Dell is tricking out its parking lot with big, solar-powered structures that serve three purposes: charging the company's Round Rock, Texas HQ with green energy, juicing electric vehicles parked at the lot and provided the area with shade. It's part of the Solar Grove, which can generate up to 130 kilowatts of solar power and, in the long run, offset 145,000 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions annually.

The only downer is that only two electric vehicles can be charged on the lot at one time with no word on how well it works. Then again, that's two electric vehicles more than pretty much every other parking lot, so we'll forgive 'em this time.

It's not the prettiest application of solar trees that we've seen, but it's certainly nice gesture by Dell, and — really — something that would work in any conventional parking lot.

Via Treehugger