Windsor, Ontario
Commercial
ENWIN Utilities Ltd.
— Andy Smyrnis, Manager of Engineering, Essex Energy Corporation
ENWIN Utilities Ltd., in partnership with Essex Energy, installed a 1.44 MW rooftop solar array at its Windsor, Ontario, headquarters — one of the largest in Canada. The system generates enough clean energy to power 300 homes annually and prevents 623 tonnes of CO₂ emissions each year, equal to removing 644 cars from the road. Spanning five roofs, including standing seam and flat systems, the project used 2,618 modules secured with S-5! PVKITs and S-5-V™ Mini clamps, showcasing ENWIN’s commitment to sustainability.

The goal was to maximize solar panel coverage on a 25-year-old standing seam roof while avoiding shading and obstructions from HVAC units, vent stacks and varying elevations. A rail-based system could only fit about half as many panels as the S-5! DirectAttach™ solution, which also allowed flexibility in module positioning and space for inverters and wiring. With an annual energy use of 1.6M kWh, the system needed to offset the building’s full power load, reduce costs and deliver long-term reliability.

Essex Energy used three mounting systems to accommodate roof types and elevations:
• DirectAttach with PVKIT and S-5-V Mini clamps
• Tilted racking with S-5-V Mini clamps
• Ballasted racking on the single-ply roof
S-5! was chosen for its proven engineering, extensive load testing and track record on more than 8 GW of installations. The PVKIT DirectAttach system allowed secure, flexible panel placement around obstructions while minimizing shading. Its non-penetrating design protected the roof and preserved the warranty, delivering a cost-effective, reliable installation.
Over time, the solar system will offset 100% of the building’s electrical consumption. The PVKIT solar attachments provided the ideal mounting solution the customer desired without penetrating the standing seam profile.