Vote: Project of the Year 2025 | 101 kW to 1 MW
Here are the 101 kW to 1 MW nominees for the 2025 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. 10 at midnight (ET). (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.
Thanks to Aurora Solar for sponsoring the 2025 Project of the Year Awards.
Be sure to vote in every category!
Active Church
Yucaipa, California | 112 kW
The Active Church solar project began when a local residential solar company approached them with a mission: Help the church lower its rising energy costs and reinvest those savings back into its community. Through a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Sunrock, the church was able to transition to solar with no money out of pocket. One of the most innovative aspects of this project was the design itself. Sunrock proposed arranging the panels to form a cross, complementing the church’s-stained glass and central cross window. To further enhance its presence, they incorporated remote-controlled LED lighting, allowing the crosses to glow at night — turning a functional solar system into an inspiring visual statement of faith and sustainability. The greatest challenge came with navigating the Net Energy Metering (NEM) 2.0 deadline with Southern California Edison. Today, the solar system not only offsets the church’s energy use but also generates meaningful savings that are redirected into ministry, youth programs, music, staffing, and community support.
Developer/EPC: Watthub Renewables | Installer: JDC Energy | Modules: Boviet Solar | Inverters: SolarEdge | Mounting/Racking: Ironridge
Elmhurst Park District
Elmhurst, Illinois | 675 kW
The Elmhurst Park District solar project is a great example of how public agencies can lead the way in embracing sustainable energy solutions in a cost efficient way. Completed in July 2025 by DSD Renewables and General Energy, the 674.96 kW rooftop solar system at the district’s Courts Plus facility is designed to generate approximately 754 MWh of clean electricity annually, offsetting around 50% of the facility’s total electricity consumption. This project aligns with the district’s dedication to sustainability while benefitting the local community and serves as a physical reminder to residents of the positive impacts clean energy solutions provide, especially as technology continues to drive rapid demand for energy.
Upfront capital costs and budgetary constraints are often a hurdle for many public agencies when looking to deploy impactful solutions. With DSD’s ownership and operation of the project, the district was able to lock-in energy pricing through a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA), avoiding upfront costs of installation and securing a long term, stable clean energy source. Under this contract, the district is projected to achieve net savings of over $300,000 over the 20-year period, allowing it to use its energy savings to reinvest into community programs, facility improvements, or additional sustainability initiatives. Installing a system of this scale on an existing rooftop required careful coordination to ensure the system was designed and deployed to meet the structural requirements of the building and to minimize disruption at a popular and highly trafficked community facility.
Developer: DSD Renewables | EPC/Installer: General Energy | Modules: Hanwha Qcells | Inverters: Chint Power Systems | Storage: N/A | Mounting/Racking: Unirac
Gilman Bros Co.
Gilman, Connecticut | 750 kW
For many mid-sized manufacturers, the rising cost and complexity of energy has become a strategic challenge. Beyond cost, sustainability itself is difficult to tackle in energy-intensive industries like extrusion, where the scale of consumption magnifies every challenge. The Gilman Brothers Co., a 128-year-old, family-owned manufacturer in Connecticut, confronted this challenge through a partnership with Budderfly. Their $1.5 million solar project illustrates how using energy-as-a-service (EaaS) can help to eliminate these financial and operational barriers.
Budderfly deployed a 750 kW rooftop solar system for Gilman Brothers, alongside LED lighting, high-efficiency HVAC, and advanced controls. The project is expected to cut electricity use in half, lower energy costs by up to 30% annually. Through Budderfly’s EaaS approach, the company takes on the project’s design, financing, installation, and long-term management, all at no cost to Gilman Brothers. Gilman Brothers was able to access the energy, business, and other benefits of solar while keeping its focus on core manufacturing. While the project doesn’t currently include storage, the company is developing 240 kW / 1.2 MWh as a potential additional phase.
Developer/EPC/Installer: Budderfly | Modules: Silfab | Inverters: SolarEdge | Mounting/Racking: Unirac
Nicolet Union High School
Glendale, Wisconsin | 389.13 kW
The 715-module rooftop solar system at Nicolet Union High School in Glendale, Wisconsin, was designed to overcome complex rooftop challenges, including seven distinct sections, varying heights, shading, and structural limitations. In its first year, the system produced over 477 MWh of clean electricity, offsetting 19% of the school’s energy use, saving the district over $52,000 annually. Over the system’s lifetime, the projected savings exceed $2.2 million, offering a payback period of just 6.4 years thanks to support from federal and state incentives, including the Inflation Reduction Act and Wisconsin’s Focus on Energy program.
More than a technical triumph, this is a community-powered legacy project. Designed with future scalability and battery storage integration in mind, it not only elevates the school’s energy efficiency but also transforms the rooftop into a live STEM classroom. With SolarEdge’s monitoring platform, over 1,000 students now have real-time access to irradiance, temperature, and performance data, deepening their understanding of renewable energy technologies. This project is a model for how smart solar technologies can drive environmental impact, financial performance, and educational enrichment, all in one.
Developer: Nicolet Union High School | EPC/Installer: Arch Solar | Modules: ZnShine Solar and Philadelphia Solar | Inverters: SolarEdge | Mounting/Racking: TerraGen
Women’s Bean Project
Denver, Colorado | 102 kW
Colorado-based Namaste Solar partnered with Women’s Bean Project to install a 102 kW rooftop solar system and one EV charging station at the nonprofit’s headquarters in Denver. This installation is designed to offset 120% of Women’s Bean Project’s electrical usage, significantly reducing operating expenses and enabling the organization to further invest in its mission of supporting women’s empowerment through employment. The solar project is fully funded by Denver’s Renewables and Resiliency Grant, demonstrating the city’s commitment to supporting renewable energy initiatives among nonprofits.
Over the 25+ year lifespan of the system, Women’s Bean Project is projected to save $300,775 in operating expenses. Additionally, participation in Xcel Energy’s Solar*Rewards program is expected to generate $99,228 in income over the next 20 years. These combined savings will directly support Women’s Bean Project’s programs, which provide job training and employment to women facing significant barriers to work. The organization offers comprehensive programs that equip women with job and life skills, helping break the cycle of poverty to build brighter futures. It is estimated that these savings will fund over 15,000 hours of program services.
Developer: Women’s Bean Project | EPC/Installer: Namaste Solar | Modules: Longi | Inverters: CPS | Mounting/Racking: PanelClaw
Yanfeng Seating Mexico Solar Project
Mexico | 630 kW
Yanfeng Seating Mexico’s solar energy project in San Luis Potosí is an example of how the automotive supply chain is embracing renewable energy to meet ambitious global sustainability goals. Partnering with ForeFront Power, Yanfeng installed a 630 kWdc solar energy system featuring a combination of rooftop and carport arrays to maximize available space and deliver long-term value. The system is designed to generate 1,169,000 kWh of renewable electricity each year. Importantly, 100% of this energy offsets the facility’s peak daytime electricity use, directly reducing grid dependence when demand is highest. The installation is expected to supply 43% of the San Luis Potosí seating plant’s annual consumption. Technically, the project required innovative integration of rooftop and parking canopy solar arrays within an active manufacturing campus. This dual design not only maximizes energy output but also delivers functional benefits such as shaded parking for staff and visitors. Developed under a PPA with ForeFront Power, the project required no upfront capital investment. Instead, Yanfeng benefits from a fixed, below-utility electricity rate over the 10-year contract period (an estimated $26 million pesos or $1.4 million USD in savings).
Developer: ForeFront Power | EPC/Installer: Amara | Modules: Longi | Inverters: Huawei | Storage: N/A | Mounting/Racking: Ralux (carports) and Suports (rooftop)
