ReVision Energy, in partnership with Quest Renewables, recently completed the installation of a 193.63kW QuadPodâ„¢ solar canopy system atop Portland, Maine's Fore Street Garage. The system has been producing power since late May. Fore Street Garage is owned by ReVision Energy's customer, East Brown Cow Management Company. 

The installation marks the first commercial solar parking garage canopy in the state of Maine. The solar parking garage canopy on the top level of the Fore Street Garage provides shaded parking and cover from the elements for vehicles and provides clean, local, renewable energy to the Hyatt Place. The 193.63kW solar array consists of 578 individual panels wired to seven grid tied inverters and mounted to an advanced long span solar canopy structure.

The system was designed by Quest Renewables and features seven of their QuadPod solar canopies. To accommodate the addition of the system atop the parking garage, engineers designed it to integrate into the garage with minimal disruption during construction. 90% of QuadPod's construction activity, including assembly, wiring and lighting, takes place on the ground. After assembly, wiring and lighting, the solar canopies are lifted by crane for final installation, minimizing overhead work and optimizing worksite safety. Worksites are safer and more efficient with construction crews working on the ground.

The power generated by the system will offset energy used by the garage and the Hyatt Place, also owned by East Brown Cow Management Company. The 578 solar panels atop the system will produce an estimated 232,235 kWh of clean, renewable energy each year for decades to come, offsetting over 23% of the hotel's historical electrical consumption. Over its lifetime, this system will eliminate 7 million pounds of CO2 pollution. The array is grid-tied, and feeds into the utility grid anytime it's making more energy than is being consumed on site. Solar energy is eligible for a federal tax credit, worth 30% of the total project cost

Fortunat Mueller, co-founder and managing partner of ReVision Energy, said of the installation, "Quest Renewables' innovative QuadPod solar canopy allowed us to meet a very aggressive schedule at a particularly challenging site. The Quest team was terrific to work with from start to finish and allowed us to deliver a beautiful, efficient and long lasting solar project to our client with minimal interruption to their business. We're excited about having introduced this innovative parking canopy to the New England market and look forward to pursuing additional opportunities together throughout Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts."

Josh Baston, PV Project Manager of ReVision Energy, added, "ReVision Energy had a lot of fun working on this project. This was the first solar canopy we had the experience to work on, working with a team of professionals such as Quest was a great learning opportunity for us as well."

ReVision Energy | www.revisionenergy.com