100 Best Solar Energy Case Studies of 2019
See how people and organizations save annually with solar energyThe adoption of solar energy in the world is growing at a rapid pace in the world.
More and more consumers, businesses and governmental organizations are considering solar energy.
But it can be sometimes difficult to convince your family, friends, boss or colleagues to adopt solar energy?
To make it easier to convince people to adopt solar power we selected the best and most complete 100 solar energy case studies.
The case studies included in this list contain key information about the return on investment and annual savings of solar energy systems built all over the world and different sizes.
The list is divided in three categories:
Residential Solar Energy
1. Home Lavallee Family
Country: Cumberland, Rhode Island, United States
Installer: Renewable Energy Service of New England Inc.
Solar PV: Suniva
Inverter: Enphase
Size: 9.5 kW
Return on Investment: 34.9%
Annual Savings: $3845
RES installed 33 solar modules for the Lavallee Family. The projected return of investment is 6 years.
2. Home Middle Franconia
Country: Bavaria, Germany
Inverters: SMA
Size: 5 kWp
Cost reduction: €875 per year
One family of five installed a solar energy system with batteries. The whole system included a SMA pv inverter, a SMA battery inverter and a SMA sunny home manager for system monitoring and energy management.
3. Home Götz Family
Country: Wetzlar-Hermannstein, Germany
Installer: Gecko Logic
Solar PV: Yingli
Inverters: SMA
Size: 8.5 kWp
Cost Reduction: €3936 per year
A colleague convinced the family to invest in solar energy. The solar modules exceed the predicted energy yield. This system was installed by Gecko Logic.
4. Home Tan Family
Country: Jalan Kelawar, Tanglin, Singapore
Installer: ReZeca Renewables
Solar PV: Yingli Solar
Size: 18.6 kWp
Estimated Annual Savings: SGD$6000
The Tan Family wanted to reduce their footprint and their energy bills. In total 62 solar panels were installed.
5. Home Pappalardo Family
Country: Viagrande, Italy
Installer: Etnergia
Solar PV: Yingli
Inverters: SMA
Size: 8.58 kW
Cost Reduction: €5533 per year
After seeing solar pv installation in other countries the family decided to switch to solar energy. The company Etnergia installed 39 solar panels on roof with south-east orientation. The system is performing better than expected.
Commercial Solar Energy
6. Absolute Coatings
Country: New Rochelle, New York, United States
Installer: Sunrise Solar Solutions
Inverter: Enphase
Size: 82 kW
Savings over system life: $442 866
Sunrise Solar Solutions designed and installed 313 solar modules for Absolute Coatings on a new roof. The mounting system is ballast only. This project is part of 200 kW solar energy system that will completed in a next phase.
7. Rehme Steel
Country: Spicewood, United States
Installer: Freedom Solar Power
Solar PV: Sunpower
Size: 81.6 kW
Estimated savings over 25 years: $338 883
Rehme Steel wanted to reduce their operating cost and their carbon emissions.
8. Birkhof Horse Stables and Riding School
Country: Waldsoms, Germany
Installer: Gecko Logic
Solar PV: Yingli
Inverters: SMA
Size: 34.68 kWp
Cost Reduction: €12 954
Birkhof choose for solar energy, because of environmental and cost reduction reasons. Gecko Logic installed the system in 2008.
9. Ryan and Ryan Insurance
Country: Kingston, New York, United States
Installer: Sunrise Solar Solutions
Solar PV: Conergy
Inverter: Enphase
Size: 16.3 kW
Savings over lifetime system: $69 654
Years to breakeven: 5.9
The roof of Ryan and Ryan Insurance was big enough to place enough solar panels to cover their whole energy consumption. The solar panels are mounted with a fully ballasted racking system.
10. Powerplant Poggiorsini
Country: Poggiorsini (Bari), Italy
Installer: SAEM Company
Solar PV: Yingli
Inverters: Siel
Size: 3 MWp
Return: €1 412 000 per year
The solar power plant was built by SAEM Company and is made up of 13 500 units. The plant is oriented to the south. The plant produces enough energy to power the homes of 1500 families.
11. Huerto Solar Villar de Cañas II
Country: Villar de Cañas, Spain
Installer: CYMI
Solar PV: Yingli
Inverters: Siemens
Size: 9.8 MWp
Return: €6 336 000 per year
Prosolcam bought a 22 hectare site to invest in solar energy. The company CYMI designed and installed the system that consist of 56 180 pv modules. The plant has an south facing orientation.
12. Amcorp Gemas Solar Plant
Country: Gemas, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
Installer: Amcorp Power Sdn. Bhd.
Solar PV: Yingli
Size: 10 269 MWp
Return: MYR 11.88 million (about $2.6 million)
Amcorp Power is a solar farm developer in Malaysia. The solar plant has a power purchase agree with Tenaga Nasional Berhad for 21 years. The plant that consists of 41 076 pv modules, produces enough energy for 3315 residential homes.
13. Jackson Enterprise LLC
Country: California, United States
Installer: CM Solar Electric
Solar PV: Sunpower, LG
Inverter: SMA
Size: 26kW
Average Annual Savings: $11 556
Return on Investment: 23.6%
The solar energy system provides at least 100% or more of the energy consumption of the building. And the total net investment of the system was $49 000.
14. Diab Engineering
Country: Geraldton, Australia
Installer: Infinite Energy
Solar PV: Conergy
Inverter: SMA
Size: 100 kW
Year 1 return on investment: 34%
10 Year Net Present Value: $139 000
Annual Savings: $41 000
Diab Engineering choose Infinite Energy to install a solar energy system on there roof of their workshop. Diab Engineering used government funded solar programmes to finance their system.
15. GAL Manufacturing
Country: New York,United States
Installer: Solar City
Size: 237 kW
Annual Savings: $50 000
GAL Manufacturing is a family owned company that builds elevator parts. The system will generate almost half of the buildings energy consumption. The project is partly funded by government funds.
16. Hewlett Packard
Country: Palo Alto, California, United States
Size: 1 MW
Estimated Lifetime Savings: $1 million
HP installed 1 MW of solar modules on its roof. The system will provide 20% of the buildings usage. HP doesn’t own the system, but will purchase the energy produced from Solar City.
17. Velmade Prestige Sheet Metal
Country: Osborne Park, Australia
Installer: Infinite Energy
Solar PV: REC Solar
Inverter: SMA
Size: 31 kW
Year 1 return on investment: 18%
10 year Net Present Value: $7 400
Annual Savings: $8 500
In 2014 Velmade installed 120 solar modules on its roof. As a small-to-medium business it wanted to reduce its operating costs. The project is expected to payback in 5.3 years. Velmade used outside funding for its solar system.
18. Bella Ridge Winery
Country: Herne Hill, Australia
Installer: Infinite Energy
Solar PV: REC Solar
Inverter: SMA
Size: 40 kW
Year 1 return on investment: 21%
Annual Savings: $18 300
Bella Ridge Winery is a energy intensive company and was suffering of rising electricity prices in Australia. Infinite Energy installed 156 REC Solar modules on a ground mounted rack. The projected payback period is 4.4 years.
19. Cheeky Brothers
Country: Osborne Park, Australia
Installer: Infinite Energy
Solar PV: REC Solar
Inverter: Fronius
Size: 40 kW
Year 1 return on investment: 28%
Annual Savings: $13 500
Cheeky Brothers is a Food company that installed 152 REC Solar panels on its roof. The system produces 28% of electricity consumption.
20. Seven Acres Business Park
Country: Suffolk, United Kingdom
Installer: Enviko
Solar PV: CSUN
Inverter: SMA
Size: 40 kW
Yearly Income and Savings: £8 079
This business park decided to install 120 solar panels on its roof just in time before feed in tariffs were reduced in 2012. The project was completed just in time by Enviko.
21. Broad Oak Cider Farm
Country: Clutton Hill Industrial Park, Bristol, United Kingdom
Installer: Enviko
Solar PV: Conergy
Inverter: Solaredge
Size: 100 kW
Yearly Income and Savings: £15 894
Enviko helped Broad Oak Cider Farm install 400 solar panels that covered the whole roof of the building. Power optimizers were used to reduce the effects of shading on the panels.
22. Glebar Inc.
Country: Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, United States
Installer: Solar Energy World
Solar PV: Schuco
Size: 55.5 kW
Yearly Savings: $8000
Glebar Inc was looking for a way to reduce its energy bills and reduce its carbon footprint. Solar Energy World helped achieving their goals. The system is partly funded with a tax break and Solar Renewable Energy Credits.
23. Metuchen Sportscomplex
Country: Metuchen, New Jersey, United States
Installer: Solar Energy World
Solar PV: LG
Size: 312 kW
Yearly Savings: $33 397
The developer Recycland LLC decid to add Solar Energy to its building to reduce energy costs and to reduce its carbon footprint.
24. Alfandre Architecture
Country: New Paltz, New York, United States
Installer: Sunrise Solar Solutions
Solar PV: Conergy and Hyunday
Inverter: Enphase
Size: 33.4 kW
Savings over lifetime system: $190 000
Alfandre Architecture is applying for the LEED GOLD Certification. Adding solar energy to the project is a logical step. Sunrise Solar Solutions did the installation of the new building.
25. Ebay
Country: San Jose, California, United States
Installer: Solar City
Size: 650 kW
Annual Cost Savings: $100 000
Ebay wanted to make its campus in San Jose more sustainable. Solar City designed and installed the 3248 solar panel system on five different buildings located on the campus.
26. Heritage Paper
Country: Livermore, California, United States
Installer: Solar City
Size: 528 kW
Annual Cost Savings: $26,950
Heritage Paper is the packaging supplier of big companies like Nordstrom and Cliff Bar. Their huge facility uses huge amounts of energy and installing solar panels was a no-brainer.
27. Batth Farms
Country: San Joaquin Valley, California, United States
Installer: Solar City
Size: 1.5 MW
Estimated lifetime savings: $9 000 000
The Batth farm uses a lot of energy for the irrigation of the land and running waterpumps. To reduce their operating costs Solar City installed a solar energy system on their farmland.
28. Advance Auto Parts
Country: Enfield, Connecticut, United States
Installer: Solar City
Size: 1.17 MW
Annual Cost Savings: $100 000
Advance Auto Parts is a distribution company of after-sales auto parts. Solar City installed the solar system with little to no disruption to daily operations.
29. Roofmart
Country: Kewdale, Australia
Installer: Infinite Energy
Solar PV: REC Solar
Inverter: SMA
Size: 100 kW
Year 1 Return on Investment: 25%
10 year Net Present Value: $103 200
Annual Savings: $37 600
Roofmart design, manufactures and distributes steel constructions that are used for garages, patios and sheds. The system was installed in december 2015 and the cost will be returned in under 4 years.
30. Imdex
Country: Osborne, Australia
Installer: Infinite Energy
Solar PV: Winaico
Inverter: SMA
Size: 100 kW
Year 1 Return on Investment: 32%
10 Net Present Value: $240 300
Annual Savings: $45 300
Imdex is listed on the ASX and produces and manufactures fluids and instruments for the mining, oil and gas industries. The projected payback period the solar energy system will be 3.1 years.
31. Audi Seattle
Country: Seattle, United States
Installer: A&R Solar
Solar PV: Sunpower
Size: 235 kW
Estimated 25 year savings: $2 million
Audi Seattle is a dealer of high performance electric vehicles. The company wanted to power their vehicles with a sustainable energy source, solar energy.
32. Boulder Nissan
Country: Boulder, United States
Installer: Independent Power Systems
Solar PV: Sunpower
Size: 50.25 kW
Estimated 25 year savings: $384 000
Boulder Nissan is a high volume seller of the electric Nissan Leaf in the Boulder area. The adoption of solar energy is a logical step.
34. Microsoft
Country: Mountain View, United States
Solar PV: Sunpower
Size: 551861 kW
Estimated annual savings: $120 000
Microsoft is one of the biggest software companies in the world with a commitment to the environment.
35. Rivermaid Trading co.
Country: California, United States
Installer: Sunworks
Solar PV: Sunpower
Size: 1.7 mW
Estimated annual savings: $300 000
Rivermaid Trading is a grower, processor and distributer of fruit. The company has facitlities that are huge and with solar energy they wanted to reduce their energy bills.
36. Lake County Sanitation District
Country: Lakepoint, United States
Solar PV: Sunpower
Size: 2.17 mW
Estimated savings over 20 years: $5 million
The Lake County Sanitation District wanted to reduce their environmental impact.
37. Dobinsons Spring & Suspension
Country: Rockhampton, Australia
Solar PV: Hanwha Q Cells
Size: 510 kWp
Estimated annual savings: AUD$160 000
In the past decade Dobinsons saw their energy costs grow with 100%. With an solar energy system Dobinsons is now protected from increasing energy prices.
38. Austchilli
Country: Bundaberg, Australia
Solar PV: Phono Solar
Size: 300 kWp
Estimated payback period of 4-5 years
Rising energy costs made the business model of Austchilli less feasible and that is why they choose solar energy.
39. Enmach Industries
Country: Bundaberg, Australia
Solar PV: Q-Cell
Size: 100 kWp
Estimated annual savings: AUD$40 000
Estimated payback period of 3.5 years
Like a lot of Australian manufacturing companies, the energy bill of Enmach Industries was rising. Solar energy was the only logical solution.
40. Advantage Welding
Country: Rockhampton, Australia
Solar PV: Phono Solar
Size: 33 kWp
Estimated payback period of 4.2 years
To reduce their electricity bill Advantage Welding worked together with Gem Energy to install solar energy panels on their roof.
41. Bridge Toyota
Country: Darwin, Australia
Solar PV: Q Cells
Size: 100 kWp
Estimated annual savings AUD$35 000
Estimated payback period of 3.5 years
Bridge Toyota has a huge energy consumption for its showroom, office, workshop and warehouse. To prevent huge energy bills cutting in their operating margins they switched to a solar energy system on the roof of their facility.
42. Great Western Hotel
Country: Rockhampton, Australia
Solar PV: Q Cells
Size: 57 kWp
Estimated payback period of 3.2 years
The Great Western Hotel used a renovation to make their operation more green with a solar energy system that is connected to the grid.
43. Luther Auto Group
Country: Midwest, United States
Solar PV: Sunpower
Size: 454 kWp
Estimated saving over 25 years: $2.1 million
The Luther Auto Group used their large flat roofs of their dealerships to generate cheap solar energy.
44. Turtle Bay Resort
Country: Kahuku, United States
Solar PV: REC Solar
Size: 702 kWp
Estimated saving over 20 years: $2.5 million
The Turtle Bay Resort won the Leader in Sustainability Award in Hawaii. The Turtle Bay Resort worked together with REC Solar to install a roof mounted system and a ground mounted system.
45. Zurn Industries
Country: Paso Robles, United States
Solar PV: REC Solar
Size: 552.7 kWp
Estimated annual savings: $110 000
Zurn Industries is a manufacturer of irrigation equipment and want to reduce their operating expenses with the installation of a roof mounted solar energy system.
46. San Antonio Winery
Country: Paso Robles, United States
Solar PV: REC Solar
Size: 517 kW
Estimated saving over 30 years: $4 million
The San Antonio WInery will produce 80% of the power they need for their wine production facility and their hospitality center.
47. Ballester Hermanos
Country: San Juan, United States
Solar PV: REC Solar
Size: 874 kW
Estimated annual savings: $100 000
Ballester Hermanos is located on Puerto Rico that has high energy prices. Solar energy through a power purchase agreement made a lot of economic sense.
48. Sonoma Mountain Village
Country: Rohnert Park, United States
Solar PV: REC Solar
Size: 1.16 mW
Estimated annual savings: $680 000
Sonoma Mountain Village improved their Leed Premium status by expanding their solar energy capacity.
49. Haas Automation Inc.
Country: Oxnard, United States
Solar PV: REC Solar
Size: 1.74 mW
Estimated annual savings: $500 000
Haas automation wanted to reduce their carbon footprint and reduce their energy costs and opted for two solar roos systems in partnership with Renusol.
50. Niner Wine Estates
Country: Paso Robles, United States
Solar PV: REC Solar
Size: 388.47 kW
Estimated payback period of 5 years
Niner Wine Estates is a Sustainability in Practice Certified winery and has an LEED status. Through their solar energy system they generate 100% of their energy needs.
51. Valley Fine Foods
Country: Benecia and Yuba City, United States
Solar PV: REC Solar
Size: 1.14 mW
Estimated annual savings: $250 000
Valley Fine Foods used a roof mounted and ground mounted solar system to reduce their energy cost.
52. Tony Automotive Group
Country: Waipahu, United States
Solar PV: REC Solar
Size: 298 kW
Estimated savings over 25 years: $5.3 million
Tony Automotive groups has Honda, Nissan and Hyundai dealerships in Hawaii. The need for solar energy was great, because Hawaii has the highest energy costs in the nation.
53. Windset Farms
Country: Santa Maria, United States
Solar PV: REC Solar
Size: 1.05 mW
Estimated annual savings: $245 000
The Windset Farms installed more than 4000 solar energy panels on their roof to curb their rising energy bill.
54. Vintage Wine Estates
Country: Santa Rosa & Hopland, United States
Solar PV: REC Solar
Size: 945 kW
Estimated savings over 30 year period: $10 million
Vintage Wine Estates used a combination of roof mounted and ground mounted solar panels to reduce their utility costs.
55. AWTA
Country: Bibra Lake, United States
Solar PV: Conenergy
Size: 350 kW
Estimated annual savings: AUD$169 000
AWTA is the largest wool testing organization in the world. The installed 1085 solar panels on their roof and produce 32% of their energy consumption.
56. Transmin
Country: Malaga, Australia
Solar PV: Suntech
Size: 40 kW
Estimated annual savings: AUD$15 200
With the help of the AusIndustry Clean Technology Investment Program, Transmin made their operations more sustainable with 174 Suntech panels and 2 SMA solar inverters.
57. Mining & Hydraulic Supplies Pty Ltd
Country: Malaga, Australia
Solar PV: Solarpower
Size: 7 kW
Estimated annual savings: AUD$1900
Mining & Hydraulic Supplies has reduced their electricity bill significantly and generate 80% of their energy with solar panels.
58. T&G Corporation
Country: Perth, Australia
Solar PV: Suntech
Size: 33 kW
Estimated annual savings: AUD$9800
In the preceding years T&G Corporation saw their utility bills rise 28%. With solar energy the made their future energy bills predictable again.
59. Firesafe United Group
Country: Bibra Lake, Australia
Solar PV: Hanwha
Size: 80 kW
Estimated annual savings: AUD$23 500
Firesafe United Group installed 3 solar energy systems on their roof to optimize their energy costs.
60. Pacific Nylon Plastics Australia
Country: O’Connor, Australia
Solar PV: Canadian Solar
Size: 20 kW
Estimated annual savings: AUD$10 700
Pacific Nylon Plastics Australia used the redevelopment of their buildings to make their operations greener with the installation of 80 solar pv panels
61. Sheridan’s
Country: West Perth, Australia
Solar PV: Daqo
Size: 15 kW
Estimated annual savings: AUD$6 100
Sheridan’s installed with their installation partner Infinity Energy 60 solar panels on their roof and one fronius solar inverter.
62. Signs & Lines
Country: Midvale, Australia
Solar PV: Q Cells
Size: 40 kW
Estimated annual savings: AUD$13 500
Cost control was a major reason for Sign & Lines to choose for a roof mounted solar energy system.
63. Slumbercorp
Country: Welshpool, Australia
Solar PV: REC Solar
Size: 40 kW
Estimated annual savings: AUD$16 100
Cost control was a major reason for Sign & Lines to choose for a roof mounted solar energy system.
64. WA Glasskote
Country: Landsdale, Australia
Solar PV: REC Solar
Size: 40 kW
Estimated annual savings: AUD$10 200
WA Glasskote generates 12% of its energy consumption with their solar energy system.
65. Dobbie
Country: Malaga, Australia
Solar PV: REC Solar
Size: 200 kW
Estimated annual savings: AUD$82 854
Dobbie wanted to reduce their impact on the environment and their energy costs.
66. Pindan
Country: Belmont, Australia
Solar PV: REC Solar
Size: 30 kW
Estimated annual savings: AUD$15 100
Pindan, a construction company, generates 7% of their energy usage with solar panels.
67. Wallis Drilling
Country: Midvale, Australia
Solar PV: REC Solar
Size: 67 kW
Estimated annual savings: AUD$28 900
Wallis Drilling wanted to reduce their costs and make their operations more sustainable. They choose for a roof mounted solar energy system with four Fronius solar inverters. Their solar energy electricity consumption represents 47% of their total energy consumption.
68. Geostats
Country: O’Connor, Australia
Solar PV: REC Solar
Size: 20 kW
Estimated annual savings: AUD$6 600
Geostats wanted to make their operations more environmentally friendly and optimize their energy costs.
69. Eilbeck Cranes
Country: Bassendean, Australia
Solar PV: Canadian Solar
Size: 40 kW
Estimated annual savings: AUD$15 800
Eilbeck Cranes installed 156 Canadian Solar on their roof connected to two Fronius inverters monitored with Fronius Remote Monitoring Solution.
70. Arbortech
Country: Malaga, Australia
Solar PV: Poly Solar Panels
Size: 40 kW
Estimated annual savings: AUD$13 000
Arbortech wanted to reduce its dependency on the utility prices by switching to rooftop solar.
71. Australian Safety Engineers
Country: Canning Vale, Australia
Solar PV: REC Solar
Size: 40 kW
Estimated annual savings: AUD$22 100
Australian Safety Engineers wanted to decrease their utility bill. They opted for a rooftop solar energy system.
72. Stylewoods
Country: Kewdale, Australia
Solar PV: Winaico Solar Panels
Size: 40 kW
Estimated annual savings: AUD$31 500
Stylewoods wanted to reduce their energy bill to free up more working capital for their operations.
73. Plas-Pak
Country: Malaga, Australia
Solar PV: Winaico Solar Panels
Size: 100 kW
Estimated annual savings: AUD$31 500
Plas-Pak wanted to maintain competitive prices for their clients and to make their company more environmentally friendly.
74. John Papas Trailers
Country: Welshpool, Australia
Solar PV: REC Solar
Size: 40 kW
Estimated annual savings: AUD$13 300
John Papas Trailers reduced their dependence on grid electricity through the decision for a solar energy system.
75. Quality Blast and Paint
Country: Welshpool, Australia
Solar PV: Sunpower
Size: 40 kW
Estimated annual savings: AUD$12 550
Quality Blast and Paint wanted to become more competitive through the adoption of solar energy.
76. Pelagic Marine Services
Country: Freemantle, Australia
Solar PV: Sunpower
Size: 40 kW
Estimated annual savings: AUD$15 530
Pelagic Marine Services wanted to make their business more sustainable and more cost efficient and choose for a solar energy system installed by Infinity Energy.
77. Twenty Two Services
Country: Neerabup, Australia
Solar PV: Sunpower
Size: 13 kW
Estimated annual savings: AUD$4 200
Twenty Two Services wanted to reduce their yearly CO2 emissions and their utility bills. Infinity Energy helped them install solar energy system containing 38 solar panels and one Fronius inverter.
Public Sector Solar Energy
78. Yolo County
Country: California, United States
Solar PV: Sunpower
Size: 6.8 mW
Estimated savings over 30 years: $60 million
Yolo county wanted to reduce their energy bill and supply their residents with green energy.
79. AC Transit District
Country: California, United States
Installer: Sunpower
Size: 177 kW
Estimated savings over 25 years: $5 million
ACT Transit District is is Sunpower helped AC Transit District with the installation of two solar energy projects.
80. US Airforce Academy
Country: Colorado Springs, United States
Solar PV: Sunpower
Size: 6 mW
Estimated savings annual savings: $500 000
81. Department of Mines and Petroleum
Country: Carlisle, Australia
Installer: Infinite Energy
Solar PV: Winaico
Inverter: SMA
Size: 40 kW
Year 1 Return on Investment: 31%
10 Year Net Present Value: $69 200
Annual Savings: $15 400
Infinite Energy installed 153 solar panels on the roof of the Department of Mines and Petroleum. The projected return is 2.8 years.
82. Sacred Hearts Academy
Country: Hawaii, United States
Installer: Hawaiian Energy Systems
Solar PV: Centrosolar America
Solar Inverter: Enphase
Size: 243 kW
Cost Reduction: 33% annually
Sacred Hearts Academy is a private school in Honolulu, Hawaii. Hawaiian Energy Systems inc. and Centrosolar America installed 1023 panels on three different sun orientations and was completed in 2013.
83. Ina Levine Jewish Community Center
Country: Arizona, United States
Installer: Green Choice Solar
Solar PV: Centrosolar America
Size: 1.3 MW
Cost reduction: $6.8 million lifetime system
The Ina Levine Jewish Community Center delivers services to the Scottsdale community. Green Choice Solar installed 5685 solar panels on two locations. One part of the panels was installed on the roof and the majority was installed on 400 carports.
84. Fire station Gifhorn
Country: Germany
Installer: Elektro Ohlhoff
Solar PV: Yingli Solar
Inverter: Kaco Powador
Size: 60.86 kWp
Cost Reduction: €25900
The roofs of the fire station in Gifhorn presented a perfect solar energy investment opportunity. It was an easy decision for the local government of Gifhorn.
85. University of Colorado
Country: Boulder, Colorado, United States
Installer: Eco Depot USA / Solarado Energy
Inverter: SatCon Technology Corporation
Size: 100 kW
Average Annual Savings: $21 750
Return on investment: 7.9%
In septembre 2009 the University of Colorado installed solar panels on a solar carport. This project was part of a LEED Platinum certificate process for which the University applied. The LEED platinum status is the highest green building status that can be achieved in the LEED program.
86. Rotary Residential College
Country: Kensington, Australia
Installer: Infinite Energy
Solar PV: REC Solar
Inverter: SMA
Size: 40 kW
Year 1 return on investment: 33%
10 year Net Present Value: $69 000
Annual Savings: $20 400
Rotary Residential College is a high-school with a lodging service to their students. Infinite Energy helped the Rotary Residential College with the installation of 153 REC solar panels on their roof.
87. Solar Carport Santa Cruz
Country: Santa Cruz, California, United States
Installer: Swenson Solar
Size: 386 kW
Annual Savings: $73 000
The city of Santa Cruz choose Swenson Solar to build two solar carports with 834 and 936 solar panels installed on them.
88. Hurstpierpoint College
Country: Hurstpierpoint, United Kingdom
Installer: Enviko
Solar PV: Conergy
Inverter: SMA
Size: 53.75 kW
Yearly Income and Savings: £10 151
Hurstpierpoint is a college home to more than 1000 students. The college wanted to reduce their energy bill and demonstrate their green credentials. The solar panels are installed on three different roofs. Because of the feed-in-tariff the cost of the installation will be recovered in 6 years.
89. San Ramon Valley Unified School District
Country: Danville, United States
Solar PV: Sunpower
Size: 3.3 mW
Estimated savings over 25 years: $24.4 million
The San Ramon Valley Unified School District was confronted with the reduction of their budgets and growing energy bills. Getting solar energy was their solution.
90. University of California Merced
Country: Merced, United States
Solar PV: Sunpower
Size: 1.1 mW
Estimated savings over 20 years: $5 million
The university wanted to reach their sustainable goals and with no upfront cost the adopted solar energy through a power purchase agreement.
91. Stonehill College
Country: Easton, United States
Solar PV: Sunpower
Size: 2.8 mW
Estimated savings over 20 years: $1.8 million
The Stonehill College started the Stonehill Goes Green campaign to reduce their gas emmission with 20% by 2020. That is why they switched to solar energy paid through a power purchase agreement.
92. Inland Empire Utilities Agency
Country: San Bernardino County, United States
Solar PV: Sunpower
Size: 3.5 mW
Estimated savings over 20 years: $3 million
The Inland Empire Utilities Agency has the objective to be 100% powered by renewable energy by 2020.
93. Phelan Piñon
Hills Community Services District
Country: San Bernardino County, United States
Solar PV: Sunpower
Size: 1.5 mW
Estimated savings over 30 years: $13 million
The Phelan Piñon Hills Community Services District was confrented with fast growing electricity prices and lowered their cost with solar energy.
94. Bundaberg Christian College
Country: Bundaberg, Australia
Solar PV: Hanwha Q Cells
Size: 193.98 kWp
Estimated annual savings: AUD$100 000
The Bundaberg Christian College has opted for a solar energy system with battery backup, the largest system of its kind at an Australian school.
95. Cathedral College
Country: Rockhampton, Australia
Solar PV: Q Cells
Size: 85 kWp
Payback period of six years
Because of it strong commitment to sustainability, Cathedral College opted for solar energy.
96. Emerald Marist College
Country: Central Highlands, Australia
Solar PV: Q Cells
Size: 100 kWp
Estimated annual savings: AUD$40 000
Due to high air conditioning usage and electricity bills during the summer months, Emerald Marist College, choose to install a solar energy system on its roof.
97. Pleasanton Unified School District
Country: Paso Robles, United States
Solar PV: REC Solar
Size: 1 mW
Estimated saving over 25 years: $2.2 million
The Pleasanton Unified School District made the switch to solar energy through a power purchase agreement. The solar panels were placed on solar carports.
98. Roseville Joint Union High School District
Country: Paso Robles, United States
Solar PV: REC Solar
Size: 1.02 mW
Estimated saving over 25 years: $8 million
The Roseville Joint Union High School District installed solar panels over their parking structures.
99. St Catherine’s College
Country: Crawley, Australia
Solar PV: Sunpower
Size: 200 kW
Estimated annual savings: AUD$84 000
The Roseville Joint Union High School District installed solar panels over their parking structures.
100. City of Perth – Depot
Country: Perth, Australia
Solar PV: Sunpower
Size: 39 kW
Estimated annual savings: AUD$16 100
The city of Perth wanted to make their depot more sustainable and more cost efficient.