Melink Solar has completed construction on a solar array at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden in Ohio. The 2.8-MW solar parking canopy project uses a Terrasmart racking system, with the Gibraltar Industries company also helping with mechanical installation.
“Executing this project for the Cincinnati Zoo aligns deeply with our mission to build sustainability for our clients,” says Melink Solar CEO Seth Parker. “We are honored to support the zoo’s commitment to environmental stewardship and proud to have collaborated with all of our partners on this project.”
The system integrated nearly 5,000 bifacial modules connected via string inverter technology. The new carport will provide shade for about 800 vehicles. According to zoo officials, the zoo now has 4.55 MW of on-site solar, and the collective portfolio will reduce the facility’s annual power bill to around $300,000 by 2030 to 2032, down from $1.6 million in 2005.
“Solar technology, and our understanding of how to use it, has evolved dramatically since we erected our first solar array in 2006 on the Zoo’s education building,” states Mark Fisher, Vice President of Facilities, Planning, and Sustainability for the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden. “This new array is a good example of that. It occupies less physical space but will generate almost twice as much power as the current array. Now online, two-thirds of the Zoo’s electrical needs will come from our parking lots.”
To help offset energy poverty in the neighborhood, the zoo also has financed an additional 165 kW of solar panels through its Community Solar Resiliency Program to support smaller installations at local churches, community centers and schools.
“Completing this milestone project for the Cincinnati Zoo is a significant achievement for all of us at Terrasmart,” said Terrasmart Chief Sales Officer Yuri Reznikov. “Not only did we deliver our canopy solution on time and within budget, we are also excited about the meaningful impact this project will have for the zoo and its neighboring communities.”
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