Craig Industries, based in Quincy, Illinois, specializes in creating high-quality insulated building panels for a broad range of industries through its subsidiary brands U.S. Cooler and Enviro Buildings. Craig recently installed a highly optimized solar array at its manufacturing facility in Quincy, Illinois, extending its record of innovation from its high-tech design and manufacturing processes to how it powers its business operations.

“Craig Industries’ solar array is the most optimized way to generate solar energy on a rooftop installation,” said Chuck Klapatauskas, Head of Engineering at Ideal Energy. The 443 kilowatt (kW) installation features Opsun bifacial solar racking, bifacial solar panels, and a brand new roof. The Opsun racking raises panels higher than most other racking systems for better snow shedding and better summer performance. Bifacial panels produce power from both sides, using light reflected off the new roof on the underside.

 The project benefits from incentives offered by Illinois Shines, also known as the Adjustable Block Program. Illinois Shines promotes solar projects by using Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) to bring additional value to solar energy. 

Craig Industries collaborated on the innovative solar project with Ideal Energy, a renewable energy solutions provider headquartered in Fairfield, Iowa, and QFB Energy, an energy consulting and brokerage firm based in Quincy.