People in Dubai are going to get free internet can charge their mobiles at different locations for free thanks to ‘Smart Palms’ – artificial palm trees that give off energy in the evening.
Smart Palms designed these hotspots in the form of Palm trees to convey the important cultural identity of the date palm from being a plant that provided shelter, building materials, shade and sustenance. The 6 foot high artificial palm trees have a leaf span of 18 square meters, not only provides shelter from the tropical sun, but also stores the energy from the sun and gives off the energy after sun down.
The leaves are equipped with matrices of photovoltaic modules that absorb the sunlight. The energy can be used to charge any device and according to the company, it will charge your phone 2 and half times faster than your home charger.
The palms are a combination of fibre-reinforced plastic and concrete and are able to withstand Dubai’s tropical desert climate. The Smart Palms are also equipped to provide free Wi-Fi access to any device within a range of 100 meters. The palms are fitted with a screen that provides information about Dubai, weather forecasts, news and can be used for public messages, government notices and advertisements.
Understandably, they are also fitted with security cameras. Seating areas are available next to each palm for resting and relaxation during the battery-recharging process, as well as for internet browsing via the Wi-Fi access
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority announced it was increasing it use of renewable energy mix from 5 per cent to 15 per cent by 2030. These Smart Palms are one of the many projects planned by the Dubai Government to reduce its carbon footprint. Smart Palms have announced that they will install these Solar Palms in 103 locations around Dubai. For now, the company has set up two – one on Surf Beach and another in a park near the waterfront. More of the palms are expected to be installed at Al Mamzar Park, Dubai Creek Park and Al Barsha Pond Park. The cost of using the Palms have not been decided yet, but hopefully they will not be too expensive. Perfect for the night owls, these Palm Trees take sustainable energy sources to a whole new level.