The world is gradually but surely warming up to renewable energy agents, if the solar farm in A’burg, Canada, is any indication. The setting up of the farm may not necessarily start a renewable energy revolution and could turn out to be just be another commercial initiative. However, it is an important initiative especially in the context of fast-depleting non-renewable energy resources all over the world.
From 21st July, 2011, A’burg became home to one of the biggest solar parks in the country. It is expected to generate power for about 4,000 homes which constitutes about 35% of the total population. The number of beneficiaries is significant, especially if the energy savings aspect is considered.
The Toronto-based Capstone Infrastructure Corporation owns the 220-acre solar park project and built it at an estimated cost of $130million. The park comprises 57,906 computer programmed solar panels which are expected to generate 20 megawatts of power. It is capable of generating power even on a cloudy day.
The property on which the farm is built is, however, a leased one. Capstone leased the property from Loris Collavino, an Amherstburg businessman. Prior to leasing to Capstone, the land was leased to corn, soybean and wheat farmers. Collavino had originally planned to build a wind turbine operation on the land but backed out when wind farms were embroiled in controversies.
The vision and inspiration of Capstone Infrastructure Corporation was reflected in the words of Michael Bernstein, its CEO. According to him, people have been utilizing solar energy since ancient times. Incidentally, the first solar collector was invented in 1767. Capstone has been into hydroelectric power generation for a long time. It has a significant presence in Canada with the ownership and operation of nine power generation stations. Though predominantly into hydroelectricity, it also owns a wind mass, a gas plant and two biomass plants.
Solar energy has been gaining acceptance worldwide is clear from the thoughts of Steve Vavrik, the managing director of the San Jose-based Sun-Power Corporation, which has been bullish about the growth of solar energy and has been building a 250-megawatt solar farm in California. According to Vavrik, the sun presents a wonderful opportunity to create an unending reserve of energy which can change the energy scenario in the whole world notably.
Via: The Windsor Star
