FERGUS – The new operations centre to be constructed in Fergus will add solar panels to the list of environmental and sustainable features it will boast.
Climate change coordinator Martin Tamlyn had been asked by council to explore the possibility of including solar panels on the building and he presented his report at the July 14 council meeting.
The plan for the building includes extra insulation, energy efficient doors and windows and heat pumps.
“Solar panels will be the icing on the cake,” Tamlyn said.
He explained there are two types of systems under consideration: net-metering and load displacement.
“Net-metering enables a larger solar panel array system to offset energy use throughout the year, particularly during winter when solar energy production is reduced,” Tamlyn explains in his report.
“In this setup, excess energy is sent back to the grid and credited on the utility bill.
“Grid power remains available whenever needed and is only used when solar energy isn’t available.”
This system could be mounted on the rooftop of the building or as a stand-alone system, more like a carport that could add shade over vehicles.
Load displacement systems are designed for time-of-use applications and don’t generate energy beyond load demand or battery storage capacity.
“Load displacement systems are best paired with a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS),” states the report.
“Excess energy produced is stored in the BESS systems for later use (e.g., during peak hours or at night) and they enable time-of-use optimization to offset peak demand and associated charges.”
Based on cost of installation and the amount of energy the systems will produce, Tamlyn recommended net-metering on the roof of the new building, which has already been engineered to bear the weight of the system.
The estimated capital cost of installation is $613,500 and it should recover that cost in nine or 10 years.
Council supported the recommendation and also instructed Tamlyn to include a tab on the Connect CW portal where residents can find information about energy-saving additions they can make to their own homes, including links to federal, provincial and county grants.
“The more we can make the public aware the better,” said Mayor Shawn Watters, noting solar panels are more efficient and affordable than they used to be.
