Solar Development and Construction Management – Wahgoshig Solar FIT 5 LP

Wahgoshig Solar FIT 5 LP (“Wahgoshig Solar”), a partnership formed between Wahgoshig First Nation and private investors, was awarded four 500 kWac/600 kWdc (2.4 MWdc total) ground mount Feed-in Tariff (“FIT”) contracts under the former FIT program in Ontario. Wahgoshig Solar engaged Compass to manage the development, permitting and construction of these facilities. 

These projects varied in geography and had different local permitting and environmental considerations including building permits, species at risk and site conditions requiring a customized approach.

The FIT contracts also imposed a strict deadline on achieving commercial operation and the Corona Virus pandemic impacted supply chains and construction timelines.

The development, permitting, financing and construction of these four projects had to be completed within a compressed time frame that overlapped with the Corona Virus pandemic, while meeting the strict contract timelines enforced by the power buyer (i.e. the Independent Electricity System Operator). The pandemic created delays in several parts of the project which had to be addressed by engaging with the contracting authority, the construction partner and the local distribution company.

Compass completed the following tasks related to these projects:

Development

• Screen sites for contract eligibility and economics
• Screen sites for environmental features and constraints
• Secure site control
• Apply for and secure long term contracts

Permitting

• Develop and apply for an electrical interconnection with the local utility (i.e. a Connection Impact Assessment)
• Comply with environmental permitting requirements under the Environmental Protection Act, 1990
• Engage and manage consultants to screen sites for Species at Risk under the Endangered Species Act, 2007
• Engage with provincial ministries responsible for establishing access to the site
• Engage with local municipalities to obtain building permits and access to municipal rights of way

Financial Analysis and Financing

• Developed detailed financial model with scenario capability
• Developed production estimates under different component configuration (i.e. fixed tilt vs. Single Axis Tracker, mono-facial vs. bi-facial).
• Engaged with multiple construction and takeout financing entities
• Selected a financing partner
• Managed all of the lender due diligence throughout the construction and takeout financing

Procurement

• Ran a competitive procurement for a engineering, procurement and construction partner
• Negotiated the construction agreement
• Procured supplemental specialized engineering and construction partners
• Procured landscape architect and vegetation management partners

Management and Quality Control

Compass was active in managing all aspects of these projects including the construction partners, the local distribution company, the specialized consultants, biologists, structural engineering firms, land owners and the contracting authority. We conducted regular site visits to track progress and conduct quality control of the construction in compliance with the projects specifications.

All four of these projects achieved commercial operation on time and were built to their specifications despite the delays and supply chain challenges created by the pandemic.