Meet Matthew N. Portis, inventor of the first patented solar workstation

Matthew N. Portis is the founder and president SolGreen as well as the first to invent, engineer, and patent a solar charging table or solar workstation called the Evodia Solar Workstation.

With a vision to introduce a technology that would modernize and maintain sustainable infrastructure in cities, parks and outdoor public spaces, the SolGreen engineering and design team led by Portis spent years perfecting the requirements and design elements of the Evodia Solar Workstation to ensure its quality, durability, and performance over time.

According to Afrotech, the Akron, Ohio native was inspired to invent the outdoor solar-powered workstation, after a visit to a bookstore and marveled why patrons were not using the outdoor seating. It then dawned on him that it was as a result of their inability to access to power to charge their devices outdoors. 

“We asked ourselves how we might move the needle on sustainable design to create products that are more practical to the evolving needs of communities around the world,” Portis said per his company’s website.

The Evodia Solar Workstation is today being utilized by universities, cities, commercial real estate developers, and corporate campuses internationally as SolGreen continues to innovate by developing new clean technology solutions to benefit facilities, cities, and communities in new exciting ways. 

“It withstood Hurricane Irma back in 2017, we had a fleet of units in Miami at Florida International University and then right after the storm people would come because the power was out and sit outside and use the work stations,” Christiano Terry, Global Head of Strategic Partnerships and VP said, Afrotech reported.

The aesthetic design of the workstations canopy and table that are both environmentally functional and beautifully inspired by the minimalist design of famous architects like Phillip Johnson, the company’s site said. 

“We’re going to be starting with the Virgin Islands. The first location will probably be the medical campus at their university,” Terry said. 

SolGreen is said to be leading the charge in the cleantech industry with innovation, passion, and creativity. Its Evodia Solar Workstations are currently used in 80 locations, according to Afrotech.