Envision Solar International, Inc., a leading solar planner, architect and inventor designing and deploying clean energy systems globally, announces the world's first solar parking array with fully integrated sun tracking ability through its EnvisionTrak(TM) technology.
Envision Solar's Solar Tree(R) with EnvisionTrak(TM) is a parking lot solar array to incorporate solar tracking into the primary structure of its canopy. The dual-axis tracking Solar Tree has been awarded a patent by the U.S. Patent and Trademark office.
By tracking the movement of the sun throughout the day, a Solar Tree with EnvisionTrak can produce a significant increase in energy output over traditional static solar arrays, which generate maximum output only when the sun is at its peak, generally between noon and 3 p.m.
EnvisionTrak's first installation is part of an Axion Power Cube(TM) installation project, with funding recently approved by the state of Pennsylvania's Solar Energy Program, which will analyze the amount of solar energy that can be generated by Envision's Solar Trees and then stored in Axion Power's lead carbon PbC(TM) batteries. A Solar Tree with EnvisionTrak will deliver solar energy during the day with its output compared to that of an adjacent fixed Solar Tree. The energy will then be released to demonstrate how it can be delivered back to the grid during peak usage times.
"EnvisionTrak overcomes one of the biggest objections to fixed solar PV installations by maximizing the amount of energy that can be delivered during daylight hours," said Bob Noble, CEO of Envision Solar. "By offering the first dual-axis tracking parking lot solar array, we can enable organizations to significantly increase the amount of clean energy that they produce for very little additional cost."
"By partnering with Axion to provide an efficient, high-capacity energy storage solution, Envision Solar can expand the benefits of solar energy even further. Axion's PbC batteries extend the capabilities of the Solar Tree by enabling it to charge a battery during the day and continue to generate power at night. The combination of these two innovations will drastically impact the capabilities of the SolarTree," continued Noble.
"EnvisionTrak is a major leap forward in clean energy. By extending the high generation period beyond the midday hours, we can significantly increase the amount of energy transferred to our batteries," said Tom Granville, CEO of Axion Power International, Inc. "This provides an even greater opportunity to send energy back into the grid during peak demand hours. By partnering with Envision Solar on this project, we're able to push the boundaries of the total amount of energy that a solar array can generate and discharge in a day. This will allow us to really showcase the interplay between storage and solar and its impact on next generation clean energy storage and production. We look forward to working with our strategic partner as they continue to advance EnvisionTrak, Life Village(TM) and their other solar projects."
