Salute the sun: 7 more rising businesses in solar power
There is so much happening in Canadian solar, it couldn’t be contained in one list.
Does the dreary winter weather have you feeling down? Here’s a sunny mood booster for you. Canada is becoming a major player in the solar sector, particularly in parts of Western Canada.
Last fall we profiled seven solar businesses doing big things in the country, but with so many that had to be cut from the list, we wanted to revisit the topic and bring you seven more.
BlueEarth Renewables
Started in 2010, Calgary-based BlueEarth is an independent, power producer that acquires, develops, builds, owns and operates wind, hydro, solar and storage facilities across North America. Its portfolio includes over 1 GWAC (gross) in operation, under construction and contracted pre-construction, and over 7 GW of development projects that are actively being advanced. Recent years have seen BlueEarth’s solar work go wild in Alberta. In 2022 it announced that in less than 12 months it had completed construction and commissioned five solar facilities, totalling over 100 MWAC, in southern Alberta. This includes its Hays and Jenner Solar Facilities. In total, BluEarth has 233 MW of solar projects currently in operation.
Capstone Infrastructure
Capstone Infrastructure is a Toronto-based developer, owner, and operator of clean and renewable energy projects across North America. Its portfolio includes approximately 824 MW gross installed capacity across 31 facilities, including wind, solar, hydro, biomass, and natural gas power plants. Capstone Infrastructure has four projects in operation in Alberta and Ontario, including one of the country’s largest — Claresholm Solar, a 182 MW project completed in 2021. Earlier this year, Capstone announced the successful commissioning of the Michichi and Kneehill Solar Projects in Alberta, totaling 50 MWac.
Solar Krafte
With offices in Vancouver, Calgary and California, Krafte is making its mark on North America and is helping build some of Canada’s largest solar projects. They are currently proposing a 450MW project near Brooks, Alta. that is expected to cost $700 million. Other notable projects include Brooks solar farm, Clydesdale solar farm and Vauxhall solar farm.
Northland Power
From its headquarters in Toronto, Northland Power has grown into an international power producer since its founding in 1987. Its involved in developing, building, owning and operating green power infrastructure assets in Asia, Europe, Latin America and North America. Its facilities produce electricity from natural gas, wind and solar. Northland owns or has an economic interest in 3 GW (net 2.6 GW) of operating generating capacity. Their team is currently involved in building Jurassic Solar+, a 220 MWac , 80MW/160MWh advanced stage co-located solar and energy storage project located on approximately 1,170 acres of land in Cypress County, Alberta.
ALPIN Sun
This have really taken off in Canada for German developer ALPIN Sun — literally. They investing $169-million in a solar project at the Edmonton International Airport. At 120 MW, it would be the largest solar project on airport land in the world. After seeing success in Europe, the company says it is currently focused on developments in North America. So far it has over 2.6 GWp developed successfully in the last three years in the U.S. alone.
Elemental Energy
Elemental says it’s on a mission to transform the vision of a renewable future into a renewable present. Their team develops, owns and operates wind and solar projects throughout North America. Currently they are developing Foothills Solar (150 MW) and High River Solar (19 MW) in Alberta. In Saskatchewan they are developing Bemersyde Solar (100 MW). They recently wrapped up work on $45-million Chappice Lake Solar-Storage (14 MW), the first utility scale solar + storage project in Alberta to use a flow battery. This technology enables solar energy to be stored and delivered to electricity customers after the sun goes down.
Mytilineos
Global industrial and energy company Mytilineos is making a major play in Canada. Earlier this year the Greece-based team spent $1.7 billion to acquire five solar energy projects from Westbridge Renewable Energy. Once completed, the projects will add 1.4 GW of solar capacity to Alberta. It is the company’s first transaction in all of North America. Two projects are expected to be shovel-ready by the end of the year while the others could be ready to go ahead in mid-2024.
