World Economic Forum informs about new biosolar leaves which might look like solar panels, but instead of generating electricity, these structures are teeming with microscopic plant life that can purify the surrounding air and produce nutritious ingredients for food. They can be installed on buildings or land.
The panels use energy from sunlight, water and carbon dioxide to make the food they need to live and grow. In the process of photosynthesis, they release oxygen into the air.
The technology’s developer, British start-up Arborea, claims that biosolar leaves grown on panels taking up the surface area of a single tree can clean the air at the same rate as 100 trees.
They also produce organic biomass which can be made into ingredients for sustainable, plant-based food products.