Alberta Solar One, Expected To Enter Service in April 2021, Will Help Meet Company ESG Objectives
Construction has started on Enbridge’s first solar generation facility in Alberta. The 10.5-megawatt (MW) Alberta Solar One (ABS1) project will supply a portion of our Canadian Mainline pipeline network’s power requirements with renewable power. Once ABS1 achieves commercial operations in April 2021, the facility will supply the equivalent to the energy needs of about 3,000 homes, offsetting about 12,000 tonnes of carbon annually.
“Enbridge is a leader in the energy transition, and is undertaking projects across our system to green our operations and reduce our carbon intensity,” says Veenu Narula, VP Power Business Development. “ABS1 is part of a broader program that Enbridge is initiating to self-supply a growing portion of our energy load from renewable resources.”
“In addition to Alberta Solar One, Enbridge is advancing other initiatives across North America to generate more of the energy that powers its operations from renewable resources. Self-generation has the potential to reduce power costs while helping Enbridge to achieve its ESG objectives,” added Narula.
On Oct. 2, 2020, members from Enbridge’s Power team had the opportunity to visit the construction site with Alberta Minister Grant Hunter, the local MLA and Associate Minister of Red Tape Reduction. Enbridge was able to use this opportunity to highlight our commitment to greening our power load, while at the same time investing in the local community.
After the tour, the Minister tweeted: “I had a great tour of the Alberta Solar One project. At the peak of construction, this project will bring in 80 workers. I’m always happy to welcome good jobs to our local economy here in Taber-Warner.”
ABS1 was co-developed by Enbridge and Morgan Solar, a solar technology company based in Toronto. In addition to advancing Enbridge’s self-supply initiative, the project will also help to commercialize Morgan Solar’s SimbaX technology. SimbaX is an optical film that, when applied to a standard PV solar panel, concentrates light in order to boost the panel’s energy production. ABS1, located in southern Alberta midway between Lethbridge and Medicine Hat, will be the first utility scale application of this technology.
Enbridge is currently pursuing opportunities to co-locate solar facilities adjacent to our pipeline operations across the U.S. Midwest.
(TOP PHOTO: Artist's rendering of the Alberta Solar One energy generation facility, near Burdett, AB, which is expected to begin commercial operations in April 2021.)
