Ohio village adds 9,222 solar panels, raising solar power per resident

A surprising place for solar power

Solar panels do not always need open fields. Monroeville found another place for them. The Ohio village added panels to its reservoir. That choice helps protect farmland from development.

The project produces electricity above the water. It also makes use of existing community space. For a small town, the scale is notable. The idea could interest other communities too and could become a useful option for towns with limited land.

9,222 panels now float on water

The new project uses 9,222 solar panels. They sit across three floating platforms. Together, they provide about 6 megawatts. Electricity now reaches Monroeville’s local grid.

The array covers roughly 12 acres of water. Its panels capture sunlight above the reservoir. The equipment stays away from working farmland. The reservoir now serves another useful purpose while keeping the solar equipment on the reservoir instead of using additional cropland elsewhere nearby today.

Why the reservoir location matters

A similar ground array could need 30 acres. The floating system uses about 12 acres. That difference matters where farmland is valuable. Ohio counties can restrict some large solar projects. A reservoir offers another location for generation.

It avoids using the same amount of ground. The approach may appeal to smaller communities. Local conditions would still determine project choices when communities are searching for practical places to add renewable electricity.

A big project for a small village

Monroeville has roughly 1,300 residents today. Six megawatts is substantial for that population. The village already had solar experience. Its first major facility opened in 2017. That ground-mounted project produces 4 megawatts. The floating array adds another 6 megawatts.

Together, both facilities create a large local footprint. The scale stands out for such a small community and gives the community another source of electricity without expanding across more farmland locally.

Monroeville already had solar experience

The floating array is not Monroeville’s first solar project. The village has operated a ground facility since 2017. That system has 4 megawatts of capacity. Years of operation came before the reservoir project.

Now solar generation extends onto the water. The two projects use different types of space. One occupies land, while the other floats offshore. Together, they expand the village’s local generation while keeping the village’s solar investment focused locally.

Monroeville’s solar capacity stands out

Monroeville has about 13 times Ohio’s per-person solar capacity. That comparison reflects its small population and projects. It does not mean every home uses solar power.

The electricity enters the local distribution system. Both facilities contribute to that supply. The village therefore has an unusually strong solar footprint. Its capacity is large relative to its population. That makes Monroeville unusual within Ohio when compared with communities that have larger populations.

Floating solar is growing in Ohio

Monroeville is part of Ohio’s floating-solar growth. D3Energy built a project for Del-Co Water. That installation is located in Delaware, Ohio. The company also built one at Twin Lakes Reservoir.

That project serves the City of Lima. Together, active Ohio projects approach 10 megawatts. The trend gives water bodies a new role. More communities are exploring this type of solar as interest grows in placing solar equipment on suitable reservoirs.

Fun fact: Monroeville is D3Energy’s third floating-solar project in Ohio, following projects at Del-Co Water and Lima’s Twin Lakes Reservoir.

Who built and owns the project

Gardner Capital owns the Monroeville system. The company sells its electricity to the village. D3Energy developed the floating solar project. Appalachian Renewable Power handled the contracting work. Each company has a different role.

The arrangement links private ownership with local demand. Several energy businesses helped bring it together. The result is now serving Monroeville’s grid while allowing the village to buy electricity generated by the privately owned system there locally.

The project ranks among large arrays

D3Energy calls it Ohio’s largest floating solar project. The company says it ranks among America’s five biggest. Its 6-megawatt capacity helps explain that scale. The project is large compared with Monroeville’s population.

Yet it uses only about 12 acres of water. A ground system could require more land. That combination makes the installation notable. It shows how floating solar can expand capacity without requiring a comparable amount of additional land.

Water can serve two purposes

The reservoir already had an important community role. Solar panels now add another function. They generate electricity while floating on its surface. D3Energy described this as giving water two jobs. The project uses space without covering additional farmland.

That can matter where open ground is limited. It also demonstrates a different solar-site strategy. Water surfaces can sometimes support energy infrastructure while keeping the reservoir useful for its original community purpose.

Fun fact: The Monroeville array covers 12 acres of reservoir water, while a comparable ground-mounted system would have required about 30 acres.

A different path for small towns

The project offers another option for solar development. Communities with suitable reservoirs could study similar ideas. Floating panels can reduce pressure on available land.

Every site still needs careful planning and review. Not every reservoir will suit floating solar. Water conditions and local needs can vary. Monroeville provides a real-world example to examine. Its project adds another option for small towns when local leaders consider future energy projects and space.

Homeowners can explore solar too

Community projects are not the only solar option. Homeowners can explore rooftop systems as well. EnergySage helps shoppers compare solar installation quotes, review average costs by state, and research available solar incentives.

Those details can help homeowners compare prices and available programs. Battery storage is another option to investigate because properly configured systems can provide backup power during some outages. Homeowners can also compare battery costs, incentives, and installation options before deciding whether storage fits their needs.

Could community solar be the answer for people who want solar power but cannot install panels at home? Find out how California is expanding options for renters.

Monroeville shows what’s possible

Monroeville’s new array adds 6 megawatts. It uses about 12 acres of reservoir surface. The village already had 4 megawatts from solar. A comparable ground system could need 30 acres.

The project therefore uses water instead of more land. It adds another approach to local generation. The example also expands Ohio’s floating-solar capacity. For other towns, it may inspire new ideas while showing how smaller communities can rethink solar generation.

Curious about how Ohio is balancing energy growth with local economic concerns? Find out more about the questions shaping the state’s development.

Could floating solar work in more small towns across the country? Share your thoughts in the comments and let us know what you think.

This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.

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