Ohio Village Launches State Largest Floating Solar Farm

The village of Monroeville, Ohio, has established the state’s largest floating solar farm, a 6-megawatt installation covering 12 acres of a local reservoir. Developed by D3Energy and contractor Appalachian Renewable Power, the project features 9,222 solar modules across three floating platforms. By utilizing existing water infrastructure rather than land, the village avoids the common land-use conflicts associated with rural renewable energy projects. With this addition, Monroeville now boasts 13 times more solar capacity per resident than the state average, further solidifying Ohio’s position as a leader in Midwestern floating solar energy production.

This initiative addresses the challenge of finding space for large-scale renewable projects in agricultural regions. Because a 2021 state law allows local governments to restrict utility-scale solar on land, Monroeville opted to repurpose its reservoir. According to Stetson Tchividjian of D3Energy, the project allows the village to maximize the utility of its water resources, which now serve the dual purpose of water storage and electricity generation. The power produced by the array is fed directly into the local distribution grid to support the needs of area homes and businesses.

The project is owned by Gardner Capital, which sells the generated electricity back to the village. This new installation complements a 4-megawatt ground-mounted array that has been operational in Monroeville since 2017. The success of this site, alongside existing floating arrays in Delaware and Lima, brings Ohio’s total floating solar capacity to nearly 10 megawatts. Collectively, these installations are capable of powering between 5,000 and 10,000 homes, marking a significant milestone for renewable energy infrastructure in the Midwest.