NATIONAL AQUARIUM

Fast Facts

Structures -- One Lift solar tree with solar panels, energy-efficient LED lighting, and interpretive signage for visitors.

Places --  Located on Pier 4 of Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, part of the National Aquarium’s expanding Waterfront Campus.

Bigger Picture -- The solar tree is part of the Aquarium’s bold commitment to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2035. It symbolizes environmental stewardship and supports a broader clean energy transition, public education, and habitat restoration through floating wetlands and other sustainability initiatives.

Spotlight Partners -- Constellation Energy, Geoscape Solar, McLaren Engineering Group

Project overview

In the heart of Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, the National Aquarium planted a powerful symbol of sustainability: a solar tree. Installed on Pier 4, it brings clean energy, public engagement, and environmental education to one of Maryland’s most iconic waterfront spaces.

The solar tree is more than just a beautiful sculpture, it’s a functional source of renewable energy, harvesting sunlight by day and lighting up with energy-efficient LEDs by night. It contributes directly to powering the Aquarium and helps bring visibility to their bold commitment to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2035.

Developed in partnership with Constellation Energy and installed by Geoscape Solar, this project is part of a long-standing collaboration to make sustainability tangible. The tree is also an early element of the Aquarium’s growing Waterfront Campus, a living laboratory that will soon include floating wetlands, native plant habitats, and hands-on learning experiences for thousands of students and millions of visitors.

Set against the backdrop of the harbor, this single solar tree reminds us that a greener future can be both innovative and beautiful, and that real change often starts with bold, visible ideas.