AT&T is trialing some solar-powered charging stations in Manhattan with technology partners Pensa and Goal Zero. 

The public solar powered charging stations known as Street Charge will charge phones and hand-held devices using built-in USB ports and charging tips. Solar panels and lithium batteries are incorporated into each station to ensure that there is juice for people to power up – day or night.

Goal Zero provided the solar technology, while Pensa designed the stations themselves. 

Pensa’s prototype Street Charge was tested last summer in Brooklyn. The solution was installed in a reclaimed public space there. In a statement, teaming up with Goal Zero was the logical next step to develop this concept further.

“We’re looking to create something that complements its surroundings and invites people to hang out and recharge. We have also found that where people gather, opportunities develop for street vendors and retail, and neglected urban areas come alive,” said Marco Perry, co-founder of Pensa, in a statement.  

Street Charge will be modular to meet the needs of architects, developers, and city planners seeking to offer amenities in commercial and public spaces. Besides providing power, Street Charge will have the potential for lighting, WiFi, and signage for ads and way finding.

Street Charge will make its debut on June 18th at Fort Green Park. AT&T will then deploy units around New York this summer in high foot traffic areas like Brooklyn Bridge Park, Coney Island, Riverside Park, Rockaways, Summerstage in Central Park, Randall’s Island, Governor’s Island, Union Square, and Hudson River Park.