Leading independent power producer REC Solar, in partnership with Kingspan Insulation North America and commercial solar developer and EPC contractor Dynamic Energy, has announced the successful completion of an 881 kW rooftop solar installation at Kingspan’s manufacturing facility in Mendota, Illinois. The project marks another step forward in the companies’ ongoing efforts to expand distributed renewable energy generation across industrial operations in North America. The installation, which covers approximately 50,000 square feet of Kingspan-owned rooftop space, is expected to generate around 1 million kilowatt-hours of clean electricity annually.
This level of renewable energy production is projected to offset approximately 870 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year, contributing directly to the facility’s decarbonisation goals and reducing its reliance on conventional grid electricity. The project represents the third solar installation associated with Kingspan’s operations in North America and forms part of the company’s broader Planet Passionate sustainability programme.
Through this global initiative, the Kingspan Group has committed to installing solar photovoltaic systems across all of its wholly owned sites and achieving 60% direct renewable energy use by 2030. The Mendota installation therefore strengthens the company’s long-term strategy to embed sustainability into its manufacturing and operational footprint.
Under the project structure, REC Solar will own and operate the system through a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA), supplying clean electricity to the facility over the long term. This model allows Kingspan to access renewable energy without upfront capital expenditure while locking in predictable energy costs and emissions reductions over the duration of the agreement.
REC Solar also operates another solar installation for Kingspan, a 1.05 MW rooftop and canopy system located at the company’s facility in DeLand, Florida, which was completed in 2023.Dynamic Energy served as the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) partner for the Mendota project, overseeing the technical design and execution of the rooftop installation.
The company has also previously delivered a 1.36 MW rooftop solar project at Kingspan’s Winchester, Virginia facility, completed in 2024, further extending its collaboration with Kingspan on distributed solar assets across the United States.
Industry leaders involved in the project highlighted the broader significance of such initiatives in supporting corporate sustainability and energy transition goals. Kingspan Insulation North America President Kyle McEnroe described the project as a tangible milestone in the company’s Planet Passionate commitment, emphasizing its role in reducing operational carbon emissions, increasing renewable energy use, and embedding sustainability into core manufacturing processes.
REC Solar CEO Robb Jetty noted that growing demand from industrial and commercial customers is driving increased adoption of long-term renewable energy procurement strategies such as PPAs. He emphasized that projects like the Mendota installation demonstrate how clean energy solutions can simultaneously support emissions reduction targets and provide cost stability in the face of rising electricity prices.
Dynamic Energy President and COO Oliver Davis highlighted the alignment between sustainability and financial planning, noting that rising industrial electricity costs in the United States are encouraging companies to adopt solar energy as both an environmental and economic strategy. He added that the collaboration reflects a shared commitment to helping manufacturers reduce emissions while improving long-term energy resilience.
Overall, the Mendota rooftop solar project reflects a growing trend in industrial decarbonisation, where on-site renewable energy generation and long-term power purchase agreements are increasingly being used to reduce emissions, manage energy costs, and support corporate sustainability commitments across global manufacturing networks.
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