Shore Thing is about bringing people to the rivers in a way that honors the environment and the city we call home. The team at Riverlife knew that we didn’t want this to run on gas or generators, which lead us to find a team well versed in an alternative.
Instead, it runs on sunlight, smart design, and a little bit of Pittsburgh ingenuity, thanks to our hometown partners at ZeroFossil.
The container that could
On top of Shore Thing, you’ll see a 40-foot repurposed shipping container. It looks industrial from the outside, but inside it’s part welcome center, part mini power station.
ZeroFossil retrofitted the entire thing, installing solar panels, batteries, and all the critical behind-the-scenes systems that let Shore Thing run off-grid, cleanly and quietly.
Let’s talk power behind the power: the batteries.
Inside the shipping container, ZeroFossil installed a powerful battery stack that stores the energy collected from the rooftop solar panels.
Here’s what makes it work:
- 10 LiFePO₄ (Lithium Iron Phosphate) batteries, known for long life, high stability, and safety
- 51.2VDC, 100Ah per unit = a total storage capacity of 51.2kWh
- All housed in a server rack-style enclosure, with room to expand
- Expected to last 10+ years, even with daily use—good for up to 15,000 charge cycles
- Integrated with a Victron inverter, converting battery power into standard 120V electricity
- Includes a breaker panel with overload protection to keep everything safe and stable
The result? Shore Thing can operate day and night, run lights and equipment, and host events without interruption.
Powered by the sun (Seriously)
The roof of the container holds 20 bifacial solar panels, which capture both direct sunlight and light reflected off the water. It’s a clever design specifically for the rivers.
Some specs for the power nerds among us:
- 9,000 watts of maximum solar output
- 51.2 kWh of battery storage capacity
- Enough energy to run day-to-night operations, events, and then some
- Built-in overload protection for safety and stability
- A system that’s expandable for future use
All of this adds up to Shore Thing running with no fossil fuels, most of the time. (There’s a backup generator on standby, just in case, but the goal is sunshine all the way.)
Why does it matter?
Because cities, and riverfronts, are changing.
We’re rethinking what public space looks like, how it functions, and how it can support people without harming the planet.
ZeroFossil’s work at Shore Thing is proving that sustainable energy can work anywhere, even on water.
For Riverlife, it’s a step toward living our values:
- Innovation in public design
- Sustainability at every stage
- Inclusion by creating a quiet, clean, welcoming experience
Local power, local partner
ZeroFossil is a Pittsburgh-based company that’s been redefining clean energy solutions since 2007. Their mission? To make renewable energy functional, beautiful, and mobile–bringing solar and battery power to places where traditional electricity can’t (or shouldn’t) go.
They’ve powered:
- Outdoor concerts and music festivals
- Farmers markets and street fairs
- Pop-up classrooms, film sets, and parades
- Community resilience hubs and emergency backups
In short, they’re the go-to crew for energy that’s clean, quiet, and self-contained, without the noise, fumes, or carbon footprint of generators.
For Shore Thing, they didn’t just drop off some panels. They helped design a comprehensive off-grid energy ecosystem that keeps the platform running smoothly, whether it’s sunny, cloudy, or somewhere in between.
Come see it in action
If you’re into solar tech, just ask! Our team is always happy to talk about the systems behind the scenes—and we might even show you where the batteries live.
If you’re just into snacks, music, and lounging in a river net? That’s cool too. Either way, you’re part of a new way of experiencing Pittsburgh’s rivers: cleaner, smarter, and powered by care.
