Power Up That Tree

Some homeowners find solar panels on the roof less than beautiful. Wouldn't it be nice, then, if you could get your renewable energy from something with greater aesthetic appeal? U.K.-based company SolarBotanic is designing artificial trees, shrubs, and flowers with "nanoleaves" that can harvest energy from the sun's heat and light, the leaves' movement, even the pressure of falling raindrops. SolarBotanic's chief visualization officer, Alex van der Beek, says that once the trees are fully developed, they could be installed in backyards for home energy use or even planted along highways to help power electric and hydrogen vehicles. But don't expect to create a lush, solar garden anytime soon -- unfortunately the pilot trees won't be ready for another year, with commercial production even farther down the road.