The City of Edmonton continues to harness the power of the sun with a growing number of solar photovoltaic (PV) installations on existing City-owned buildings. Commonwealth Recreation Centre is the newest solar installation to be complete and in operation, with 1,128 panels that cover an area of 40,760 square feet.
“The City of Edmonton is committed to becoming a climate resilient city,” said Mayor Amarjeet Sohi. “Using innovative technology, including the installation of solar photovoltaics on City-owned buildings, we are reducing greenhouse gas emissions and building a low-carbon city, protecting the environment for future generations.”
Facts about the newly installed solar photovoltaic array at Commonwealth Recreation Centre:
- Began operations in March 2024.
- Features 1,128 550W panels, which are anticipated to produce 708 MWh of energy in the first year of operation, the equivalent to powering 100 residential homes for one year.
- Can offset between 75 and 100 per cent of the facility’s energy needs in ideal solar conditions on a day with average building consumption.
The Commonwealth Recreation Centre Solar Photovoltaics Installation project received $340,000 in funding from the Municipal Climate Change Action Centre. The Municipal Climate Change Action Centre is a partnership of Alberta Municipalities, the Rural Municipalities of Alberta and the Government of Alberta. Funding for the Alberta Municipal Solar Program was provided by the Government of Alberta.
“Our government is focused on reducing costs and improving life for families and communities,” said Rebecca Schulz, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas. “We’re pleased to help fund a project that not only reduces emissions but also saves taxpayer money by lowering energy costs.”
As of March 2024, 12 City-owned facilities have solar photovoltaic installations in operation.
Edmonton has more than 2,300 hours of bright sunshine in an average year, allowing solar to play a major role in the City’s goals for sustainability and climate resilience. The City of Edmonton is adding solar photovoltaic installations to existing facilities, and continues to look at any new build as an opportunity to incorporate solar panels.
Featured image: Edmonton’s Commonwealth Recreation Centre is the newest solar installation to be complete and in operation. (City of Edmonton)
