Inovateus Solar completes largest rooftop solar array

SOUTH BEND, USA: Inovateus Solar LLC, installer of commercial and industrial solar power systems, installed the solar systems at Chicago's Shedd Aquarium to launch the first phase of the institution's clean-energy initiative.

The solar firm was an integral part of an energy construction project headed by global energy management company Schneider Electric. The project consisted of the rooftop installation of 913 photovoltaic solar panels on the aquarium's marine mammal pavilion.

In an event in late 2013, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn was on hand to help unveil the 265-kilowatt project, the largest solar installation on any cultural institution in the state of Illinois.

Shedd worked with public and private energy leaders to advance the building's energy management system, bringing Shedd closer to achieving its long-term goal of saving close to 10 million kilowatt hours annually - enough to power a town of 750 households.

Governor Quinn stated. "The solar panel project at the aquarium is the start of many progressive changes to our energy economy, serving as a model to integrate sustainability into operations for organizations around the country."

Inovateus Solar was commissioned to provide their expertise in this historic undertaking in September of 2013. Inovateus Solar is a licensed general contractor in the City of Chicago. "We were excited when Schneider Electric brought us in as the solar general contractor for this project," said Inovateus Solar President T.J. Kanczuzewski. "We used Schneider Electric components for the installation, such as combiner boxes and inverters. We sourced out all solar panels, and handled engineering, project management and integration."

Kanczuzewski stated that J. Ranck was the electrical contractor for the project. Schletter provided the racking systems used for solar panels in conjunction with their Anchor Product line.

"Schneider chose Inovateus Solar for their proven track record of quality and responsiveness," said Schneider Electric executive vice president Dean Meyer. "A project like Shedd had to be installed quickly due to schedule requirements and with attention to detail due to permitting and final appearance on a historic Chicago landmark."

The new solar energy system will power life-support equipment to the aquarium's Great Lakes gallery.

"Renewable energy is obviously tied very closely to environmental awareness," said Kanczuzewski. "That's why it's fitting that this renewable energy project is directly connected to the Great Lakes exhibit."

"Protecting and preserving the living world is at the heart of Shedd Aquarium and we understand that conservation and sustainability begin at home in the aquarium," said Ted A. Beattie, Shedd President and CEO.