Arch Solar and SolarEdge Domestic Content Inverters Power 74% Energy Savings at Wisconsin Police Station
Domestic content inverters and hybrid ground/roof mount design support Wisconsin city's carbon neutrality goals
Arch Solar and SolarEdge Domestic Content Inverters Power 74% Energy Savings at Wisconsin Police Station
Domestic content inverters and hybrid ground/roof mount design support Wisconsin city's carbon neutrality goals
Solar Savings, ROI & Production
- Year 1 Production: 437 MWh annually
- Year 1 Utility Savings: $35,667
- Energy Offset: 74% of building's consumption
- Payback Period: 10.7 years
- Lifetime Savings: $1.3 million
Equipment specs
- Inverters: (6) SolarEdge SE50K-US Domestic Content Inverters
- Power Optimizers: 621 x SolarEdge Power Optimizers
- Modules: 621 Znshine Solar Modules
Installer Insight
For this municipal project, using U.S.-manufactured SolarEdge inverters was important for meeting federal requirements while supporting American manufacturing. SolarEdge's granular, module-level monitoring gives us and the city real-time visibility into system performance—which is critical for public accountability. Citizens can see exactly how their investment is performing down to the individual panel level.
Dan Steinhardt
Business Developer, Arch Solar
Long-Term Solar Partnership Powers Municipal Clean Energy
Arch Solar has served as the primary solar provider for Wauwatosa's major projects over the past five years, including City Hall & Library, Department of Public Works, Fire Department, and EV charging infrastructure.
HIGHLIGHTS: Municipal solar requires careful space planning, transparent monitoring for public accountability, and seamless utility coordination—all strengths of the SolarEdge product portfolio.
The Challenge
Space Constraints and Complex Interconnection at Active Police Facility
Wauwatosa's Common Council adopted ambitious goals: reduce municipal emissions to 50% of 2010 levels by 2030, source 25% of energy from local renewables by 2025, and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
The Police Department installation faced unique challenges:
- Severe Space Constraints: The facility's continuous 24/7 operations and limited grounds made finding room for 621 solar modules, six inverters, and electrical equipment particularly challenging.
- Complex Interconnection: Existing backup generators and critical power infrastructure required careful coordination with WE Energies to navigate utility requirements while maintaining emergency capabilities.
- Public Accountability: As a taxpayer-funded project, transparent monitoring was essential to demonstrate ongoing value to the community.
The Solution
SolarEdge Domestic Content Inverters + Hybrid Design
Arch Solar deployed SolarEdge SE50K-US domestic content inverters with a hybrid ground/roof mount approach to maximize limited space.
Key features:
- Domestic Content Compliance: U.S.-manufactured SE50K-US inverters qualified the project for federal incentives while supporting American manufacturing.
- Flexible Architecture: DC-optimized technology enabled hybrid ground and roof mounting with fixed tilt racking, efficiently utilizing all available space.
- Streamlined Interconnection: Proven technology and documentation simplified coordination with WE Energies during complex interconnection involving backup generators.
- Granular Module-Level Monitoring: SolarEdge's monitoring platform provides real-time, panel-by-panel performance data, allowing the city and citizens to track system health and identify issues at the most detailed level.
Benefits
Significant Savings Support Community Sustainability Goals
Key benefits include:
- 74% Energy Offset – Solar provides nearly three-quarters of the building's annual electricity needs
- $35,667 First-Year Savings – $1.3 million in lifetime savings projected
- 10.7-Year Payback – Strong ROI on taxpayer investment
- 437 MWh Annual Production – Consistent clean energy supporting carbon neutrality goals
- Module-Level Visibility – Granular monitoring showcases ongoing performance and enables proactive maintenance
Community Impact
The Police Department array is located near Firefly Grove Park, which features its own solar installation alongside attractions including a wooden troll sculpture by artist Thomas Dambo. Solar arrays are highlighted on the park map as educational features, demonstrating Wauwatosa's clean energy commitment.
Environmental Savings
This PV system produces energy equivalent to:
