Vote: Project of the Year 2024 | 101 kW to 1 MW

Project of the Year POY solar

Here are the 101 kW to 1 MW nominees for the 2024 Solar Builder Project of the Year awards.

The form is at the bottom of the page. You are allowed to vote once per day from now until Friday, Oct. 11 at midnight (EDT). (FYI: Our voting widget will let you vote more than once a day, but we filter these out in the back-end. Sorry, ballot stuffers). Winners will be announced and prominently featured in the Q4 issue of Solar Builder magazine and online in December.

The 2024 Project of the Year Awards are sponsored by Aurora Solar. Witness the impactful synergy as Helioscope accelerates design, slashes timelines, and fuels a forecasted 20growth for Skyview.

Be sure to vote in every category!


Vaisala Headquarters Rooftop Solar

Louisville, Colorado | 228 kW

Vaisala solar project of the year

Vaisala is a global leader in weather, environmental, and industrial measurements. The Namaste Solar installations included two rooftop arrays — one ballasted on a flat roof and the other flush-mounted on a pitched roof — as well as a vertical façade array. From an aesthetics perspective adopting a solar façade is an opportunity for businesses to prominently demonstrate their commitment to sustainability and raise awareness about the benefits of clean renewable solar energy. The shift from conventional rooftop and ground-mount PV systems to a vertical façade necessitated a comprehensive reevaluation of the design and installation approach. This adaptation required a fresh perspective on how solar panels could be integrated into non-standard surfaces without compromising efficiency or durability, for the array and the building. Designers had to consider numerous factors that came with this very different mounting surface. Structural and wind speed considerations were the biggest challenges to overcome as this area of Colorado can experience wind speeds upward of 145 mph. The outcome involved a specialized mounting system that could securely attach the solar panels to the building’s façade, without penetrations, accounting for both structural integrity and wind load.

Developer: SolMotiv | EPC/Installer: Namaste Solar | Modules: Qcells | Inverters: CPS | Storage: N/A | Mounting/Racking: PanelClaw, IronRidge and S-5!


KHFN First Nation Microgrid

Gilford Island, British Columbia | 236 kW

KHFN solar project of the year

The Kwikwasut’inuxw Haxwa’mis First Nation (KHFN) solar project is a shining example of sustainable innovation. KHFN’s Gilford Island site operated its own diesel microgrid, powering 36 homes and 12 community buildings. The aim was to integrate solar PV and energy storage systems to reduce reliance on diesel. Charge Solar supported KHFN from the feasibility study to the project’s completion. The installation of a 250 kW / 1.1 MWh BESS and a 236 kW solar PV array offsets more than 70,000 liters of diesel consumption annually. Also, 128 kW of the solar was centrally located and 108 kW was distributed on homes and buildings. This incremental installation allowed immediate benefits as each stage was completed. Community members actively participated, receiving training on solar technology, fall arrest procedures, hands-on installation, and system design.

Developer: KHFN | EPC/Installer: KHFN and Charge Solar | Modules: Qcells | Inverters: Fronius (solar), Dynapower (battery) | Storage: SunGrid | Mounting/Racking: Fast Rack


66 Galen Rooftop Solar + Storage

Watertown, Mass. | 252 kW

Catalyze 66 Galen solar storage project of the year

66 Galen is a purpose-built life science building, owned in a joint venture by The Davis Companies (Davis) and Boston Development Group, in Watertown, Massachusetts. Catalyze deployed a 252 kWdc solar system paired with a 125 kW energy storage solution in the 224,106-sq-ft LEED Gold certified facility. The project ensures that 66 Galen complies with Watertown’s Climate and Energy Plan, which requires 50 percent solar roof coverage on new and substantially renovated buildings over 10,000 sq ft. In addition to solar and storage, Catalyze installed 15 EV charging ports, which further underscores the property’s commitment to sustainability, adding to the existing use of recyclable terra cotta tiles for superior insulation, high-efficiency lighting systems, and advanced water conservation infrastructure.

Developer: Catalyze | EPC/Installer: Aldon Electric | Modules: ZNShine | Inverters: SMA | Storage: TBD | Mounting/Racking: SolarStrap


GPC Parking Deck Carport

Atlanta | 278.4 kW

GPC solar parking deck carport project of the year

In a groundbreaking collaboration, three Georgia-based companies, Radiance Solar, Quest Renewables, and Qcells, have partnered with Georgia Power Co. (GPC) to create a pioneering solar array atop the parking deck at Georgia Power’s Atlanta headquarters. This innovative project, which utilizes Quest’s state-of-the-art canopy racking system and QCells’ advanced solar modules, is set to generate 411 MWhs in its first year and will be interconnected into the Georgia Power distribution grid. The collaboration not only showcases the potential of local companies working together to advance sustainable energy but also highlights the growing importance of renewable energy infrastructure in Georgia. This project is a testament to the power of local partnerships in driving forward clean energy initiatives.

Developer/EPC/Installer: Radiance Solar | Modules: Qcells | Inverters: Solis | Storage: N/A | Mounting/Racking: Quest Renewables


Inspira Deptford Solar Installation

Deptford, N.J. | 331 kW

Equinox Renewable Energy installed a 331 solar array at the Inspira Health Center in Deptford, New Jersey. The main challenge was addressing the building’s limited load reserve, which was resolved with a hybrid racking layout using the few ballasts possible combined with mechanical anchors and distributing the inverters’ weight E-W placed over the beams. Working with the racking manufacturer Sollega and Equinox’s structural engineers made this possible. The project was engineered in compliance with the new UL 3741 standard, the first in New Jersey.

Developer/EPC/Installer: Equinox Renewable Energy | Modules: Trinasolar | Inverters: SMA | Storage: N/A | Mounting/Racking: Sollega


Camino Real Mobile Estates

Lathrop, California | 419 kW

Camino solar project

Sansome Skyline Development wanted to bring solar energy to its disadvantaged residents at the Camino Real Mobile Estates in Lathrop, California. Mobile homes don’t have enough rooftop space to make the economics of solar work, so the only feasible option was using a narrow but steep retention basin located next to the park that already served an important role in diverting the area’s heavy rains. Solar Gain brought its long-term racking partner to the Camino Real project. Terrasmart designed, engineered, and manufactured the 419 kW racking system, using its GLIDE Wave fixed-tilt racks to adapt to the terrain’s contours. They were able to use continuous rows to reduce foundation material and labor. At 180 ft long and 200 ft wide, the narrow stormwater management pond presented thorny logistical issues, and the site’s topography demanded unusually high elevation to keep the solar equipment safe above the retention pond. The site offered little access space for materials. And because the site was located right next to the mobile homes, work could only take place during standard business hours to avoid disturbing the community. Other challenges included a Geotech soil report that detected extremely soft soils, requiring a 28-ft pile length, which was not doable. The construction team was able to adapt to the extreme muddy conditions, laying construction matting onsite for all equipment to install safely and efficiently in six inches of water.

Developer/EPC: Solar Gain | Installer: Solar Gain and Terrasmart | Modules: ZNShine | Inverters: CPS | Storage: N/A | Mounting/Racking: Terrasmart


Oasis Reservoir

Tucson, Ariz. | 588 kW

SOLON Corp Oasis reservoir solar

This solar project at Tucson’s Oasis Reservoir Facility will save the city an estimated $1.8 million over 28 years — but while the system is designed to meet the energy needs of the Oasis Reservoir and maximize the city’s savings, there are times when solar production will exceed the facility’s energy usage. A critical component of this project was to minimize impact to the local utility grid and ensure the amount of solar energy exported to the grid would not exceed 250 kW at any given time. To avoid installing expensive transfer trip equipment or significantly reducing the system size (and savings to the city), SOLON installed a customized controller and monitoring program that limits the system’s power output to the grid to 250 kW. When the amount of solar energy produced – minus the facility’s usage – is going to exceed 250 kW, the controller tells the inverters to produce less energy.

Developer/EPC/Installer: SOLON Corp. | Modules: Boviet | Inverters: CPS | Storage: N/A | Mounting/Racking: Array Technologies


Tags: ,

Comments are closed here.