This Daily Reporter article highlights the completion of a unique vertical solar installation on one of Shorewood’s tallest office buildings, demonstrating how commercial properties can creatively use renewable energy to reduce operating costs. Wisconsin-based Arch Solar installed the 83-foot-tall solar array on the side of a seven-story office building located at 3970 N. Oakland Ave. in Shorewood, near Milwaukee. The project was developed for Dominion Properties, which wanted to transform a large unused brick wall into a productive energy-generating asset.
The installation measures approximately 83 feet high by 23 feet wide and includes 120 solar modules with a total generating capacity of 54 kilowatts. According to project officials, the system is expected to produce about 58,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, roughly equivalent to the yearly energy consumption of five or six average homes. Dominion Properties stated that the solar array will help reduce electricity expenses for tenants at a time when utility costs continue to rise.
A major focus of the article is the engineering challenge associated with vertical solar arrays in northern climates. Typical solar installations in Wisconsin are mounted at angled positions to maximize sunlight exposure and encourage snow removal. In this case, however, the modules had to be installed at a 90-degree angle directly on the building facade. Additional complications included shading from neighboring urban buildings. To maximize efficiency, Arch Solar used SolarEdge DC-optimized technology, including advanced inverters and power optimizers that allow each panel to operate independently and maintain performance even under partial shading conditions.
The article also discusses safety features integrated into the system. Because the building is located in a busy commercial area, the installation includes arc fault detection, temperature sensors and SolarEdge’s SafeDC technology, which automatically lowers voltage levels to safer conditions during maintenance or emergencies. Arch Solar representatives emphasized that modern inverter technology and stricter safety regulations are helping make complex urban solar projects more practical and secure.
Overall, the article presents the Shorewood project as an innovative example of urban renewable energy design. By utilizing previously unused vertical space, the installation demonstrates how commercial buildings can lower energy costs, improve sustainability and encourage wider adoption of solar technology in dense urban environments.
