Sidney gets enough sunny days throughout the year that it was high time that sunshine was put to good use.

That was part of the thinking behind the Town of SidneyB次元官网网址檚 last project to install 132 solar panels on top of its main public works building. Work started in installing a series of solar panel arrays on the roof late last month and the electricity is expected to start flowing on March 10.

SidneyB次元官网网址檚 Director of Development Services, Engineering, Parks & Public Works Tim Tanton says the Town hired consulting first Carmanah Technologies to complete a feasibility study back in April 2016. The municipal council approved the project and had included it in its 2017 financial plan.

At a cost of $120,000, Sidney hired High Tide Energy Inc. of Victoria to install the panels and a grid tie-in system at the public works building. ItB次元官网网址檚 a 30 kilowatt system, capable of producing in the neighbourhood of 42,000 kilowatts a year, or enough energy to power 3.9 average Sidney households.

Tanton said that will definitely make a dent on the municipalityB次元官网网址檚 overall electricity costs.

According to High Tide owner Josh Shepherd the system will allow excess power generated by the system, to essentially be sold back to BC Hydro.

He said whatever the public works yard doesnB次元官网网址檛 use in power on those sunny days in the summer, can be sold back to the power grid B次元官网网址� or at least rolled into savings on the power bill.

He explained that the system they install, both commercially and in residential homes, allows credits for extra power generated to roll onto peopleB次元官网网址檚 monthly Hydro bills. In that way, people can see just how much energy theyB次元官网网址檙e using B次元官网网址� and how much excess power has gone back into the grid.

This is High TideB次元官网网址檚 first foray into municipal contract work, Shepherd said, but they have been working with cities like Victoria and Vancouver on other solar projects, in addition to their regular work helping residential homeowners go solar.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e at the point now where B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 now at a reasonable rate,B次元官网网址� Sheppherd said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 at around three dollars per watt now and thatB次元官网网址檚 something that could be paid off in 10 to 15 years, whereas five or ten years ago, you were looking at five to ten dollars per watt, or 20 to 25 years.B次元官网网址�

The solar modules installed on top of the public works roof are smart units, Shepherd said. Through an app, he said, people can check their output, if teach one is working, or how much energy they are producing at any given time. Even if they need cleaning.

B次元官网网址淜eep them clean and theyB次元官网网址檒l keep working.B次元官网网址�

Tanton said they system should get 30 years out of it, before components need replacing.

Tanton added this is a pilot project for the Town of Sidney. If it works (which he and Shepherd had every confidence it would) they could look at the municipalitiesB次元官网网址� many other roofs as potential locations for additional solar panels.

editor@peninsulanewsreview.com
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