B.C. Business Sets New Standard for Sustainable Industrial Development

A family-owned business in British Columbia has set a milestone in sustainable industrial development with the unveiling of the province's largest commercial-industrial rooftop solar installation. Located on land that was once home to a notable glass factory, the 148,000 square feet solar array at Restoration Lands Inc.'s (RLI) Okanagan Eco Industrial Park in Coldstream features 2,460 high-efficiency solar panels and is expected to produce 1.7 gigawatt-hours of renewable electricity annually. This cutting-edge system will meet a quarter of the current power needs of the mixed-use industrial park or power more than 150 new homes.

Key Takeaways:

• Restoration Lands Inc. (RLI) has unveiled the largest commercial-industrial rooftop solar installation in British Columbia, covering 148,000 square feet and featuring 2,460 high-efficiency solar panels.
• The system is expected to produce 1.7 gigawatt-hours of renewable electricity annually, meeting a quarter of the current power needs of the Okanagan Eco Industrial Park.
• The installation was made possible through BC Hydro's Load Displacement Program, which helps reduce demand on the provincial grid.
• RLI was able to cover almost 40 per cent of their solar installation cost through a custom incentive of almost $875,000.
• The project creates or relocates approximately 1,000 jobs and showcases the potential for scalable, resilient clean energy solutions in the province.
• Restoration Lands is considering a second phase of the project, which could double the current solar capacity and incorporate battery storage solutions.
• This initiative reinforces BC Hydro's efforts towards advancing energy efficiency, electrification, and emissions reduction through its $700 million Energy Efficiency Plan.

Statistics:

• 148,000 square feet: Size of the commercial-industrial rooftop solar installation at RLI's Okanagan Eco Industrial Park.
• 2,460: Number of high-efficiency solar panels at the installation.
• 1.7 gigawatt-hours: Expected annual production of renewable electricity from the solar array.
• 25%: Percentage of current power needs of the Okanagan Eco Industrial Park that the installation will meet.
• 150: Equivalent number of new homes that the installation can power.
• $875,000: Custom incentive received by RLI to cover almost 40 per cent of their solar installation cost.
• 1,000: Approximately number of jobs created or relocated to the site through the project.
• $700 million: Budget for BC Hydro's Energy Efficiency Plan, which aims to deliver 2,000 gigawatt hours in electricity savings and empower customers to manage their energy use more efficiently.

Sources:

• Restoration Lands Inc. (RLI) press release
• BC Hydro press release
• Quotes from Harwinder Sandhu, MLA for Vernon-Lumby and Jake Kubiski, CEO, Kuby Renewable Energy Ltd.