Sun Farmers of Canada

[jpak]

http://www.renewableaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=51393

Utility-scale photovoltaic (PV) power is breaking ground on Canadian soil and dispelling myths about the viability of this energy resource in "the North." From the electricity market, to manufacturing and education, the PV industry is becoming an increasingly safe bet in Canada. The focal point of this action is Ontario, where the provincial government's Standard Offer Program has spurred courageous investors forward in the brand new niche of solar farming.

The largest single solar farm project in the world was announced in California last April, the 80-megawatt (MW), 640-acre Community Choice project, which dwarfs even Germany's current PV plants. Two of Ontario's announced contracts are nearly as big, coming in between 60 and 70 MW, while a third developer wants to build 150 MW of solar farms in different locations. However, under the Standard Offer Program projects need to be ten megawatts or less, so the physical footprint of these developments will remain comparatively small. OptiSolar Farms Canada, Skypower Corp, and Pod Generating Group are three players to watch in what is becoming a veritable Canadian Solar Olympics.

The most northern location is in the city of Sault St Marie, where Pod is bringing the power of the sun to this hard industry town. The Canadian-owned company is headquartered in the Sault and plans to create 10 and 20 MW clusters in different quadrants of the city. President and Sault-native Glen Martin is a former aerospace engineer, and worked on space-based generation systems, bringing a ‘super-trades' background to his new role as Canadian Solar Farmer. The electricity from the arrays will feed directly into the municipal grid, bringing a degree of clean power self-reliance to the community.

"We are pleased with the leadership demonstrated by the Ontario Power Authority in bringing the Standard Offer Program into effect," said Martin. "The Sault St Marie projects will require about 45 qualified people, and these positions are generally in four categories: real estate, financing, electrical engineering and project management." Pod Generating Group is working closely on project development with Emcore Corp, a company with strong experience in space-based photovoltaics. Emcore is engaged in developing Concentrating Solar Power technology at its New Mexico facilities, and intends to have prototypes in operation at the Sault St Marie projects. The majority of capacity will be newer generation ‘flat-plate' modules of an undisclosed brand.

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[ConcernedCanuk]

1. Q&A page on that Standard Offer Program, encouraging small solar connections to grid

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Standard Offer Program in Ontario

Questions and Answers

Q: Is the Standard Offer Program now in place?
A: Yes, the Standard Offer Program began accepting applications on November 22, 2006. Currently the program does not have an end date.

Q: What are the lengths of solar PV Standard Offer Contracts?
A: Solar PV contracts are signed for 20 years periods. The $0.42 rate is applicable for the 20 year period however these rates are subject to change generally every 2 years to ensure the program is robust. That being said, any price rate changes will apply only to subsequent contracts, not to contracts already in effect.
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Lots more at link >> http://www.cansia.ca/socQandA.asp

From another link at the same website above:

"The Standard Offer Program will currently accept applications only from micro projects (no greater than 10 kW) and farm-based bio-energy generation projects (no greater than 250 kW), up to a combined maximum of 10 MW in any particular transmission restricted zone."

Interesting site