When one thinks of a solar installation, permanence or at least semi-permanence comes to mind. When you design and install a solar system, it’s there for the long haul. But what if you want to use solar energy to power a temporary event space or mobile business like, say, a Christmas tree lot?

Stellar Solar, a San Diego County solar PV installer, is making exactly that happen with their Mobile Solar Station.

A rolling solar PV station, the Stellar Mobile Solar Station is hauled on a flatbed truck to local events where it provides temporary solar energy. This month, the Stellar Solar mobile power station is powering Purdy Tree Farms annual Christmas tree lot at the Delmar Fairgrounds in San Diego.

“One of the challenges with solar is that it hides up on rooftops and away from view,” said Michael Powers, vice president of marketing and co-owner of Stellar Solar. “The Mobile Solar Station is a way of bringing solar to the people, so they can touch it and see how it works.”

With ten 222-watt solar panels, the mobile solar power station can provide 6000 watts of peak power with batteries and 25,000 watts-per-hour fully charged. Stellar Solar notes the station is great for educational events at schools to showcase the power of solar, for concerts and outdoor parties, farmer’s markets, retail demonstrations, company picnics, and more.

Depending on the type of event, the weather, and the event’s energy consumption, the Mobile Solar Station could power the entire event or a portion of it.

“When we use the Solar Station at flea or farmer’s markets, we can run a row of booths off it, a lot of lights, and even a sound system,” said Powers. “On a bright, sunny day, it can go for quite awhile. At Purdy Tree Farm, the Solar Station runs the big tent that houses the trees—there are lights running all day in there.”

Stellar Solar notes the green marketing opportunities of the Mobile Solar Station are a huge bonus.

“It’s good exposure for us and good exposure for the event,” said Powers. “It’s primarily a marketing vehicle for events that want to incorporate renewable energy and be known for that.”

Image courtesy of Stellar Solar.