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Solar project breaks ground
SkyFire Energy, the successful bidder,
plans to hire contractors in the region to come on board
Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison
The 258 panel solar station will begin construction at the Fort Simpson airport in November, according to company president Tim Schulhauser. Work is expected to be complete by March. "So far we're on schedule. We're really excited about this project," said Myra Berrub, co-ordinator of business and energy development for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation. SkyFire Energy won the bid over three other companies because of its prior experience in the North and the competitive price. It was also evaluated on how its solar panel system was expected to perform in Fort Simpson, the system's warranty and safety, among other things. "The project team just showed really solid solar experience," Berrub said, noting it has completed work in both the Yukon and the NWT. "They have quite an extensive amount of experience with solar photovoltaic installations." Although the power corporation won't disclose the price of SkyFire Energy's bid, Berrub confirmed the project will be staying within its budget of $800,000. Schulhauser said the company has installed hundreds of solar panel systems across Canada, making it the busiest company of its kind in Western Canada. In both Alberta and British Columbia, it has installed the provinces' largest solar panel system, making the Fort Simpson project another feather in its cap. The 258 panels SkyFire plans to install at Fort Simpson's airport will each produce 235 watts of power, he said. Altogether it will be a 60.6-kilowatt installation, according to Berrub, which would power between 20 and 25 houses annually in the south. Schulhauser estimated the installation could power around seven houses in Fort Simpson. "It is quite a small project in reference to the amount of power Fort Simpson as a community uses," Berrub said. Residents won't see a reduction in their power bill as any savings will be shared throughout the thermal region zone. Currently, power rates from Colville Lake, Nahanni Butte, Sachs Harbour, Jean Marie River, Gameti, Paulatuk, Wrigley, Tsiigehtchic, Tulita, Whati, Deline, Lutsel K'e, Fort McPherson, Ulukhaktok, Fort Good Hope, Tuktoyaktuk, Fort Liard, Fort Simpson, Aklavik and Inuvik are averaged out. The panels will be made by Conergy Canada, one of the largest solar panel distributors in the world. Kiwi Electric Ltd., a Deh Cho company, has already been hired to do electrical hook-ups for SkyFire Energy, Schulhauser said. In addition, there are plans to hire contractors from the region, although those details have yet to be finalized. Schulhauser said working conditions during the project's construction are expected to be cold and dark, as the project has to be completed between November and March, but said the company has plenty of experience constructing solar panels in remote and unique locations. In February 2009, it installed solar panels near a coal mine in Grande Cache, Alta. SkyFire has also installed panels near Maligne Lake, Alta,. and across Edmonton and Calgary. Funding for the project was allocated through the Energy Priorities Framework, which the territorial government created at the beginning of the 16th legislative assembly. Money from the $60-million framework is earmarked, in part, for renewable and alternative projects. The proposal period for bids began on Aug. 22 and closed on Sept. 13. SkyFire Energy was awarded the contract on Sept. 23. – with files from Roxanna Thompson
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