Ross Lovegrove Unveils Spectacular Solar Tree in London For Clerkenwell Design Week

This incredible Solar Tree by designer <a href="http://www.rosslovegrove.com/">Ross Lovegrove</a> was unveiled last weekend in London as part of <a href="http://clerkenwelldesignweek.com/">Clerkenwell Design Week</a>. By absorbing the sun's rays, the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/6-brilliant-solar-powered-art-projects-to-brighten-your-day/">solar sculpture</a> brings together LED lighting and solar panels and illuminates the surrounding St. John's Square at night. To contrast the typical greyness of the urban environment, Lovegrove brought <a href="http://inhabitat.com/ross-lovegrove-solar-trees-take-to-the-streets-of-vienna/">the design he originally created in Vienna in 2007</a> to the streets of the UK.

The tree-inspired form consists of six leaf-style solar panels on top of 20 "stems".

It is also made up of four big lights and 10 grass-like stalks.

The design is topped with LED lights which come on automatically when it gets dark.

The solar tree can absorb enough power to glow for three days.

It can also feed back energy once connected to the grid.

The solar tree will remain rooted to its spot over the course of the Olympics through September 2012.

The tree will stay in the same place in the square.

Close view of the panels at the top of the tree.