Work began today preparing the Solar Tree, located at the Tourism London Welcome Centre on Wellington Road South, to be temporarily removed for lifecycle maintenance.
The tree will be transferred this week to an offsite contractor’s facility where the structure will be disassembled, and a complete refurbishment of the frame will take place.
“The Solar Tree is a visual landmark for visitors to the city,” says John Devito, Manager, Facilities Design and Construction. “Regular lifecycle maintenance helps ensure prominent city features like the Solar Tree can be enjoyed by the community for years to come.”
Believed to be the tallest solar tree in the world at 7 metres (23 feet), its placement for the past decade at Tourism London has provided the public with an opportunity to learn more about clean, renewable energy. The tree mimics the image of the City of London logo with 27 ‘leaves’, each outfitted with a solar panel.
Since being installed, the Solar Tree has generated more than $55,000 in revenue for Tourism London from the electricity it produces. It has also helped reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about nine tonnes, or the equivalent of over 90 mature trees.
The refurbished tree is expected to be returned to the Welcome Centre in the fall of 2021.