Two solar trees that generate green energy are being installed in Chisinau
11 July 2019
- Two solar trees that generate photovoltaic electricity are being installed in the capital city of Moldova. The construction works are in progress, and Chisinau people will soon benefit from "smart tree services". They will be able to charge up for free their mobile devices, computers, electric bicycles; have access to the Internet and relax. In the evenings, the trees will light up the surroundings due to the stored sun energy during the day. The solar trees will be under 24-hour video surveillance. The initiative belongs to the United Nations Development Programme and is being implemented in partnership with the Chisinau City Hall.
“The installation of these solar trees is part of a regional project of the United Nations Development Programme which includes the capitals of Serbia, Tajikistan, Georgia and the Republic of Moldova. We are glad to bring innovation to Chisinau,” mentioned Alexandru Rotaru, project manager, “Moldova Sustainable Green Cities”.
The Chisinau City Hall is a partner of the initiative, which will ensure the landscaping of the space hosting the solar trees, including the paving of the ground. The solar trees are installed on the Grigore Vieru and Mircea cel Batran avenues. The locations were proposed and validated by inhabitants from Chisinau, following several selection stages, being subsequently approved by the Chisinau City Hall. “I am delighted that innovative technologies reach the Ciocana sector, the youngest sector in the city, which is open to innovations. I want to create an avenue of innovations in the sector I administer,” noted Sinilga Scolnic, praetor of Ciocana sector.
The design of the solar tree has the potential to become a model of ecological technology. The vertical and cascade placement of photovoltaic leaves reduces the area of land needed to install photovoltaic panels in their classical form.
“Although Chisinau has infrastructure issues and services to solve, it does not mean we have to stop the innovations in the city. The solar trees are not only a beautiful urban furniture, they make people's lives more comfortable, and last but not least, promote eco-friendly technologies,” said Nicolae Balaur, praetor of Riscani sector.
The solar trees are equipped with 6 USB terminals for charging up the mobile devices, 6 sockets of 230 V for charging up the laptops and electric bicycles. They have embedded 18 photovoltaic modules with a total installed power of 810 W and provide night-time decorative lighting at a capacity of 18 W. The technology will provide an annual reduction of more than 700 kg of CO2.
The initiative is implemented by the innovatory laboratories of the United Nations Development Programme: Green City Lab and MiLab. The Wi-Fi connection is provided by Starnet, and the video surveillance is provided by Orasul Protejat.
UN entities involved in this initiative
Goals we are supporting through this initiative
