Biodiversity – Thomas Reddall High School

Our solution for the growing biodiversity problem involves stopping our reliance on fossil fuels. Last summer, 24% of koala populations died due to bushfires (about 5000). The bushfires were a result of climate change. Installing solar panels onto trees will allow solar power to be harnessed, whilst also offering protection for koalas. 12.35 million acres of land burnt down in the bushfires, if that was covered in solar panels (about 2.8 acres needed to produce 1GWh of energy), there would be about 440714.3 GWh produced per year. The more renewable energy used, the less greenhouse gases released, which means that climate change is less of a threat.

To protect the panels from fire or hail, a polytetrafluoroethylene covering would be used to more over the panels. It would cost about $3594 per panel. One problem was narrowing down our focus for how to tackle this problem as there were multiple options. Another issue was finding out how to make the panels fire-proof, as well as, non-damaging to the environment and money conscious. We needed the panels to be covered in something that protects them but be undamaging and inexpensive. As hail and bushfires are unavoidable, our panels needed to be protected, but with something that would not bar the sunlight. A moving PTFE window was decided on.

Elyse, Cheryl, Jasmin