U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Solar Energy Technologies Program

Solar America Showcases

Photo of solar panels on roof of the Halsey Terrace Community Center, which is surrounded by green grass and a kid's playground. Clouds and trees can be seen in the background.

This Forest City military community in Honolulu, Hawaii, uses high-efficiency solar panels installed on the roof of its community center to power 10 homes. Read the Forest City fact sheet (PDF 1.8 MB). Download Adobe Reader.

The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Program provides free technical assistance to projects that feature large-scale installations of commercially available solar technologies through its Solar America Showcases activity. The goal of the Solar America Showcases project is to accelerate the demand for solar technologies by supporting projects that inspire local governments, citizens, and organizations to use solar energy technologies. The Solar Program is seeking proposals for 2009 Solar America Showcases.

Ideally, Solar America Showcases reflect some or most of these qualities:

  • Use of a novel solar technology or application
  • High-visibility installation
  • Replicable in whole or in part.

Solar America Showcases awarded until April of 2009 also were required to include projects with solar systems greater than 100 kilowatts. This requirement was increased to a minimum of 250 kilowatts for the most recent winners.

Large-scale installations may include photovoltaic (PV), concentrating solar power (CSP), or solar water heating applications (or a combination of these). Technical assistance includes:

  • Permits and regulatory compliance
  • Structural analysis of the existing building
  • Solar financing
  • Structural upgrade suggestions
  • Architectural, mechanical, and electrical design assistance
  • Project management assistance
  • Best practice recommendations.

Below are links to the projects selected in 2007, 2008, and 2009: