Edmonton building Canada's largest rooftop solar array
Edmonton will soon be home to the largest rooftop solar array in the country.
The city is installing panels on the roof at the Edmonton Expo Centre.
Phase 1 of the $5.03 million project will include the installation of 5,754 solar panels across 193,735.5 square feet above Hall D through H.
“With over 2,300 hours of bright sunshine every year, Edmonton is a city made for solar energy,” said Pascale Ladouceur of the City of Edmonton.
“The electricity generated here will be equivalent to the electricity consumed by 375 residential homes.”
The city believes the energy generated will yield operational savings of $290,000 to $460,000 per year.
“Anytime we can save money through our operations by having to spend less money to run this facility, it’s more money we can reinfect into Edmonton’s economy,” said Melissa Radu of Explore Edmonton.
And Radu says while you won’t be able to see the panels, they’ll still be a tool for attracting business.
“Major international events, we know that they want to host their gatherings in cities that are demonstrating environmental sustainability and leadership in innovative technologies, so our rooftop installation allows us to attract more of those events.”
The panels are expected to last about 25 years, and will yield a payback between 10 and 17 years with energy prices and whether energy consumption aligns with generation.
Construction is expected to be complete in November.
The Edmonton EXPO Centre will remain open during construction.
Phase 2, which has not yet been approved, would see additional panels installed above Hall A through C, adding a production of about 1.9 gigawatts to the system.
The additional cost would be $3.4 million, with savings of about $185,000 to $300,000 per year.
This is one of 11 solar projects currently underway in the city with a goal of increasing energy efficiencies.
There are currently six city-owned solar arrays operating in Edmonton. The others are Queen Elizabeth Pool, the Meadows Fire Station, Jasper Place Fire Hall, Blatchford DESS, Davies Garage, and the Edmonton Convention Centre.
With files from CTV News Edmotnon's Joe Scarpelli.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Police investigating shooting outside of Drake's Bridle Path mansion: source
Toronto police are investigating a shooting that took place outside of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion early Tuesday morning, a source tells CP24.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
Your body needs these three forms of movement every week
Movement is movement, right? Not exactly. Here’s what your body is looking for in addition to your morning walk or yoga session, according to experts.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
Quebec to limit sperm donations per donor after 3 men from same family father hundreds of children
Quebec is looking at tightening the regulations around sperm donation in the province following the release of a documentary that revealed three men from the same family fathered hundreds of children.
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.
Highlights from the 2024 Met Gala exhibit: Sleeping Beauty would wake up for these gowns
Sure, she was a royal princess and all. But there’s no way Sleeping Beauty — either before or after her nap — ever had quite the fabulous wardrobe that’s been assembled at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.