Solar trees!

South Korean researchers are exploring “solar trees” as a way to expand renewable energy without clearing forests for conventional solar farms. Unlike standard ground-mounted photovoltaic systems, solar trees place panels on elevated, branching structures that resemble the shape of a tree. This vertical design uses much less ground space and allows much of the vegetation beneath and around the structures to remain intact. A 2025 study by Dan-Bi Um of the Korea Maritime Institute examined how solar trees could work in a coastal forest in South Korea. Using three-dimensional geospatial simulations and standardized test conditions, the research compared linearly arranged solar trees with conventional fixed solar panels. The simulations found that solar-tree installations could preserve about 99% of existing forest cover while providing comparable, and under the modeled configuration superior, installed power capacity. By contrast, achieving equivalent capacity with conventional panels at the studied site would require removing roughly 98% of the forest cover. The idea matters because forests are more than unused land. They store carbon, support biodiversity, stabilize soil and regulate water. Clearing trees to install renewable-energy infrastructure can therefore create environmental trade-offs, including lost carbon storage and greater erosion risks. However, solar trees are not yet a universal replacement for conventional solar farms. Their taller structures can cost more to build, and the 2025 findings are based largely on modeling rather than widespread commercial deployment. Still, the research suggests that carefully designed solar trees could help land-constrained countries produce clean electricity while keeping valuable forest ecosystems standing.