A new kind of pollution-fighting device has appeared in Bhopal, and it does not look like a tree at all. India’s first “algae tree”, a solar-powered unit that captures carbon dioxide using living algae, has been installed in the city as part of an effort to clean the air in crowded urban spaces.
The unit was set up at Swami Vivekananda Park on May 1 and inaugurated by Madhya Pradesh minister Vishwas Sarang. It is one of the headline projects under the Bhopal Smart City programme.
How the algae tree works
The device was built by Mushroom World Group and stands about three metres tall. Instead of leaves, it uses a photo-bioreactor system, a tank of algae that absorbs carbon dioxide and releases oxygen as the algae grow.
According to the developers, a single unit can pull around 1.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide out of the air every year. The whole system runs on solar power, so it does not draw electricity from the grid.
The project took roughly two years to develop and involved more than 50 experts.
As effective as 25 trees
Officials say one algae tree unit can absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen at a rate comparable to 25 full-grown trees. The unit is also reported to cut PM2.5 particles, the fine dust most harmful to human lungs, by 45 to 55 per cent within a 15-metre radius.
The design has a specific purpose. It is meant for places where planting real trees is hard, such as busy roadsides, traffic junctions and paved public squares. In those spots there is rarely enough soil or space for a tree to grow.
An official involved with the project explained that the algae tree is intended to work alongside natural trees rather than take their place. The idea is to use it as a support system in the most congested parts of a city, where green cover is thin and pollution is high.
Why this matters
Many Indian cities are dealing with the same set of problems at once: rising temperatures, poor air quality and shrinking green space. Fine particles known as PM2.5 and PM10 remain the main pollutants in urban air, driven by heavy traffic, construction dust and seasonal weather.
Planting more trees helps, but trees need years to mature and a lot of room to grow. A compact, solar-powered device that can be placed on a roadside offers a faster option for the worst pollution hotspots.
A talking point for students
The algae tree is also a useful example for anyone studying science, climate or urban planning. It brings together several ideas at once: photosynthesis, carbon capture, renewable energy and smart city design. Watching how well the Bhopal unit performs over the next year will show whether algae-based devices can become a regular feature of city streets, in India and beyond.
Source: https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/madhya-pradesh/bhopal-installs-indias-1st-algae-tree-to-combat-air-pollution/
