Smartflower Solar Systems Bloom at Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology

August 11, 2020

They may look like an art installation, but the two Smartflowers installed at Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology’s Boston campus are actually cutting-edge solar technology.

Shaped like sunflowers, the Smartflower systems open to display their “petals” in the sun, close in the dark and high winds, and automatically track the sun throughout the day. Because of their unique design, the systems generate up to 40 percent more energy than traditional solar panels.

The new solar systems serve as a practical learning lab for Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology (BFIT) students, an educational tool for the community, and will reduce the college’s conventional energy consumption.

The installation was made possible through a collaboration with Smartflower, a clean energy company owned by Boston-based Energy Management Inc. Under the agreement, Smartflower provided the two systems on loan to BFIT, along with a scholarship for students. In return, BFIT will incorporate the technology into the curriculum of the college, showcasing another example in which BFIT designs its curriculum around the needs of industry partners.

“We are excited to launch this collaboration that will result in lower energy costs for BFIT and a hands-on educational opportunity for our students,” said BFIT Chief of Staff Aisha Francis, Ph.D. “This project exemplifies the sort of partnerships that help make the BFIT educational experience valuable to both our students and the community.”

Smartflower CEO Jim Gordon said the systems will provide benefits not just to BFIT, but also to the City of Boston and far beyond. With their location on the Campus Green at the highly visible corner of Berkeley and Tremont Streets, Gordon said the Smartflowers will serve as a showcase for renewable energy technology.

“The installation of the Smartflowers at BFIT is designed to not only lower energy costs and reduce the school’s carbon footprint but will educate and inspire students to pursue careers in the renewable energy industry,” Gordon said. “With Boston at risk to the impacts of climate change, the Smartflower installations will also show how the community has embraced a path to a better energy and environmental future.”

Green Energy Teaching Tool

BFIT offers certificate, associate’s degree and bachelor’s degree programs that prepare students for good-paying jobs in high-demand technology fields, including electrical engineering and computer technology.

The study of sustainable energy sources is already built into the curriculum for the college’s electronics and engineering programs, and the activation of the Smartflowers will add to the hands-on approach of providing real-world experience to better prepare BFIT students for careers in the technical fields.

“We’re seeing a large growth in the demand for clean energy technology from our industry partners, and this Smartflower installation is a great modern-day example of the new types of equipment our graduates will be encountering and working on in their careers,” said Marvin Loiseau, Dean of Academics at BFIT. “The sensors, motors, and actuators they learn about through this project are exactly like the sustainability projects they will be encountering in the real world.”

A group of BFIT students visited the Smartflower site to see the inner workings of the systems and observe the final steps to prepare them to start producing power. Austin Hallett, a sophomore in BFIT’s Electrical Engineering program, said the visit reinforced his desire to work in the renewable energy field.

“There are three reasons I want to work in the solar industry,” Hallett said. “I want to participate in the betterment of mankind; I want to do something that will challenge me mentally; and I want a profession that has the ability to provide me with a comfortable lifestyle. I just really want to participate in some way, and I think this is my way.”

Commitment to Affordable Education for STEM Careers

Founded in 1908, BFIT has been preparing young people for success in technical fields for over a century. The college focuses on the technical skills that employers seek, using hands-on, collaborative teaching. BFIT programs also help students build 21^st Century skills, such as communication, critical thinking, professionalism, sustainability, and teamwork.

The collaboration with Smartflower is the latest example of BFIT’s ability and willingness to adapt to changes in industry and to train its students for what the market demands. The college collaborates with more than 100 corporate partners, which enables students to forge professional connections, attain relevant work experience, and gain the confidence to land good paying jobs in technical careers. BFIT’s job placement rate last year was 85 percent.

The Smartflower student scholarships are part of BFIT’s commitment to provide affordable higher education to the young people of Boston, particularly those who may not have many other opportunities. BFIT provides financial aid to more than 90 percent of its students, largely in the form of grants and scholarships. In March, BFIT became the first private college to join the City of Boston’s Tuition Free community college program, which offers low-income Boston Public School graduates three years of free college tuition.

BFIT also offers extensive student supports to ensure students successfully complete their education, including an on-site social worker, a food bank career success and student success coaches, free tutoring, and grant funding. As a result, BFIT’s graduation rate is three times the state average and two times the national average.