Midwest utility Alliant Energy unveils major solar research and education project; includes record 23 Spotlight Solar trees

In partnership with Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), the utility has integrated multiple solar and clean energy technologies—including 23 Spotlight Solar trees—to create a center for research, education and collaboration. The multiyear initiative will study different types of technologies in a northern, Upper Midwest climate to provide the utility with valuable insights into the best-suited solar technologies for the region, and to raise public awareness of solar.

Located at Alliant’s Madison headquarters, the unique project brings together a variety of different solar photovoltaic (PV) technologies, such as ground-mounted tracker systems, rooftop arrays, and parking canopies, and totals more than 1300 solar panels and 325 kilowatts (KW) of installed grid-tied capacity. The demonstration site also includes energy storage batteries and electric vehicle charging stations. Real-time monitoring of the systems will be accessible via a Web-based dashboard.

The Alliant project features the largest installation yet of Spotlight Solar trees, with 23 of the striking clean energy-generating structures providing a distinctive visual element to the project. Alliant and EPRI sought to encourage the public’s engagement with solar technology and chose Spotlight’s elegantly designed structures to bring solar to eye level in an engaging form.

Alliant has several solar projects in development and will complete a number of large and community-scale installations in 2016.

“Solar is becoming a more important part of our energy portfolio. This project will help us test many different solar technologies and installation strategies. We also want our customers to benefit from this learning opportunity, so we’ve made these installations at our Madison office campus uniquely engaging. Solar is an elegant technology, so we felt it should be presented elegantly.” – Patricia Kampling, Chairman, President and CEO, Alliant Energy

Built by Madison-based integrator H&H Solar Energy Services, Spotlight Solar’s installations feature clusters of each of the company’s products—Lift, Curve, Industry and Trestle— sited at different locations around the campus, which together account for 66 KW of the total generation capacity installed. The PV systems will generate approximately 86,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, enough to charge the equivalent of more than 290,000 miles of electric vehicle driving.*

Spotlight Solar’s solar structures are thoughtfully engineered, aesthetically pleasing systems designed to complement other, less-visible clean energy investments. They catalyze conversation and awareness around solar energy and sustainability.

“The Alliant Energy demonstration project offers a potent combination of solar research facility, power plant, public education, and customer outreach,” said Craig Merrigan, CEO and co-founder of Spotlight Solar. “Not only will our products contribute to Alliant’s research aims, they will raise awareness and understanding of solar among the community, and even contribute to the beauty of the property.”

Spotlight Solar’s installations at Alliant’s headquarters represent the latest project showing the diverse potential for the deployment of publicly visible solar trees. The company has installed many solar structures across the United States, most recently at at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL and at schools in Virginia.