Valencia City Council will "plant" tree-shaped metal structures, which will use wind and solar energy to supply public schools and city council facilities in parks and draw the attention of citizens to contribute to the energy transition and the fight against climate change.
The Councilor for Climate Emergency and Energy Transition of Valencia, Alejandro Ramón, explained that within the framework of this initiative, with an amount of 350,000 euros, it is also planned to install an energy pavement in children's areas, so that children generate energy and with your own jumps for illuminating the ground.
This is a project proposed by the council itself to the participatory budgets of this year and "was placed in the top 5 of the most voted", according to Ramón, who have not announced the installation dates because in some cases require a lot of processing, so the deadlines vary.
Wind trees are branched metal structures that, instead of ending in blades, do so in small turbines. Unlike large wind turbines that roll on a horizontal axis, do so vertically, and take advantage of the wind to generate Energy.
In fact, the councilor has explained that they had to be placed in areas of wind currents such as the beachfront, busy spaces to "sensitize the population that there are alternatives to generate renewable energy".
With these premises, the first two wind trees will be located on the Pinedo promenade to supply the municipal Escoleta, and on the Malvarrosa beach promenade near the school Malva-rosa.
Solar trees are also metallic structures but the leaves are small solar panels and are going to be located in the parks of Viveros, Oeste and Benicalap, in order to also "supply" nearby municipal facilities and raise awareness about the use of energy renewable.
The energetic pavements are tiles, which have been called "sambori" as the popular game, which will be installed in busy squares and with neighborhood life like Benimaclet or Patraix, and will have underneath some systems that with pressure generate a small electrical charge which will automatically illuminate the LEDs it includes.
"When the children jump on them they will light up and that will get their attention and that of their parents", he explained. In this case the energy that is produced is to supply the children's game itself.
To raise awareness
According to the councilor, these trees and the pavement are like a "bait" to get the attention of the citizens, since next to them plates will be installed in which it will be informed that the City Council works to produce alternative energies and reverse climate change, so they will invite to contribute to participate.
It will also be informed that there is an energy office where citizens can be informed about how they can contribute to this path towards the energy transition.
"The energy transition will be made if the city council, neighborhood entities, civil society and individuals all go with a common strategy towards that goal because the City Council alone does not have capacity if society is not also involved", he concluded.
Source: Valencia plaza
Photo: Jorge Franganillo
