Pason Centennial Arena Solar PV System- Town of Okotoks

OVERVIEW

Over 2021, the Town of Okotoks completed construction of their new solar PV installation, a 459 kW solar PV system on the roof of the Pason Centennial Arena. The system is made up of 1,020 solar modules and is conservatively estimated to generate 491,000 kWh per year, enough to power 17 average sized homes per year. The system allows the Town of Okotoks to produce renewable energy, lower their carbon footprint, and lead by example in the community. The system received a rebate through the Municipal Climate Change Action Centre’s Alberta Municipal Solar Program for $166,237.80.

APPROACH

The new solar system will produce 18% of the electricity needed to power Pason Centennial Arenas, which is the Town’s second highest greenhouse-gas emitting building (after the Okotoks Recreation Centre). This project reduces the Town’s total overall municipal GHG’s by approximately 2%. The system, which includes 1020 solar panels and 8 inverters, is expected to operate for more than 30 years.

RESULTS

The investment in solar PV is consistent with the Town’s Climate Action Plan and achieving the goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. The system will offset about 280 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually, equivalent of removing 77 passenger internal combustion engine vehicles driven for a year off the road.

“This is another important step forward in transitioning to more renewable energy. Projects like this are vital to implementing the Town’s Climate Action Plan and achieving our goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.”

Mayor Tanya Thorn

“When you take into account the upgraded lighting, in addition to the solar installation, the amount of emissions offset is equivalent to making 50% of the Town’s municipally-owned buildings carbon neutral for electricity.”

Sheri Young, Climate Change & Energy Specialist

Fun Fact

This is the second solar PV system installed by the Town of Okotoks