Down the road from the offices of Bosch Solar Energy, Spotlight Solar and Southern Energy Management, people are stopping to look at a remarkable new solar installation on the roof of Discovery Place. Two 20-foot, brightly colored solar trees stand tall on the parking lot rooftop of the science museum. The energy produced from Bosch’s German-engineered high performance photovoltaic modules will be used to power an electric vehicle charging station and also offset usage in the nearby education building. Importantly, the installation’s prominent downtown location will raise awareness and understanding of solar for hundreds of thousands of residents of Charlotte, NC.

 “We are pleased to be able to support the Discovery Place’s efforts to educate people about the importance of conserving energy and investing in renewable technology,” said Eric Daniels, Regional President, Solar Energy North America, Robert Bosch LLC. “This installation uses a novel approach to build appreciation for solar energy, and also demonstrates that it can look great in our architectural landscape.”

 “We chose a bold and unconventional-looking system that will intrigue people and make a conspicuous statement about the developing landscape of renewable energy,” said John Mackay, president and CEO of Discovery Place, Inc. “Our hope is that visitors will learn more about how solar energy fits into a portfolio of different sustainable energy sources.”

As property owners implement solar systems to save on energy costs, and benefit the environment, they also appreciate the distinction solar can provide the property and the city. Craig Merrigan, CEO of Spotlight Solar, the company that designed and manufactured the trees, said that “the ultimate goal of the project is to make solar more visible, and to increase the number of visitors to Discovery Place, where they can learn about renewable energy. This striking installation shows Discovery Place’s innovative character, and builds intrigue for solar.”

 “We chose a bold and unconventional-looking system that will intrigue people and make a conspicuous statement about the developing landscape of renewable energy,” said John Mackay, president and CEO of Discovery Place, Inc. “Our hope is that visitors will learn more about how solar energy fits into a portfolio of different sustainable energy sources.”