24
Oct
The Skidegate community made a big step towards renewable energy by completing one of the most extensive solar energy projects in B.C. The initiative took life in the Haida Heritage Centre where as many as 385 PV solar panels were installed. The Heritage center located at the village ay Llnagaay is an award winning tourism complex on Aboriginal cultural facing the waters of the ocean.
The new solar power installation is the largest community owned system in B.C.
Harvesting Energy from the Sun
Most countries are today looking at solar to power their fuel needs, and countries like Germany are having solar power as a significant driver for their economy.
Solar energy is common in the Skidegate community and some institutions like George Brown Rec Centre, elementary school, and several water pumps already draw their power from the sun. Haida has always opposed the traditional forms of energy sources like the Pacific Northwest LNG facility and Enbridge's Northern Gateway pipeline. The community has always looked for energy independence and the solar project brings them closer to their goal of cutting down the use of fossil fuels, said Chief Coun. Billy Yovanovich.
A combination of energy sources powers the Skidegate community including hydro and a diesel system as a backup. Yovanovich commented that if they were to halt such oil and gas projects, then they need something to compensate the use of the diesel system. The implementation of the renewable energy sources is taking them towards the right direction in gaining energy independence. Nowadays renewable power energy is starting to take off, there is one more developing field of the Canadian economy. The modern gambling industry is becoming more online-oriented, that is why you can entertain yourself at any time in any place just dropping into ValleyGames activities website and select the best online casino to your liking.
About the Project
The 50,000 square feet heritage center draws a significant amount of electricity and the solar project will not be enough to compensate for the total consumption. The center currently shells out $100,000 for their hydro bill each year. David Isaac, community energy developer and project manager of W Dusk Energy Group estimates that the solar energy will only make up 10% of the total energy consumption of the center generating 100 kilowatts of power.
Isaac said that they are also looking to make the whole community energy independent apart from concentrating only on the heritage center. They had researched into many alternative energy sources like ocean thermal heat pumps and wind power. A system called price per watt was used by the team and solar energy came up as the most viable option. Advantages like the long warranty of the solar panels and stationary infrastructure also contributed to the decision.
The solar installation is almost complete and a visit from an electrician and few final touches are remaining. The community council has already decided on a future project to make the whole neighborhood energy independent by installing panels on all the 360 houses in Skidegate. They aim to decrease the household consumption of the grid by 50% and looking forward to partnerships to carry it out, said Yovanovich. Acting on the momentum from the heritage center, the team is conducting a feasibility study to determine the process of achieving their goals.
17
Aug
Energy conservation and energy efficiency are getting a strong boost all thanks to the Built Green Canada initiative. It is a national third party program which issue s certifications to residential buildings based on their performance.
Crossing the mere objectives of energy efficiency and preservation, the initiative helps in conservation of natural resources, limiting levels of pollution and constructing a more durable and energy friendly home. The properties are ranked with ratings of Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze based on their efficiencies.
It’s the Season for Building Energy Friendly Homes!
Many builders and real estate agencies have already enrolled them in the project and started offering homes to Canadian customers under the certification. A huge number of enrollments have been received from areas like Calgary when compared to the same time last year. During the period, the enrollments increased by 60% in Calgary and neighboring areas like Cochrane, Chestermere, Airdrie, and Okotoks. When it comes to the exact figures, 642 new homes were enrolled compared to 402 bookings a year ago.
But due to the challenging economic condition of the region, fewer homes were completed when compared to last year. There was a 27% decrease in completed Built Green Canada homes in the area and only 354 completions were recorded in the first few months of 2017 compared to 495 a year back. But the number of completions is expected to grow up as the area is regaining economic stability in the present time.
Understanding the Developments
The Built Green Canada initiative also got a strong response from Saskatchewan where the first community with certified homes has been announced. 42 lots are being offered where residences constructed will be provided certification through the community itself. The local government is also looking forward to implementing the section 9.36 of the building code in the following months to come.
Both the code and the Built Green Canada initiative follow on the same grounds of energy conservation and efficiency and importance on natural resource preservation and go hand in hand, according to the officials at Built Green Canada.
What does it have for you as a builder?
There are quite a few incentives for the builders who take up the lots in the Autumn Ridge Estates. To begin with, they will get a $1,000 discount on the certification program. Built Green Canada will also remove the training fees of the builders and assist them in every way so that they get their certifications.
The moves are going to give the project a major boost and go a long way in offering durable and efficient homes with ideal conservation of energy and natural resources.
Certified homeowners will also be eligible to receive a 15% mortgage insurance rebate offered by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and Genworth Canada to encourage them to go green.
11
Aug
Solar power has been the most favored form of renewable energy all over the world. The cost of the solar panels is coming down and the ease of installation makes it a very practical solution when it comes to renewable energy. The growth of solar energy is increasing by leaps and bounds from year to year which is a hopeful sign for a world threatened with imminent climate change.
Solar Power Growth Last Year: A Tale Of New Possibilities
The use of renewable energy is on the rise. Besides the wide-spread occurrence of renewable power energy, there is one more high-popular branch in Canada. Gambling industry, presented by variety of gaming sources, can boast of its credible websites like online casino reviews, directories and others.
The year 2016 saw a staggering 50% growth in solar power capacity led by countries like USA and China. 73 gigawatts of new production capacity were added globally and we have moved from 50 gigawatts of solar power in 2010 to 305 gigawatts in 2016.
Canada has also witnessed significant growth in adaptation and production of solar power which is a good sign. But there is one aspect which needs to be addressed to ensure that the production of renewable power by does not harm the environment in any way.
British Columbia Plays Its Pivotal Role
A new report released by the Simon Fraser University stresses on the need of responsible mining when it comes to acquiring the metals needed to the solar panels manufacturing . Canada, particularly the region of British Columbia (B.C) needs to be more careful to prevent the environmental damage that can be caused by mining the materials. The report furthers the research carried out by Environment Canada to determine the environmental effects of all industries engaged in energy production.
Canada accounts for 14 metals and minerals out of 19 which are used for the production of solar panels. B.C is one of the major players when it comes to housing the resources and has additional opportunities for further explorations. The demand for the solar energy has risen considerably over the world due to the falling price of the solar photovoltaic systems which is now the cheapest source of energy in the whole world.
Things to Keep in Mind
Canada and B.C cater to the global demand for the solar panels and the situation presents a challenge for the solar power industry. While mining activities are predicted to scale up, it has to be ensured that the fuel emissions and chemical usage are maintained at the minimum.
The damage to other natural resources like water should also be kept in check while conducting the mining activities. All efforts have to be taken to establish a clean renewable power infrastructure which would enable Canada to utilize the rising global demand for solar energy effectively.
It is interesting to note that though there can be negative environmental consequences of metal mining for solar panels, it still makes the least impact on the environment compared to other modes of electricity production. Only by adopting responsible mining Canada can meet the challenge posed by the situation.
5
Aug
A new link between Canada and Massachusetts is going to be established based on the connection of clean power sources. Massachusetts is working its way to meet its energy needs with clean energy sources in the bid to adhere to the legislation of greenhouse gas reduction goals.
Back in March this year, Massachusetts invited proposals for the supply of over 9 terawatts of renewable energy each year which encouraged Emera Inc. to get into action and propose a deal to supply 1,000 megawatts of clean power from the Canadian Atlantic region.
The company is working with NB Power and 5 other New Brunswick wind farms to get their supply of required power. Emera set a competitive proposal for Massachusetts which was required in the face of the stiff competition. Starting from January this year, Emera began its search for promising suppliers and all the commercial agreements have been signed by now with the selected suppliers.
The wind farms chosen from New Brunswick area include Silver Brook, Salmon River, Andy's Pond, Black Spruce, and Colborne. The other 2 farms are in Nova Scotia being Higgins Mountain II and Yorkshire. The other partners include Nalcor Energy in Newfoundland and Labrador and NB Power who will be supplying hydropower.
Emera has chosen only those suppliers who have a strong experience and proven track records of involving the local community for sustainable development. If all goes well, the 1,000 megawatts of renewable energy will be transmitted to Massachusetts via a 600 km long cable running under the sea. The project has been named Atlantic Link and is set to start from Coleson Cove in Saint John through a planned DC converter station.
The cable is going to terminate at Plymouth which is home to the state’s only nuclear plant. Interestingly, the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station is set to close down in June 2019 due to poor market conditions and loss of revenues.
The project is also going to benefit Canada and its economy in a big way along with helping Massachusetts to achieve its clean energy targets. If the project sees the light of the day, it will require setting up of 250 to 300 new wind turbines. Such operations are expected to create around 3,000 jobs for the region and enable it to capitalize on its resources. The project will require a construction period of 3 years and scheduled to be serviced by December 2022.
Emera’s proposal is one of the many that have reached Massachusetts. But the executives of the company are hopeful of bagging the project as they will have a direct connection with the country without requiring to venture into other US states. The Atlantic Link project can diversify the supply of clean energy if it comes to reality.