Solar & wind energy a “huge economic opportunity” in southern Alberta

Economic Developer with Lethbridge County Martin Ebel noted in his presentation that alternative energy sources are getting less and less expensive as time goes on.

He claims that a standard six-kilowatt home solar photovoltaic (solar PV) system would have cost around $51,000 to buy and install in 2010. Today, the same system would retail for closer to $17,000.

At the same time, the cost of traditional utilities through the use of fossil fuels continues to rise, increasing from an average of $33 per megawatt-hour in 2018 to a projected $42 per megawatt-hour in 2020.

Dr. Byrne adds that he was able to get off the grid entirely when he installed geothermal generators, which uses underground poles to generate heat, at his home.

As for residential rooftop solar, he says it might not be the best option for everyone.

“For a lot of folks, you know, with a house, you’ll gain some benefit. You might be better off to put that money into a big solar cooperative – you might get better value for yourself, better value for the community, and so all-around higher earnings and a better environmental impact.”

Currently, there are three major renewable energy projects in southern Alberta that could start construction in 2020.

Acestes Ventures looks to build two major solar farms – one north of Coaldale and one between Nobleford and Coalhurst. Between these two, they are purchasing 287 acres of land.

The Stirling Wind Project, through the construction of 28 turbines, will generate 113 megawatts of power.

Milo Holthe, Chief Operating Officer with 3B Energy, was tasked with conducting a feasibility study on the Stewart Siding Project, which would look into the use of solar energy on top of a large industrial park.

They found that, by using a 6.5-megawatt system, they could generate enough power for the equivalent of approximately 900 homes. The problem they encountered, however, is that the transmission and distribution costs were too large for a project of its size.

Holthe says smaller-scale projects that are less than one megawatt are far more feasible in this sense.

Another component of Holthe’s work is to address people who might have misconceptions about renewable energy and in particular, solar.

“We had a comment recently by somebody on our Facebook page that said they were concerned about the performance of solar because it’s so cold out. The reality is that solar actually performs better in the winter because you don’t have the same losses of heat through the electrical connections.”

He also referenced a study conducted by the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) in 2018 that found that solar PV panels that are covered in snow tend to only perform about three percent worse than those that are regularly cleared off. The conventional knowledge prior to this is that solar PV panels that are cleared off would be at least 20% more effective.

Dr. Byrne says we do not have to make a choice between only supporting green energy or supporting the oil and gas sector. At least for now, he tells LNN that both can work hand-in-hand.

The professor hopes the Government of Alberta will start to support alternative forms of power in a similar way that it supports fossil fuels.

by David Opinko

Solar & wind energy a “huge economic opportunity” in southern Alberta

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