Milan Announces the World’s Largest Solar Rooftop Array

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July 27, 2009
Milan Announces the World’s Largest Solar Rooftop Array
by Diane Pham

Recently Italy’s Milano Fiera trade fair facility announced that it will soon be getting a major eco update in the form of the world’s largest solar rooftop solar array! The massive photovoltaic system will cover 2.9 million sq ft of the roof, and carry a peak capacity of 18 megawatts. Due for completion next year, the project stands to will snag the world title from Zaragoza, Spain’s General Motor’s factory, which currently holds the record for largest rooftop solar plant at 12 megawatts.



With the World Expo 2015 on the way, Milan is kicking its architectural endeavors up into high gear with a number of new major developments and revitalization projects. The city has already enlisted high profile names such as Zaha Hadid, Norman Foster, Arata Isozaki, and Daniel Libeskind.

The Milano Fiera opened in 2005 is one of the principal trade complexes in Europe, housing eight large pavilions for indoor exhibitions with a surface area of over 3.7 million sq ft and outdoor exhibition spaces totalling 645,000 sq ft. Inhabitat readers will be familiar with the convention center as the annual location for the Milan Furniture Fair.

While no definite start date has been set for construction of the solar array, bids have already been submitted, and the array is anticipated to be completed by the end of 2010. Capital costs for the system have been estimated to be between $97-111 million, which will be paid by the developer in exchange for the rights to market and sell the electricity produced. After 20 years, the Milan Trade Fair will take control of the system.



http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/07/27/milan-announces-the-world’s-largest-solar-rooftop-array/