Jurassic Solar+ Project coming to Alberta

By Joan Janzen

Canada’s leading renewable energy developer, Greengate Power Corporation is introducing the Jurassic Solar+ Project. The Alberta based corporation is holding a virtual open house on March 9th to give more information on this project located 2.7 km west of the hamlet of Iddesleigh, Alberta in Special Area No. 2 and Cypress County. Anyone interested in learning more about the project is welcome to attend.

The 216-megawatt project covers 1,170 acres, the equivalent of 585 football fields. According to Shelby Flath, executive assistant at Greengate Power Corporation, the 430,000 bifacial solar photovoltaic (PV) modules are each approximately 2.2 x 1.1 m in size. It will produce electricity for 60,000 homes.

Flath noted the project will generate 300 construction jobs, as well as four to ten jobs during operations. To date Greengate has developed nearly $2 billion of operating or near construction renewable energy projects, including Canada’s largest wind and solar energy projects, providing clean energy to more than 350,000 homes.

“All our projects are in Alberta,” Flath said, adding that details of their current and previous projects can be found on their website. A map lists the location of all their projects as well.

Alberta, the “Sunshine State of the North”, is a prime location for this project. “Alberta has a solar resource as strong as Florida’s during the summer months. Cold weather, like that experienced in Alberta’s winter, has the benefit of cooling solar photovoltaic projects, which improves performance,” Flath explained. “Local weather conditions in Alberta are well suited to bifacial module technology, as there is substantial snow cover on the ground, which will boost production. This Project is located in Southern Alberta, which has great solar resources. Minimal environment impacts, level topography and proximity to the transmission grid are also key factors.”