Tropical Transformation -- With a Little Help From Nature's Cleanup Crew

THIS PROJECT PREDICTS AND PLANS FOR THE FUTURES OF THOUSANDS OF CITIES AND TOWNS WORLDWIDE. THIS WEEK, WE HIGHLIGHT THE FUTURE OF THE AFRICAN CITY OF ANTANANARIVO AS IT MOVES TOWARD 'GREEN UTOPIANISM' BY THE LATE 21st CENTURY.

Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar, will quietly become a model for sustainable urban development as this century moves forward. Mid-century, the city embraces solar energy on a large scale, but what sets it apart is the innovative way it keeps solar panels clean and efficient. Instead of relying solely on human labor or machines, Antananarivo uses nature itself — forest insects and woodland creatures — to maintain its solar infrastructure. This unique approach will transform the city into a super-green solar hub (and thereby setting it up to act as an inspiration for other tropical and subtropical cities).

Solar panels in Antananarivo maintained by forest insects

How Antananarivo Will Become a Solar City

The shift toward solar energy in Antananarivo will begin as part of Madagascar’s adoption of a national plan to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and improve energy access for all citizens. The city’s sunny climate makes solar power a natural choice. Over the mid-century decades, the government and private sector install thousands of solar panels on rooftops, public buildings, and tropical solar farms.

What makes Antananarivo’s solar city project stand out is the integration of local ecosystems into the maintenance process. Solar panels need regular cleaning to remove dust, microbes, and other debris that reduce their efficiency. Instead of using water or chemical cleaners, which can be costly and environmentally harmful, the city will partner with environmental scientists to harness the natural cleaning abilities of certain insects and woodland animals.

Nature’s Cleanup Crew: Forest Insects and Woodland Helpers

In the late 21st century, Antananarivo has many rapidly regrowing peri-urban forests and green spaces. This will provide a habitat for a vast array of specific insects that can feed upon the microbes and dust that accumulate on city surfaces like solar panels. These insects, along with some small woodland animals, act as a natural cleaning crew. They consume the organic matter that would otherwise block sunlight and reduce energy output.

This method has several benefits:

• It will be 'Eco-friendly': No chemicals or water are needed, preserving local water resources and avoiding pollution.

• It will be 'Cost-effective': Reduces maintenance costs compared to manual cleaning or automated systems.

• It will be 'Sustainable': Supports local biodiversity by encouraging healthy insect populations.

• It will be 'Efficient': Keeps solar panels cleaner for longer periods, improving energy generation.