“Leaves are really just solar panels for trees”

The process of plant photosynthesis has been compared to a building’s solar panels. “Leaves are the solar panels of plants” was posted on Twitter on July 8, 2010. “Trees have solar panels. They are called leaves” was posted on Twitter on December 7, 2010.
   
“Leaves are like solar panels for plants and trees” was posted on Reddit—Shower Thoughts on March 22, 2017.
 
   
Wikipedia: Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis is a process used by plants and other organisms to convert light energy into chemical energy that can later be released to fuel the organisms’ activities (energy transformation). This chemical energy is stored in carbohydrate molecules, such as sugars, which are synthesized from carbon dioxide and water – hence the name photosynthesis, from the Greek φῶς, phōs, “light”, and σύνθεσις, synthesis, “putting together”. In most cases, oxygen is also released as a waste product. Most plants, most algae, and cyanobacteria perform photosynthesis; such organisms are called photoautotrophs. Photosynthesis is largely responsible for producing and maintaining the oxygen content of the Earth’s atmosphere, and supplies all of the organic compounds and most of the energy necessary for life on Earth.
     
Twitter 
Rabid Hussein Badger‏
@rabidbadger
Replying to @amtrekker
@amtrekker @drkiki Dude. Leaves are the solar panels of plants.
7:57 PM - 8 Jul 2010
 
Twitter
Do Lectures‏
@DoLectures
Trees have solar panels. They are called leaves.
1:29 PM - 7 Dec 2010
     
Twitter
Braden Field‏
@bradenfield
trees have solar panels.  they’re called leaves.
2:45 PM - 2 Feb 2011
 
Twitter
Sandy Rakowitz‏
@sandyrakowitz
“Leaves are the solar panels of trees…” http://www.amnh.org/nationalcenter/youngnaturalistawards/2011/aidan.html …
8:54 AM - 21 Aug 2011
 
Twitter
Thayne‏
@ThayneMC
Trees come out of the air and leaves are solar panels!!! #teacherlady #scaresme
12:14 PM - 1 Feb 2013
 
Twitter
cheeks‏
@MikeDaCheeko
Leaves are like solar panels for trees
4:17 PM - 19 Aug 2013
   
Reddit—Shower Thoughts
Trees invented solar panels long before we did. Leaves catch the Sun’s energy just like modern solar panels.
submitted June 2, 2016 by [deleted]
   
Reddit—Shower Thoughts
Leaves are like solar panels for plants and trees
submitted March 22, 2017 by Uppuli
 
Twitter
Shower Thoughts‏
@TheWeirdWorld
If you think about it, solar panels are man-made leaves.
11:31 PM - 14 Aug 2017
 
Reddit—Shower Thoughts
Leaves are solar panels for plants.
submitted September 3, 2017 by buddy_burgers
 
Reddit—Shower Thoughts
Leaves are really just solar panels for trees
submitted October 3, 2017 by flojo-mojo