Monroeville Installs Ohio's Largest Floating Solar Array
News related to:D3Energy · 2 min read
D3Energy has installed Ohio’s largest floating solar array on the Village of Monroeville’s reservoir, marking a significant step in the state’s renewable energy landscape. The 6-megawatt system, spanning 9,222 modules across three floating islands, will feed the village’s distribution grid, providing a sustainable energy source for the community of 1,300 residents.
The project, spearheaded by D3Energy, stands out as a practical solution to the challenge of land scarcity in agricultural regions. "Monroeville had water sitting right there doing one job. Now it does two."
Monroeville's approach to renewable energy is part of a broader trend in Ohio. Roughly a third of the state's 88 counties have restricted utility-scale solar installations since a 2021 state law gave them that authority. Townships continue to vote on such restrictions, but Monroeville chose a different path. The village's 12-acre reservoir now hosts the floating solar array, which is the largest in Ohio and among the top five in the United States.
This is not the first solar project for Monroeville. The village already has a 4-megawatt ground-mounted array that has been operational since 2017. Together, the two projects mean that Monroeville has roughly 13 times as much solar per resident as the rest of Ohio, one of the highest concentrations per capita in the state.
D3Energy's third Ohio project, following the Del-Co Water array in Delaware, Ohio, and the City of Lima's array on Twin Lakes Reservoir, brings Ohio's operating floating solar capacity to almost 10 megawatts. All of this capacity is on water that the host utilities already owned, making it a model for other communities facing land constraints.
Tom Gray, the recently retired village administrator, played a pivotal role in driving the project from the first conversation to its completion.
D3Energy, a nationwide leader in floating photovoltaic (FPV) solar, has built more than half of all FPV systems operating in the United States. The company partners with utilities, municipalities, and private enterprises to bring solar online without consuming land. By utilizing water resources, D3Energy addresses the challenge of land scarcity while promoting renewable energy.
The installation of the floating solar array is part of a larger trend in the United States, where communities are increasingly turning to innovative solutions to meet their energy needs. Monroeville's approach not only provides a sustainable energy source but also enhances the functionality of its existing infrastructure, demonstrating the potential for creative solutions in the renewable energy sector.