Iowa State University Agrivoltaics
In a pioneering initiative, Iowa State University (ISU) is embarking on a research project to explore the combination of crops and solar power. This groundbreaking agrivoltaics research project aims to merge solar power generation and agriculture to study how best to optimize land use while providing local community benefits.
Stuff Etc
Community-oriented values and cutting edge solutions helped entrepreneur Mary Sundblad grow Stuff Etc from a small craft and clothing shop into the largest consignment service operation in the nation. Her company’s latest innovation is the installation of a solar power system designed to cover 100% of the business’s electrical needs.
Grinnell College Solar Installation
Grinnell College has a rich history of commitment to environmental stewardship within the campus grounds. Initiatives include signing onto the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment, a pact that requires participating institutions to develop comprehensive plans to achieve climate neutrality.
Schaus-Vorhies Manufacturing
Situated on a former contamination site, the Schaus-Vorhies Manufacturing (SVM) solar field is standout example of putting unused land to productive, revenue-generating use. As of 2016, the half-megawatt array is the largest privately owned industrial solar installation in Iowa.
MIU Solar
The 1.1 megawatt Maharishi International University Solar Power Plant is the first solar installation to combine active tracking technology and vanadium-flow battery energy storage in the U.S. The system uses an intelligent tracker control system that allows each individual row to move independently to compensate for shading, weather conditions, or the topography of the site in real-time.
Agri-Industrial Solar
Agri-Industrial Plastics Company’s power plant features a 517 kW roof-mounted solar array that works in tandem with a 212 kW Tesla Powerwall battery energy storage system. During the day, the solar panels generate energy which charges the Powerwall and powers the company’s advanced manufacturing operations. The battery system runs on an artificially-intelligent control system to automatically...
What Our Clients Are Saying
Taco John’s
Taco John’s installed a 110 kW solar array in Fairfield Iowa. The array will generate around 65% of the restaurant’s electricity needs. Over the next 25 years the array will provide significant energy cost savings while preventing around 1,905 metrics tons of CO2 from being released into the atmosphere.
Steffensmeier Welding & Manufacturing
Solar power has been a boon for Steffensmeier Welding & Manufacturing. Completed in 2016, the 430 kW solar field saves the company $8000 to $9000 per month. The savings have allowed Steffensmeier to invest in their employees, hire new workers, expand production, and give back to the community.
H&M Swine
Completed 2018, the 73.44 solar installation at H&M Swine covers nearly 75% of the family pork production’s energy needs and will pay for itself in 4 years. This is a stellar example of how solar energy can is helping farming operations become more stable and profitable with predictable, low energy costs.
Drake University
Drake’s mission is to provide an exceptional learning environment that prepares students for meaningful personal lives, professional accomplishments, and responsible global citizenship. In 2019 the University completed a 128 kW solar installation at the Roger Knapp Tennis Center.
School House Apartments
Todd Schneider, a southeast Iowa visionary, transformed a middle school into high quality, affordable apartments. The retrofit incorporated a 300 kW solar array (200 kW roof mount and 100 kW car port) which powers 37 apartments, each with a unique floor plan.
Sky Factory
On Thursday, June 7, 2012, The Sky Factory, a global fine art and technology company based in Fairfield, Iowa, “flipped the switch” to become Iowa’s first solar powered business, with a 54 kW array, designed to generate 104% of the company’s power needs.
Iowa State Bank
Iowa State Bank was the first financial institution in the State of Iowa to invest in clean, solar energy, with installations at two of the bank’s locations in 2013. The installations allow Iowa State Bank to draw nearly half of its power from sunlight.
French Reneker
French-Reneker-Associates, a Iowa civil and environmental engineering company, switched to solar with an array that will pay for itself in 3-4 years. The 41 kW array will provide around 80% of the building’s electricity and save the company over $9,000 per year.
Gateridge
Completed 2015, the Gateridge Court Office Building was one of the first commissioned Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) third-party financed solar installations in the State of Iowa. Ideal Energy collaborated with top legal experts experienced in wind industry finance, to comply with Iowa regulatory and legislative mandates, ensuring the financial viability of the project.