The Sun Is Rising on Solar in Canada

Solar Power 1

In BC, the site of what once was Canada’s largest lead and zinc mine is now being used to mine sunshine.In June, SunMine, near Kimberley, began feeding energy into BC Hydro’s grid, making it one of BC’s first grid-connected solar photovoltaic (PV) installations and one of Western Canada’s largest solar projects. Using just eight hectares of land, more than 4,000 solar PV modules generate roughly 1 megawatt (MW) of electricity, enough to power about 200 homes, according to Scott Sommerville, Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Kimberley, which now owns the site.

“It’s pretty awe-inspiring when you’re up there, looking at it. It kind of feels like you’re seeing the future,” he says.

The SunMine is built on land used by the former Sullivan Mine, shuttered in 2001, and it is a hotbed of solar potential. The site has one of the highest solar energy intensities in Canada (2,200 hours of annual sunshine, averaging six hours per day), guaranteeing reliable energy production.

Making the site even more attractive for the project is its infrastructure, including roads, high-voltage transmission lines and sub-stations, which were re-fashioned for use by SunMine. Teck, the former mine owner, provided the land as well as $2-million of the $5.3-million cost.

“We like to say we’ve gone from a brownfield to a brightfield. We took land that was dormant and created something,” says Sommerville, who adds that there’s enough land at the SunMine to install up to 200MW worth of modules — enough to power 40,000 homes.

While SunMine is still in the early stages of development, it is a significant project. Not only is it the largest project of its kind in western Canada, it is also one of the largest outside of Ontario, where the lion’s share of Canada’s solar capacity has been installed under the province’s feed-in tariff program.

Established in 2009, the program pays premium rates to businesses and property owners to feed wind- and solar-generated electricity into the grid. Today, the province is up to 19,200 grid-connected PV systems, which generated 1.2 gigawatts (GW) of electricity in 2013.

Noteworthy but much smaller projects also exist further north in the territories, where PV systems work better due to the cool climate.

“There’s way better payback,” says Gordon Howell, a professional engineer and managing principal of Howell Mayhew Engineering in Edmonton.”Electronics like cold and don’t like heat.”

Howell, who has worked in the solar industry for 32 years, has been working on the installation of off-grid PV systems at eight remote telecommunications sites in Yukon and the Northwest Territories, replacing diesel as a fuel source for generating electricity.

When a working solar cell reaches 70 degrees Celsius, the 250-watt PV module will operate at 205 watts, an 18% drop. At a cell temperature of 0 degrees, the 250-watt PV module will operate at 273 watts, 9% better.

Today’s solar PV systems are also long-lasting and adaptable, remaining 80% effective after 25 years. They can be installed on mountaintops, and in windy, humid or salty conditions. They even undergo hail tests, with 25 millimetre steel balls travelling at 80 kilometres per hour used to simulate storms.

“I’m stunningly optimistic about the future,” says Howell.

Internationally, Germany remains the biggest star on the solar stage. According to an annual 2014 International Energy Agency (IEA) report, Germany possessed 38GW of PV capacity. The U.S. has about 16GW of installed capacity. China has made gigantic strides, going from 0.8GW of PV capacity in 2010 to 32GW by March 2015. By the end of 2014, cumulative PV capacity worldwide reached roughly 177GW, enough to supply one percent of the world’s electricity requirements, according to the IEA.

Solar Sun Glass

 

Related Articles


Latest Articles


Changing Scene

  • ABB Acquires Bel Products Inc. to Expand Enclosures Portfolio in North America

    ABB Acquires Bel Products Inc. to Expand Enclosures Portfolio in North America

    June 3, 2025 ABB Electrification Canada Inc. announced it has completed its acquisition of Bel Products Inc., a Canadian manufacturer of commercial, industrial and custom-made enclosures. This acquisition enhances ABB’s market presence in Canada and the U.S., expanding its product portfolio and enabling the company to leverage its manufacturing, warehousing and supply chain capabilities to better meet growing customer demand. The financial terms of the transaction are undisclosed. The enclosures market is experiencing strong growth, fueled… Read More…

  • WAGO Now Available at Vanco Electrical Solutions

    WAGO Now Available at Vanco Electrical Solutions

    June 2 2025 Vanco Electrical Solutions are excited to announce that Vanco Electrical Solutions has partnered with WAGO, making their full line of innovative spring‑pressure connection and automation products available online at vancoelectrical.com. From their groundbreaking Push‑in CAGE CLAMP® technology to flexible I/O systems, WAGO has built a reputation for reliability and ease of use across… Read More…

  • Sonepar Announces the Appointment of Rob Thibeault to President of Robertson Electric

    Sonepar Announces the Appointment of Rob Thibeault to President of Robertson Electric

    June 2, 2025 Sonepar is pleased to announce the promotion of Rob Thibeault to President Robertson Electric effective June 2, 2025. Rob joined Robertson in 2017, bringing with him extensive experience in retail and marketing. Rob’s skill and dedication quickly saw him taking on additional responsibilities in operations, pricing, and analytics. Demonstrating a keen understanding… Read More…

  • Hammond Power Solutions Appoints Phill Picassinos as New Regional Sales Manager for Eastern GTA

    Hammond Power Solutions Appoints Phill Picassinos as New Regional Sales Manager for Eastern GTA

    June 2, 2025 Hammond Power Solutions is pleased to announce the appointment of Phill Picassinos as the Regional Sales Manager for Eastern GTA, Ontario. Phill will lead HPS’ sales efforts in the Eastern GTA, focusing on strengthening customer relationships and implementing regional strategies that align with national sales objectives. “Phill brings a wealth of experience… Read More…