Leaf-like solar panels garb houseplant gadget

A team of Japanese boffins has invented leaf-thin solar panels that turn the idea of a "power plant" into a literal proposition. From Nikkei's Tech-On supplement:

A leaf-like module featuring bright green solar cells was developed by National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Mitsubishi Corp and Tokki Corp. The organic thin-film solar cell consists of a plastic substrate, phthalocyanine layer, fullerene layer and so forth. And eight 7.5cm2 solar cells connected in series constitute about 60cm2 solar cell module.

At some point in our lifetimes, we will witness the creation of a 1km high wind turbine in the shape of a palm tree.

AIST Makes Tree With Solar-cell Leaves [Nikkei]
Maybe it'll produce enough guff to power a single USB port.

Artificial Houseplant doubles as super efficient solar cell [DVICE]

[#1 posted by w000t , June 4, 2008 11:11 AM]

"At some point in our lifetimes, we will witness the creation of a 1km high wind turbine in the shape of a palm tree."

Or at least a nuclear cooling tower shaped like a 100m-tall toilet.