Standard Solar has completed installation on one of Maryland’s largest retail garage-top solar canopies for developer Federal Realty Investment Trust. The 265kW solar array consists of 855 solar panels and is expected to produce 226,500kWh of clean electricity annually.
The project, including the solar canopy and the electric vehicle charging stations, was funded in part through a “Parking Lot Solar Photovoltaic Canopy with Electric Vehicle Charger Program” grant from the Maryland Energy Administration. The construction was completed in October, and the project was celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony on November 18.
The 7-level, 566 parking space garage is part of Pike & Rose, Federal Realty Investment Trust’s new mixed-use residential, retail and office project in Rockville, Maryland. With the power generation of the solar array, it makes possible for the garage and the multiple electricity vehicle charging stations to offset approximately 30% of their energy consumption.
“As the tallest and most visible renewable energy project on Rockville Pike, this project was an especially exciting one for us,” said Scott Wiater, president of Standard Solar. “And, even better, the garage-top solar canopy will be an ever-present reminder of the power and value of solar energy to the thousands of people who park in the garage or see it as they drive by the structure.”
