What's Happening in Calgary, AB…

Construction crews in Calgary have finished installing the last of more than 200 solar panels on the roof of the city’s Enmax building.

Covering an area of more than 8,000 square feet, the panels are expected to provide enough electricity to power one third of the energy company’s computers and monitors. It will be the largest solar installation in all of Alberta, and it is hoped that it will generate more than 57,000 kilowatt hours of environmentally-friendly energy each year.

According to company officials, this project will provide information that they can use to design and improve products for both the residential and commercial sectors. Information will be gathered daily via a web-based computer program and results will be available in real time. This will give a valuable insight into the viability of large-scale solar installations in the province.

The panels have been designed to withstand the frequent hail and thunderstorms that occur on the prairies. Their durability has been tested by workers propelling golf balls to make sure they can stand up to a harsh environment.

Since the company first started providing solar energy as an option for residential customers, more than 300 families have signed up. The net result being that more than 1,000,000 kilowatt hours of energy has been produced, which is enough to power 1,600 homes for one month.

Since the program first started, there have been 2,000 enquires related to having the panels installed. Brochure printers have also created pamphlets to provide information about the option.

In 2014, solar panels will also become available to Enmax’s commercial clients.