Canada's 'Gas City' Powers Up: North America's Largest Urban Solar Plant Underway

Medicine Hat, Alberta, is set to become home to North America's largest urban solar power plant. The 325-megawatt (MW) Saamis project, developed by DP Energy, will be constructed on a 1,600-acre contaminated industrial site, transforming a previously unusable area into a significant source of renewable energy.

Key Takeaways

• Largest Urban Solar Project: The Saamis project in Medicine Hat, Alberta, will be the largest urban solar power park in North America.

• Brownfield Redevelopment: The solar plant will be built on a 1,600-acre contaminated industrial site, previously used for fertilizer production.

• Significant Power Capacity: Once fully developed, the 325 MW project is expected to meet the peak energy demand for the city's industrial, commercial, and residential consumers.

• Strategic Energy Transition: The project aligns with Medicine Hat's goals for energy transition and complements existing natural gas generation.

A Sunny Future for Medicine Hat

Medicine Hat, known as "Gas City" for its abundant fossil gas reserves, is embracing a cleaner energy future with the development of the Saamis Solar Project. This ambitious undertaking will harness the city's abundant sunshine, boasting more sunny days annually than any other Canadian city. The project, which has progressed through various stages of development by Irish renewables firm DP Energy, was recently sold to the city.

Transforming Contaminated Land

The Saamis project is uniquely situated on a 1,600-acre plot of land contaminated by byproducts from the nearby Medicine Hat Complex, the country's largest fertilizer plant. This land, damaged by solid waste from nitrogen production, will be capped with clay before the installation of over 600,000 solar panels. This initiative represents a productive use of contaminated land with limited development potential, contributing significantly to the city's energy transition.

Project Scope and Potential

The multistage project, if fully realized, has the capacity to meet the peak load demand for Medicine Hat's industrial, commercial, and residential sectors, serving its 65,000 residents. The initial phase is expected to generate 75 MW. City officials are considering the integration of battery storage and other renewable energy sources, such as wind, to further enhance the city's energy grid and manage the variability of solar power production.

Navigating Regulatory Landscapes

The Saamis project faced challenges, including being caught in Alberta's renewables moratorium. However, its strategic siting allowed it to proceed after addressing stipulations related to viewscapes, decommissioning, and high-grade agricultural land in revised guidelines. Alberta remains a leading market for solar power in Canada, with significant capacity added in recent years.

A Model for Other Cities

DP Energy views the Saamis project as a model for other small and mid-sized cities with suitable land looking to incorporate large-scale clean power production. The company has a portfolio of renewable energy projects across Canada and internationally, highlighting the growing potential for solar energy in the country.

Sources

• North America’s Largest Solar Plant Is Taking Shape. Yep, in Canada. – Mother Jones, Mother Jones.

• Canada to Build One of the Largest Urban Solar Power Plant Projects in North America, EcoWatch.

• North America’s largest urban solar power plant takes shape – in Canada's ‘Gas City’, Canada's National Observer.