DP Energy proposes solar panels on top of contaminated sites in southeast Calgary

DP Energy has already won approval for one solar park in southeast Calgary and is now pushing for a second in the Shepard Industrial park. Combined, the two would be one of the largest photovoltaic solar farms in Canada generating more than 60 MW of electricity, enough for 14,000 homes.

The company, based in Ireland, easily won approval at a public hearing at city hall in March. The hearing — to redesignate 64 hectares of contaminated land to allow for a power generating facility — lasted 11 minutes.

Two people, from DP Energy and Stantec Consulting, spoke in favour of the project, west of Barlow Trail and north of 114th Avenue S.E. No one spoke against it.

Shane Keating, the city councillor for the area, described the proposal for 1,500 solar panels at the time as “fabulous.”

“It’s taking, basically fallow land, that cannot be used for anything else, per se, and putting a generation project on top of it,” he said at the hearing.

The site, owned by Viterra Inc., had been used as a fertilizer production facility. The soil cannot be disturbed without remediation. The company says the solar panels will sit on concrete footings to minimize ground disturbance.

It is great to see more energy companies investing in solar in Alberta & Canada!