Solar Energy and Energy Storage
A Renewable Energy Project by Greenplanet
A Renewable Energy Project by Greenplanet
Client: Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation (ACFN)
Location: Fort Chipewyan, Monarch, Vulcan and Coaldale, Alberta
Project Overview
In their 2018 Sustainable Community Energy Plan, ACFN Leadership committed to diversifying the Nation’s investments to include green energy projects. Building on the success of the Three Nations Energy Solar Farm in Fort Chipewyan, owned one third by ACFN, ACFN was seeking further renewable energy investment opportunities. Greenplanet supported ACFN in identifying potential investment opportunities, selecting an opportunity and a partner (Concord Pacific), and negotiating a partnership deal. Greenplanet then served as a technical and business advisor to ACFN throughout the design and construction of three large solar farms in Southern Alberta by providing:
• Green energy investment opportunity identification and screening
• Business deal development and negotiation
• Financial modelling and energy production modelling (decision support, business case support)
• Project financing support (commercial lending and government grants)
• Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contractor selection (including RFP development and management) and contract negotiation
• Technical advice and oversight during the design stage
• Contract management through construction
• Technical and business services in support of optimizing energy production and revenue from energy sales post-construction
The three solar farms, which include the Monarch Solar Farm (23.6MW solar with 31MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), Vulcan Solar Farm (22MW solar with 32MWh BESS), and Coaldale Solar Farm (22MW solar with 31MWh BESS), cover approximately 480 acres and consist of 236,000 solar modules, and are expected to significantly increase Alberta’s production of renewable energy, reduce stress on the province’s electricity market, and help Canada achieve its climate change goals. The project is estimated to deliver an annual output of 150-gigawatt hours (GWh) to the Alberta power grid and capture about 26 GWh of electricity annually – enough to power 10,000 homes in Alberta. The project creates a long-term revenue stream that aligns with ACFN environmental responsibilities and values.
