The construction of the 3,330-acre Travers solar power plant in the Vulcan County Fields, Alberta, that is being carried out by Greengate Power Corporation and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, is nearly complete.
The project involves the installation of around 1.3 million solar panels and according to Greg Sheremeta, project director for PCL Construction Management, the company entrusted with creating the complex, there are probably around 20 different engineering firms that were involved in the project and are still working on it.
“I’d say there are hundreds of professionals that participated in the design and are now working with us on the construction. We presently have roughly 750 people in the field and about a 40-person management staff on-site,” explained Sheremeta adding that they expect that tendency to continue in the coming decades, which is why they believe renewables might account for 50% of the power generating mix by 2050, particularly in Alberta.
“It’s not about pitting hydrocarbons against renewables; it’s about all sources of energy and how they may complement one another in the context of Canada’s attempt to transition to a lower-carbon economy,” Charlebois explained.
Greengate has successfully established 450 MW of operational renewable energy plants in Alberta, with another 1GW under construction. These projects account for more than 30 per cent of wind energy generated in Alberta and supply sustainable energy to over 200,000 households.
Project overview
The Travers Solar Project is a $700-million renewable energy scheme in Vulcan County southeast of Calgary and north of Lethbridge. It will be the largest solar farm currently in Canada, transforming the area into a showcase for renewable energy. The long-awaited scheme is built on a sprawling 3,300-acre piece of land and is the region’s second major renewable energy project. In 2014, Black spring Ridge, a $600-million venture consisting of 166 wind turbines, was constructed in the same county. It was the biggest wind scheme in Canada at the time.
Greengate Power Corporation, a renewable energy company based in Calgary, is the project’s developer. The scheme is also funded by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), a fund management organization with seven energy infrastructure funds under management. It is a true win-win for both the environment and the economy, creating long-term economic utilities in the form of local jobs, vital contributions to the municipal tax base, community funds and payments to landowners. The project will offset over 472,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually.
The project includes the solar photovoltaic (PV) modules installation, an electrical collection system, power conversion stations, access roads and the construction of the Little Bow Project Substation to link to the Alberta Interconnected Electric System. The latest in solar PV technology will be incorporated into the scheme. They will contain bifacial solar modules and single-axis tracking which maximizes production.
PCL Construction is in charge of the project work and aims to conclude in late 2022. The project will offer about 500 full-time jobs at the peak construction phase. Workers will include electricians, heavy equipment operators, welders and general labourers, and around 10 full-time positions when fully completed. The contractor is looking for trade from the local community, where possible.
Installation of around 1.3 million solar panels will be done on the farm with Jinko Solar Canada supplying the panels. Amazon technology company of Seattle also signed an agreement of nearly 400 MW power purchase from the project
Alberta is now Canada’s fastest-growing wind energy market with a number of hundred megawatts of schemes ongoing or construction getting ready to commence. The province ranks third in installed wind energy capacity in the North American country with 1,815 MW, Ontario leading with (5,436 MW) and Quebec (3,896 MW).
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Reported earlier
2017.
The project’s field studies were started covering wildlife, vegetation and habitat, and wetland mapping which was completed in 2018.
2019.
The project received a green light from the Alberta Utilities Commission in 2019 after the field study results were submitted to Alberta environmental and parks.
2020.
Greengate partnered with CIP to fund further development, construction and operation of the scheme. . Originally, the project capacity was set at 400 megawatts (MWs) but it was raised to 465 MW in the year, enough electricity to serve 150,000 homes annually for 35 years.
2021.
Initial works commenced in the spring. Since then, enormous equipment operators have been arranging the expansive site and setting the foundation by putting posts into the ground for the racking and panels.
Jun 2021
Construction begins at Travers Solar project, Canada
Construction has broken ground on the Travers Solar project in Vulcan County, Alberta, Canada. The CAD$700 million solar farm is a joint project between Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) and Greengate Power Corporation and will have an installed capacity of approximately 465 MWac/691 MWdc, consisting of approximately 1.3 million solar panels.
Approximately 500 full-time jobs during construction will produce enough clean energy to power more than 150 000 homes once operational, providing substantial economic and environmental benefits to the province of Alberta. PCL Construction will be responsible for construction while Jinko Solar Canada will be supplying the monocrystalline bifacial solar panels.
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CIP, on behalf of the Copenhagen Infrastructure IV fund, will be funding the construction and operation of the Travers Solar project. Greengate has retained an ongoing economic interest in the project and will continue to manage local stakeholder relations throughout its operation and construction. The solar farm is expected to go online in 2022. Amazon has also signed a deal to buy up to 400 MW of electricity from the project in addition to the previously announced plans to purchase power from an 80 MW solar farm northeast of High River which should come online in 2023.
“Greengate is excited to work together with CIP to bring this one-of-a-kind project to completion. Travers Solar will significantly improve Alberta’s environmental performance, adding to Greengate’s proven track record of successfully developing renewable energy projects of scale in Canada that deliver strong investor returns. Greengate is proud to play a key role in creating market-based solutions that enable the global energy transition to net zero.” said Dan Balaban, Chief Executive Officer of Greengate.
“CIP is pleased to continue growing its North American renewable energy portfolio through our investment in Travers Solar, CIP’s first investment in Canada. Alberta is an attractive market for investment, and we look forward to working with Greengate and our local partners to bring this exciting project to completion,” said Senior Partner Christian Skakkebaek of CIP.
