Alberta’s solar energy production is taking a significant leap forward, which means this might be the time to start incorporating solar energy into your current rate plan.
Suncor is in the planning stages of a solar energy project that will carry Alberta’s commercial solar energy production forward in a very substantial way. The company is in the process of developing three new solar energy projects. Two of the projects will be developed in Schuler and Forty Mile, in the Medicine Hat area, and the third will be developed in Hand Hills, in the Hanna region.
The three solar projects are each slotted for 80 megawatts (MW), which is the upper end of the standard North American solar farm, and while that may be a standard production amount for solar projects across the globe, it represents a significant leap ahead for Alberta.
Currently, the largest solar farm in the province, Bassano’s Green Acre Hutterite Colony, has a production rate of 2 MW. BluEarth Renewables has proposed two projects near Burdett, and each are expected to fall in the 20 MW range. Right now, Alberta’s combined solar energy production is 9 MW. In comparison, Suncor’s combined projects promise to introduce Alberta to a substantial increase in solar energy—one project alone could double the solar production of all of Alberta’s current facilities.
In addition to its three new solar energy projects, Suncor has also proposed two new windfarms, one in Schuler with a capacity of 80 MW, and one in Forty Mile with a 200 MW capacity.
What are the benefits of investing in green energy?
While producing more energy when there is an energy surplus may seem like a less-than-efficient solution to Alberta’s current economic crisis, there are actually a number of clear benefits to investing in solar and wind energy right now. One advantage is that solar energy will hit its peak during air conditioning season, and having a surplus of energy at that point can help to keep rates down. Further, while having a surplus of energy may not be an efficient way to boost an economy that depends on the income generated by energy profits, having a surplus of energy often means lower energy rates, and that can be beneficial for energy consumers.
However, decreasing energy rates isn’t the only reason green energy is a good decision. It also creates the opportunity to diversify Alberta’s economy, moving it away from its dependence on the oil industry at a time when the oil economy is unstable. Further, this diversification means investing in a renewable sector that will create more sustainable jobs and income.
Time to go green
If you are looking for a way to incorporate green energy into your rate plan, Energyrates.ca will help you get started. We will help you find the best rate plan while still offering the flexibility you need to incorporate as much or as little green energy into your plan as you’d like. Contact us at Energyrates.ca to get a head start on the future of Alberta’s energy production.
