was developed by CSIR-CMERI and it was inaugurated by Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Hon’ble Union Science & Technology Minister, in the year 2016. This gave a tremendous fillip to the technology of Solar Tree. The appreciation received from Dr. Harsh Vardhan on the Solar Tree technology set and consolidated the R&D future course for the next four years.

Inauguration of the 3 kWp Solar Tree by Dr. Harsh Vardhan in the presence of Prof. (Dr.) Harish Hirani

The need was felt to restructure and redesign the initial model into advanced versions of the Solar Tree to expand the horizon of the technology applications it could cater to, multiply its power generation capacities, to eliminate the shadow-zone so as to introduce agricultural applications of the technology, incorporate specially designed arms to increase exposure to the sun as well as improve reception of optimum angle of incidence of the Sun Rays and to revamp the aesthetic/beautification aspects of the structure to provide continuity with the beautiful natural landscape. The primary motivation behind restructuring and rethinking the existing Solar Tree technology was the multiplication of the power generation capacity coupled with a substantial reduction in the costs. In the year 2017, a Solar Park was installed at CSIR-CMERI to demonstrate various kinds of solar trees. The Park had an installed capacity of 34 kWp and was inaugurated in 2017 by Dr. Girish Sahni, the then DG, CSIR.

The Solar Park being inaugurated in the year 2017 by Dr. Girish Sahni, DG, CSIR in the presence of Prof. (Dr.) Harish Hirani

The Solar Tree technologies developed in the last four years may be categorized as follows to develop a better understanding of its primary beneficiary domain and the motivation behind its development:

Solar Tree Capacity	Application	Actual View	Motivation behind development
1 kWp	Small capacity may be utilized primary schools, individual houses, small office premises.		Experimental Model
3 kWp	Govt. official premises, Commercial malls, and national highways.		Expand Power Generation Capacity and multiply applications
4 kWp	Parks, Corporate office premises, minister’s bungalows etc.		To symbolize the National Flower, incorporate SMART surveillance features and enhance aesthetics
5.5 kWp	Inside pond for irrigation application		Application on Small Water Bodies and portrayal of Tri-Color
6.5 kWp	Agricultural application, charging station		Lower the cost and Expand the Capacity
8 kWp	Agricultural application, Minigrid application		To expand its usage for agricultural pumps with 7.5 Hp capacity
11.5 kWp	Agricultural application, Minigrid application		Lowest Cost to Power Generation Ratio and the largest land-usage to power generation ratio
0.6 kWp – 1.3 kWp (pole-mounted)	Existing street light for localized electrification		Utilize the existing Street Light Poles for Solar Power Generation through the innovative placement of panels.

Since ‘Change is the only constant’, CSIR-CMERI is ready with a diverse portfolio of deploying of the Solar Trees ranges from small water bodies, national/state highways, agricultural areas, corporate offices to technology parks for the integration of a wide array of applications such as IoT based features, i.e. round-the-clock CCTV surveillance. The Solar Tree technologies since 2016 have been specially curated and designed to deliver maximum impact, especially in times of tremendous Global Climate Stress, Inflated Import Bills owing to Fossil Fuels, and an unprecedented Policy-Push towards the development of Clean and Green Technologies. The recently developed Solar Trees have the goal of achieving the key technology factor which provides the impetus towards a Clean and Green Ecosphere.