Cisco and Morgan Solar Launch Solar-Powered Office Spaces Initiative

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Cisco and Morgan Solar, a Toronto-based company specializing in solar energy solutions for urban environments, have teamed up for a pilot project aimed at powering collaboration and meeting spaces with solar energy.

The pilot, initiated at Cisco’s Toronto Innovation Centre, utilizes Morgan Solar’s Energy Blinds to capture solar energy in a direct current (DC) microgrid. This energy is then distributed within the room using Cisco’s Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) switch. Integration with Cisco’s Webex platform helps optimize energy generation and minimize consumption by detecting periods of room inactivity.

Wayne Cuervo, Director of Cisco Canada’s Digital Impact Office, emphasized the importance of creative sustainability solutions. The collaboration between Cisco and Morgan Solar aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from traditional energy sources, offering businesses new avenues towards sustainability.

Initial results demonstrate the production of up to 50W of renewable energy per window, sufficient to power the room’s equipment. Excess energy is stored for later use or during peak demand periods when grid energy may be costlier. Scaling this solution across office spaces could enhance energy efficiency and on-site generation compared to rooftop solar installations alone.

The Cisco-Morgan Solar initiative reflects innovative thinking on technology’s role in advancing national sustainability objectives. As nations seek practical solutions to combat climate change, such collaborations demonstrate how technology can drive growth and environmental stewardship on a global scale.