Project Portfolio

Renewable energy plays a leading role in Drake University’s sustainability program. Drake’s first solar project was a 128 kW array on the roof of the Roger Knapp Tennis Center, installed in 2019. A 67.2 kW installation at the Tom and Ruth Harkin Center, and a 182.7 kW rooftop array on Meredith Hall soon followed. A 100 kW array is under construction at Morehouse Hall. 

Tom and Ruth Harkin Center

The Tom and Ruth Harkin Center combines multiple sustainability initiatives with a new approach to accessibility and inclusion called universal design. In addition to a 67.2 kilowatt rooftop solar array, the center features a distinctive wraparound interior ramp that eliminates the need for stairs or elevators, embodying the accessibility principles championed by former Senator Tom Harkin through the Americans with Disabilities Act. The building is Three Green Globes Certified – the highest rating of any building in Iowa – and won Best of Show in the 2021 Best Development Awards.

Specifications by Project

Roger Knapp Tennis Center

Solar Energy: 128.02 kW (DC)

Modules: (346) Jinko Solar JKM370M-72-V 370 watt

Inverters: (1) Solar Edge P860 Optimizer

Racking & Mounting: roof-mounted

Tom and Ruth Harkin Center

Solar Energy: 67.2 kW (DC)

Modules: (168) Tier 1 modules 400 watt

Inverters: (168) Enphase IQ7+ Microinverters

Racking & Mounting: KB Racking Aerorack, roof-mounted

Meredith Hall

Solar Energy: 182.7 kW (DC)

Modules: (406) Trina Solar TSM-DEG18MC.20(II) 450 watt bifacial

Inverters: (4) Chint Power Systems CPS 25 kW

Racking & Mounting: PanelClaw ClawFR 10 Degree, roof-mounted

Morehouse Hall

Solar Energy: 100 kW (DC)

Modules: (160) Hanwha Qcells Q.TRON XL-G2.3 / BFG 625 watt

Inverters: (1) Solis S5-GC(75)K-US 75kW

Racking & Mounting: Unirac RM10 EVO, roof-mounted