High above the midway at the Canadian National Exhibition, hundreds of solar panels are soaking up the sun's rays, bringing Exhibition Place closer to becoming energy self-sufficient.
The largest solar photovoltaic installation in Canada was unveiled yesterday on the rooftop of the Horse Palace, joining a solar revolution that already has similar, smaller panels being installed on homes across Toronto every week.
“It's a win, win, win situation,” said Councillor Pam McConnell, representing the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. “Everyone wins. With this project we save energy, the environment and our money.”
Exhibition Place plans to be energy self-sufficient by 2010. Annually, the 536 solar panels, which cost $1.1-million, will save more than $10,000 in hydro costs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 115 tonnes (equivalent to carbon dioxide absorption of almost 1,600 trees), and generate roughly 120,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity, enough to power up to 35 homes. This pilot project will lead to an expanded, 1.5- to two-megawatt installation (15 to 20 times larger) at the same location.
Experts on alternative energy say the solar panels, paid for funded by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, Green Municipal Fund, Toronto Atmospheric Fund and the City of Toronto's Better Buildings Partnership, are a big step forward.
“We are very excited,” said Gord Perks, senior campaigner for the Toronto Environmental Alliance. “The idea of being able to take a major city institution right off the grid so it's self sufficient is showing us the kind of future we could have for the city.”
Interest among Ontario residents is also rising. The Canadian Solar Industries Association estimates as many as 200 residential solar systems have been installed in the province since March in anticipation of the Ontario Standard Offer Program, which offers electricity generated by solar panels for 42 cents a kwh.
In June, five panels were mounted on the roof of Susan and Bruce Crofts' Riverdale home.
“We heard that the solar panels would actually cause our meter to go backwards,” Ms. Crofts said. “That was very captivating to hear. We thought, ‘Not our meter.' But it did, as soon as the system was put on.”
The Crofts had signed up for the Riverdale Initiative for Solar Energy project — a voluntary, community-based entity that brought together about 30 homeowners who were interested in investing in a solar electricity system. RISE representatives then negotiated a price with a local solar energy supplier.
It cost the Crofts more than $9,000 to install the panels, which help run a bar fridge, their answering and fax machines, a television, two clock radios and a light.
“We understand that during a grid blackout we can turn off the power at our fuse box,” Ms. Crofts said. “This will divert the solar power we produce into our home to maintain our needs.”
Despite the success of programs such as RISE, alternative energy expertssay Canada is lagging behind.
“We're running about 15 years behind from other countries,” said Rob McMonagle, president of the Canadian Solar Industries Association. “Canada has always considered itself a superpower, so our vision has focused on large power projects like big hydro, natural gas and nuclear plants. Now that these things are getting very expensive and people are noticing an environmental impact, they have started searching for further options.”
Mr. McMonagle said the panels popping up on Toronto rooftops represent a good start.
“Every country has to start somewhere,” he said. “Now we are starting to see a change in society where people realize they need to be responsible for their own energy.”
The Crofts estimate it will take 20 years for the panels to pay for themselves, but they say it's worth it.
“My husband has asthma,” Ms. Crofts said. “It's worth it if I know I can contribute to cleaner air. And what's the price for that?”
