A Christmas tree “greener than any” will be installed in front of the iconic Trakai castle near Vilnius on Friday, December 9. It is constructed with solar panels powering lights which will embellish the tree for Christmas, and after the holidays will be used in kindergardens as a green energy source.
The modern, perhaps even exotic tree is a feat of engineering, a joint effort by three manufacturers. The metal substructure by the “Solė” Company is made of several kilometres of piping, connected in 7 levels of 1.9 metres each. The entire tree is over 13 metres high. The first level 15-cornered, the second – 12, the third – 9, and so on to the top. A challenging feature of the site is the high wind. The tree is held anchored with 6.5 tons of cement blocks.
The Christmas tree could not be decorated traditionally, because it is made up of 42 large and several smaller solar panels which have to remain open to the sun. Its garlands had to be carefully placed to cover the spaces between panels, according to Adam Decolight director Nerijus Chmieliauskas. The tree is topped with a stylized sun.
The solar panels were manufactured by the Solitek Company, its energy-producing battery and – currently a prototype – will be manufactured in Lithuania next year.
The tree-lighting ceremony will be attended by Father Christmas, with a laser show and a lottery. Two new electric buses will take passengers from the Trakai cultural centre to the site of the Christmas tree. The tree will be in place until the Feast of the Three Kings (January 6).
