DP Energy, the Irish company that develops large renewable energy generation projects in Canada and across the world, has been granted approval for the 325MW Saamis solar project in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada. The approval for the project, which will be North America’s largest urban solar project when built, follows a public hearing held in the city in April.
Offset about 300,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually
Saamis solar park, situated in the northwest of Canada’s sunniest city, will support Alberta’s target of sourcing 30% of its electricity from renewable energy sources by 2030. It is expected to generate enough electricity to supply the equivalent of approximately 250,000 households and offset about 300,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually.
Home to more than 600,000 solar panels, Saamis solar park will create a number of direct employment opportunities during the construction, operation, and decommissioning phases, as well as extensive indirect opportunities across the full supply chain.
Almost half of the 1600-acre project is sited on a contaminated brownfield site consisting of capped phosphogypsum stacks, a by-product of fertiliser production. This is the largest of three projects DP Energy has developed on similar brownfield sites, with the 64MW Barlow and Deerfoot solar park project in Calgary, Canada, commencing operation last year.
DP Energy’s development portfolio in Canada also includes the proposed 200MW Miyopiyiwin wind project in Saskatchewan in partnership with Piapot First Nation, and the 400MW Nova East Wind project, a joint venture with SBM Offshore, targeted as being Canada’s first offshore wind project.
Headquartered in Buttevant in north Cork, and operating for more than 30 years, DP Energy has enabled 1.5GW (1,533MW) of renewable energy generation through 21 significant infrastructure projects worldwide. Currently, DP Energy has a 9.7GW pipeline of renewable energy projects across Ireland, the UK, Australia and Canada.
DP Energy was founded with a commitment to using the most sustainable and environmentally responsible methods in all its energy developments whilst also minimising impact on other species, including marine mammals. This commitment remains at the core of the company’s activities today.
Damian Bettles, DP Energy’s head of development Canada, said: “We are delighted with the AUC’s approval for the Saamis solar park. The solar park is a fantastic productive use of the land which will create local jobs and contribute to Alberta’s emission reduction goals. The approval marks a significant milestone for the project and a critical step as the project advances towards start of construction.”
This announcement follows the recent Development Approval of DP Energy’s 430MW Callide wind farm, located in the Calliope Range in Queensland, Australia, and the commencement of Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) preparation for the 700MW Euston Wind Farm project in New South Wales, Australia, which is a critical step towards Development Approval.
Pipeline of projects
In Ireland, DP Energy has an immediate pipeline of projects including:
- Lyra wind farm in Co Mayo, which could generate up to 100MW;
- Aries wind farm, also located in Co Mayo, with potential capacity for up to 50MW;
- Additional early-stage wind farms;
- A growing portfolio of solar projects in the 20MW to 50MW range;
- Early-stage projects involving non grid dependant renewable energy solutions for large energy users.
DP Energy continues to actively explore offshore renewable energy opportunities, including fixed bottom wind, floating wind and ocean energy technologies eg wave, around Ireland’s coast.
The company also recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with a large Irish utility generator to explore using green hydrogen as a clean fuel to power existing and future electricity generating stations.
DP Energy is researching battery storage and opportunities in international markets, aligning with an overall growth strategy which will see the company delivering projects in additional countries over the next few years.