John Paul Morgan, President & Chief Technology Officer of Morgan Solar and Justin Cohen, Senior Information Technologist and Leader of Innovation Labs at Cisco, spoke with CanadianSME Small Business Magazine about their innovative collaboration between Morgan Solar and Cisco, which started with Morgan Solar’s victory in Cisco’s Fast Future Innovation Awards. This partnership has birthed a pilot project aiming to integrate solar energy into office collaboration spaces through cutting-edge technology. Morgan Solar’s Energy Blinds and Cisco’s Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) technology work together to harness and distribute solar energy efficiently within office spaces, thus powering essential equipment and optimizing energy use based on room occupancy and meeting schedules. This solution not only addresses emissions reduction and energy efficiency in the commercial sector but also aligns with the growing need for sustainable business practices in light of Canada’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. The project reflects a significant step forward in utilizing renewable energy technologies to reduce the carbon footprint of office buildings, potentially transforming energy management in commercial properties across the country.
John Paul Morgan founded Morgan Solar in 2007 to find a way to make solar energy significantly less expensive. John Paul had previously been an inventor of fibre optic technology solutions with JDS Uniphase, a Magnetic Resonance Imaging researcher for the University of Toronto and the Catholic University of Chile, and a manager overseeing hundreds of staff and logistics for international aid projects in a conflict zone in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
John Paul earned a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering Science and a Master’s degree in Applied Science from the University of Toronto, specializing in optics, condensed matter, and solar electricity.
John Paul served as a Lieutenant Governor of Ontario Appointee to the Board of Governors at the University of Toronto and has done extensive volunteering for organizations like Doctors Without Borders and Habitat for Humanity.
Justin Cohen is a Senior Information Technologist and Leader of Innovation Labs at Cisco in Canada, renowned for his expertise in designing and implementing advanced technology solutions. With a robust background in technology architecture, Justin excels in developing high-availability technology infrastructures from the ground up.
At the forefront of innovation, Justin focuses on transforming complex customer challenges into opportunities for technological advancement, significantly contributing to industry leadership. He has developed groundbreaking architectures for scaled AI and ML projects, and integrating hardware and software for technology innovation.
Justin’s proficiency extends to systems design, managing cross-functional IT teams, and directing implementation teams to meet industry needs. His experience spans enterprise, service provider, and technology partner companies, showcasing his versatility and broad expertise.
A proponent of design thinking and big-picture solutions, Justin is skilled in engineering and operating proof of concept facilities using a variety of advanced technologies. He advocates for automation, security and leveraging orchestration and collaboration tools.In collaboration with the Digital Impact Office and Country Digital Acceleration teams, Justin is committed to turning innovative ideas into real-world solutions, using technology to revolutionize industries and foster an inclusive future for all.
Through his leadership, Innovation Labs have become synonymous with creativity and technological progress. Justin is dedicated to using technology for social good and economic growth, striving to address global challenges and create a more inclusive and sustainable future for all.
How did this partnership between Morgan Solar and Cisco come about, and what’s the goal of this project?
This initiative was born from Morgan Solar’s winning submission in Cisco’s Fast Future Innovation Awards in 2022, a program grounded in the belief that innovation thrives through partnership. Through this awards program and funding from Cisco’s Country Digital Acceleration program, Cisco dedicates its resources, expertise and scale to help solve the challenges faced by Canadian businesses. This project offers an opportunity for businesses to think differently about their sustainability journey, unlocking innovative approaches that can be used in commercial office spaces to help achieve sustainability goals through technology.
Can you describe the collaborative technology that Cisco and Morgan Solar have developed for this pilot project, and how it integrates solar energy into office collaboration spaces?
The Cisco-Morgan Solar Project is a pilot project that harnesses solar energy to power meeting and collaboration spaces. To start, the concept leverages Morgan Solar’s Energy Blinds which capture clean, solar energy in a direct current (DC) microgrid. Then Cisco’s Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) switch helps to distribute energy within the room to power the required equipment – whether it be lights, collaboration technology or laptops. Cisco’s Webex platform is also integrated and uses meeting data to intelligently inform how to best use the energy within the room to maximize energy generation and minimize energy consumption. For example, if a meeting has not been scheduled and the room is not in use, the system will automatically revert the solar blinds to the optimal position to capture solar energy.
What are the impacts of implementing this solar energy solution in office buildings, particularly regarding emissions reduction and energy efficiency?
According to the Canadian Green Building Council, residential, commercial, and institutional buildings contribute to nearly one-fifth (17%) of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions, a figure exacerbated by the additional emissions from building materials and construction, bringing the total closer to 30%. This makes the building sector Canada’s third-highest carbon emitter and there is a clear need to think about how we create spaces and buildings that will contribute to a more sustainable future for all.
Beyond solar energy generation for immediate use, the system stores excess solar energy to use later when needed or for use during peak times when energy from the grid may be more expensive.
Beyond sustainability considerations, the pilot project intends to support tangible business value, including cost savings and enhanced productivity. It may also help lower the cost path towards U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification in older buildings.
With this project, we hope we can encourage organizations to think about their sustainability journey differently and implement unique solutions to help address sustainability challenges.
Initial trials show that each window can generate up to 50W of green energy. How does this power production influence the operational capabilities of the pilot room, and what potential does this have for scaling in larger office environments?
We’ve deployed the first proof-of-concept at Cisco’s Toronto Innovation Centre and initial results show production of up to 50W per window of green energy, which is enough to effectively run the room’s required equipment and devices. By storing excess solar energy, we’re also creating capacity to use energy when needed – not just when it is generated. If expanded across office spaces, the solution could enable greater energy efficiency and on-site energy generation than rooftop solar alone.
Cisco Canada employees have also responded very positively to the meeting experience provided in the pilot room. Anecdotally, we’re finding staff are interested in booking the meeting room once they know they are selecting a room that is using solar energy to power their meeting needs. It’s a great outcome that has signaled that employees like to be part of doing something good.
Why is this solution so critical for this moment in time?
The Government of Canada has committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. We know that everyone has a part to play to create a more sustainable future. To help get there, businesses will need to think creatively about how we can reach this goal.
The Cisco-Morgan Solar Project offers companies the opportunity to think differently about their sustainability journey by presenting new ideas that can be used in commercial office spaces – a sector contributing significantly to Canada’s carbon footprint.
