C&I

182 MW Canadian solar portfolio under construction

182 MW Canadian solar portfolio under construction
(Courtesy: FLEXRACK)

FLEXRACK by Qcells and Alltrade Industrial Contractors, a Canadian renewable EPC and construction services company, have partnered on a 182 MW portfolio of solar projects in Canada – including the largest behind-the-meter solar project in the nation.

The portfolio consists of two fixed tilt, bifacial solar panel projects that are located in Scotford, Alberta and Aldersyde, Alberta. Once complete, the 81 MWp Scotford project will be the largest behind-the-meter solar project in Canada. Additionally, the 101 MWp Saddlebrook project includes the future addition of a flow battery energy storage system, which is one of the first of its kind in North America.

The projects are currently under construction and have provided hundreds of local jobs. Both projects will enable fossil fuel companies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and are expected to complete construction by the fourth quarter of 2023, the companies said.

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Saddlebrook project

The 101 MW Saddlebrook project is partially supported by $10 million in funding from Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA), through their BEST Challenge, to support the development of a hybrid solar generation facility combined with a flow battery energy storage system.

Once complete, the electricity produced by the project will feed into the Alberta Interconnected Electric System (AIES) through a new 138kV substation located on the project lands.

In total, the project is expected to directly reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 73,600 tons of carbon dioxide per year, or the equivalent of taking nearly 16,000 cars off the road. Alltrade is constructing the Saddlebrook Solar Project in a joint venture partnership with SkyFire Energy Inc.

Scotford project

The 81 MW Scotford project will power the Shell Scottford Refinery to support the company in achieving its goal of net zero emissions by 2050.

Located in Alberta’s industrial heartland, the project will be the first large-scale solar installation in the region. Once operational, the project is expected to contribute approximately $200,000 a year on a levelized basis to the Strathcona County local government and school system, while requiring little to no county services in return, the companies said.

“With ambitious provincial and federal renewable energy targets, a favorable regulatory environment, and significant solar resources, we are looking forward to deploying our cold weather expertise and time-tested technology in many more solar projects to come throughout Canada,” said Jay Johnson, Head of Sales and Marketing at FLEXRACK by Qcells.

Canada’s renewable investments

Canada recently announced over $175 million in federal investments for 12 Alberta-based clean energy projects, which will reduce emissions equivalent to taking nearly 325,000 gas-powered cars off the road every year, the government said.

Projects include a solar installation by Chiniki and Goodstoney First Nations and ATCO, which will be the largest solar installation in an urban center in Western Canada, supported by a federal investment of over $13 million.

Located in southeast Calgary, the Barlow and Deerfoot solar facilities are expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 50,000 tons annually and generate economic returns for the First Nations’ communities. This is in addition to $78.8 million in support from the Canada Infrastructure Bank to enable the majority equity ownership of the project by both First Nations.