Visitors to the Noel Lloyd Positive Action Movement Park in Road Town will soon be able to sit in the shade of a Solar Tree and charge their phones with power from the sun. In on-going efforts to demonstrate that “now” is the time for BVI alternative energy, local non-profits Green VI and the Rotaract Club of Tortola have installed the eye-catching “OPTree” on Saturday, July 25th.
An official ribbon-cutting ceremony was also held. Donated to Green VI by the Brazilian company, Sunew – a world leader in Organic Photovoltaics and a “Best For The World” environmental honoree – the OPTree converts sunlight into electricity that can charge cell phones and power lights, media devices and more. The tree “stands alone” – not requiring connection to any other power system. It generates clean energy through “leaves” made with OPV film.
The new solar tree works perfectly as a resting place, a meeting point and a way for people to experience technologies that reduce our Carbon Footprint. Sunew’s OPV film is a solar energy technology that can also be applied to buildings, vehicles, furniture and more.
The OPTree installation and maintenance is another Green VI Partnership Project, with the Rotaract Club of Tortola, the Ministry of Transportation, Wickhams Cay Development Authority, the City Manager’s Office and the Ports Authority all lending their support. Additional sponsors include Rotary Club of Tortola, Creque’s Engineering Services, ATEC BVI, Abbi E. Christopher and David Norris.
Along with outreach education, GreenVI’s promotion of alternative energy over the years includes a 2012 petition to legalize renewables in the BVI, a demonstration of biofuel uses at its Glass Studio, operation of electric cars on Tortola and Virgin Gorda, and the installation of 30 solar panels at the Youth Empowerment Programme (YEP). The YEP solar power plan calls for interconnection to BVI Electricity’s grid which, when complete, will be a huge step forward in providing the Territory’s energy needs through the abundant, natural forces of sun and wind.
The OPTree installed at the Noel Lloyd Park is the first of its kind in the Caribbean.