Supporting Development of CF Chinook’s Innovative Solar Pilot Project
Calgary’s largest shopping mall, the CF Chinook Centre, is approaching the final stages of its large-scale rooftop solar pilot project developed in partnership with ENMAX. As workers wrap up the installation of 1,900 panels on the mall’s roof, the team here at Compass Energy Consulting is proud to take part in an important step towards a sustainable grid in Alberta—supporting the project through consulting, engineering, feasibility analysis, financial forecasting, and more.
The Role of Solar in the Zero Carbon Building Standard
In light of the recent Carbon Tax being ruled constitutional and the Federal Budget’s $17.6 Billion dollar allocation towards the Green Recovery Plan, there is a great incentive for commercial real estate owners and architects to design and operate Zero Carbon Buildings. Since 2016, the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) has worked to champion the move to lower-carbon commercial, institutional and high-rise residential buildings in support of Canada’s efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change.
Canada Demonstrates Commitment to Green Energy
On April 22nd, Canada in conjunction with President Biden’s Leaders Summit on Climate announced a new initiative to engage governments around the world in greening government operations, aiming to lead by example. Canada’s new greenhouse gas reduction target under the Paris Agreement would be 40 to 45% below 2005 levels by 2030.
2021: A Bright Outlook for Solar and Renewables
With the days getting longer, the sun shining brighter, and a year of COVID under our belts, it’s a great time to observe the state of renewable energy in North America and explore some recent developments.
Despite a pandemic, Renewable Energy has been thriving in Canada and the USA. Canada had significant growth in solar, wind and energy storage projects in 2020, setting the stage for significant growth in 2021 and beyond. In the United States, 2020 was a record year for solar, becoming the fastest growing sector in the country, with installations on track to quadruple by 2030.
Without further ado, here’s what’s been going on in the world of Renewables in North America:
Agrivoltaics: Integrating Solar and Agriculture is a Win-Win
Agrivoltaics is the co-development of agriculture and solar photovoltaics within the same land space. Ground mounted solar projects are commonly built in rural farmlands due to the abundance of relatively flat land. In fact, constructing solar panels on less than 1% of the world’s cropland is enough to generate electricity for the entire planet.
The True Costs Associated with Bidding on Renewable RFPs
At a time when state and federal governments are setting massive renewable goals, and seeking large-scale projects to help meet that demand, responding to Request For Proposals (RFPs) is now more than ever an essential part of large-scale Renewable Energy development.
Avoid High Interconnection Costs for Solar Net Metering in Ontario
In the midst of uncertainty with the current state of government energy rebates, and as electricity prices continue to rise, Ontario’s case for Solar Net Metering is strong today and will continue to increase in value each year of operation. Solar equipment prices have come down significantly in the past 10 years and the low costs of equipment make it a great time to invest in Solar for your home or business.
Impact of Ontario Budget on Solar NEM Economics
On November 5, 2020 the Ontario government released a delayed 2020 budget, Ontario’s Action Plan: Protect, Support Recover. The budget outlines a number of actions that the government will undertake to support individuals and families in light of the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic.