Power plants to protect forests

A voltage difference exits between a tree and the ground. Researchers have found that the metabolism of a tree works to maintain the voltage difference, whether it's day or night, rain or shine all year round.

Up to two volts is available, enough to trickle-charge a battery or power a wireless transmitter.

Tree-power will be helping to collect improved local climate data that is essential for computerised fire modelling.
The United States Forest Service is about to field test a tree-powered wireless network.

It looks like being an alternative to installing intrusive solar panels in a forest.

The bio-energy source may have other applications too, such as border security and managing agriculture.

Could this lead to self-illuminated Christmas trees or even radio amateurs tapping in it for QRP operation.

Anyone pine for the day that this kind of energy becomes poplar?

Jim Linton VK3PC

Wireless Institute of Australia