Resource Library

Bringing renewable energy to a remote community requires careful consideration of several technical factors. One of the most critical decisions is determining the right size for your project, which will roughly determine how much diesel reduction your community will see. The amount of renewable energy on your microgrid is referred to as the penetration level. 

Lower penetration level systems are easier to install and integrate, but will contribute less to diesel reduction, whereas high penetration systems can make a major dent in diesel consumption but require more complicated engineering and additional components. 

This resource will help you understand:

• Basic calculations for the penetration level of your renewable energy project
• Differences between low-, medium-, and high-penetration renewable energy systems
• The role of additional technology such microgrid controllers and batteries in managing and ensuring smooth integration of renewables in your community 

In less than a decade, renewable energy has brought substantial financial benefits to Alberta landowners and communities, while also generating affordable energy for the province’s electrical grid. Given that renewables generate the lowest-cost form of new energy available, new project proposals are sure to continue to arise. But when landowners and communities are first approached by wind and solar developers as potential hosts for a renewable energy project, it naturally generates a lot of questions.

This Guide to Renewable Energy and Battery Storage Projects: How Alberta landowners can reap the benefits of hosting clean energy, takes care of a lot of the research and homework they would otherwise face. The guide starts by grounding readers with an explanation of what renewable energy is and how the industry has evolved in Alberta in recent years. It outlines the benefits of wind and solar projects, and the potential impacts.