Client: City of Grand Rapids
Project Size: 2 MW
Transforming a Former Landfill into a Renewable Energy Asset
Geotech provided engineering and photovoltaic design services for the Butterworth Landfill Solar Array, a large-scale renewable energy project being developed on a former landfill site in Grand Rapids. Working closely with the City of Grand Rapids and the project developer, our team guided the project from initial planning through design, helping transform an inactive property into a future productive source of clean energy.
The proposed 2 MW solar array supports the City’s long-term sustainability and climate action goals by generating renewable energy for municipal operations. Once operational, the system is expected to offset a significant portion of the electrical demand associated with public infrastructure, including streetlighting, traffic signals, and municipal facilities throughout the city.
Project Challenge
Redeveloping a closed landfill for solar energy production required careful consideration of site constraints, infrastructure integration, long-term performance, and constructability. The project team needed to develop a reliable renewable energy solution while addressing the unique engineering challenges associated with landfill redevelopment.
Geotech’s Role
Geotech delivered coordinated engineering and photovoltaic design services to support project development and implementation. Our team provided site evaluation, solar layout planning, electrical infrastructure design, and engineering coordination to ensure the system could be successfully integrated with existing municipal infrastructure while meeting long-term operational objectives.
Scope of Services
- Photovoltaic system planning and design
- Site evaluation and engineering coordination
- Electrical infrastructure and power distribution design
- Solar layout development and optimization
- Constructability and long-term performance evaluation
- Municipal infrastructure integration support
Project Highlights
- Proposed 2 MW photovoltaic solar array
- Redevelopment of a former landfill property
- Renewable energy generation for municipal operations
- Supports City of Grand Rapids sustainability and climate initiatives
- Designed to offset energy demand for public infrastructure and facilities
- Sustainable reuse of underutilized land for clean energy production
Through strategic planning, engineering coordination, and optimized solar design, Geotech helped advance a landmark renewable energy project that demonstrates the value of repurposing former landfill properties to support long-term environmental, operational, and community sustainability goals.