Seeing is believing

We use electricity to power many things, so it’s important to invest in renewable and reliable sources of electricity such as solar energy. Since Edmonton gets a lot of sunshine and our winter climate is well suited to solar energy, we have great potential for generating renewable energy and in doing so, reducing our greenhouse gas emissions.

Recent University of Alberta research found that increasing the visibility of solar energy projects in communities increases the uptake - something others have described as the "solar contagion effect". We were happy to find that this research validates the approach the City has been taking in supporting solar installations on publicly visible community and City buildings.

Over the past several years, the City has invested in a variety of solar projects, and has much greater ambitions for the future!

Several Community Leagues in Edmonton already use solar energy including Belgravia, Riverdale, Evansdale, Queen Alexandra, Grovenor, Ridgewood, Alberta Avenue, Meadowlark, North Glenora, Ritchie, Windsor Park, Blue Quill, and the Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues (EFCL) building itself.

The St. Paul’s United Church in Edmonton also completed its own solar array in January 2018. The City is supporting a solar array on the Bissell Center, which will allow the center to reinvest the energy savings to serve those in need in the community.

On top of that, three fire stations have also built rooftop solar photovoltaics!

The research also shows that providing public engagement within these projects is important in order to inspire more solar installations. To this end, the City sponsors several programs related to solar energy. Through our Eco-City Edmonton grants, these include Kids World of Energy, Women Building Futures solar training, Sun In a Box Community Engagement, and the Yellowhead Tribal Solar Development. The City has also sponsored Solar Energy Society of Alberta seminars and their annual Solar Trade Show.

The City’s goal is to achieve a 50% reduction in GHG emissions below 2005 levels by 2030. Meeting this goal will require the City, in part, to build out another 20 million watts of solar PV capacity (equivalent to 6% of total corporate electricity use), and purchase renewable electricity for the rest of its operations. Many more solar projects are already underway on City facilities, so stay tuned to see some more beautiful solar arrays!

In the meantime, why not put solar on your own home, with the City of Edmonton’s Solar Incentive Program?