Sarnia Photovoltaic Power Plant near Sarnia, Ontario, is Canada's largest photovoltaic plant with an installed capacity of 97 MWP (80 MWAC).[2][3][4][5]
In 2009, Ontario introduced a feed-in tariff renewable energy payments program paying up to CDN 44.3 cents per kW·h for large ground arrays such as the Sarnia plant.[6] This makes Ontario's one of the top feed in tariff programs in the world.
Phase I (for 20 MW) was completed in December 2009.[7] Phase II (60 MW) was completed in September 2010 at a cost of C$300 million.[8][9] The project was developed by Enbridge.[10]
First Solar developed, engineered, and constructed the facility, and it will operate the Sarnia Solar Project for Enbridge under a long-term contract. Enbridge will sell the power output of the facility to the Ontario Power Authority pursuant to 20-year power purchase agreements under the terms of the Ontario government's Renewable Energy Standard Offer Program.
The plant covers 450 hectares (1,100 acres) and contains about 257 ha (635 acres) of modules,[11] which is about 1.3 million thin-film panels. At the completion of Phase II it was the largest solar power station in the world,[12] a title it held until the 2011 opening of Huanghe Hydropower Golmud Solar Park in China. The expected annual energy yield is about 120,000 MW·h, which if produced in a coal-fired plant, would require emission of 39,000 tonnes of CO2.
Timeline of the largest PV power stations in the world
Year(a)
Name of PV power station
Country
Capacity MW
1982
Lugo
United States
1
1985
Carrisa Plain
United States
5.6
2005
Bavaria Solarpark (Mühlhausen)
Germany
6.3
2006
Erlasee Solar Park
Germany
11.4
2008
Olmedilla Photovoltaic Park
Spain
60
2010
Sarnia Photovoltaic Power Plant
Canada
97
2011
Huanghe Hydropower Golmud Solar Park
China
200
2012
Agua Caliente Solar Project
United States
290
2014
Topaz Solar Farm(b)
United States
550
2015
Longyangxia Dam Solar Park
China
850
2016
Tengger Desert Solar Park
China
1547
2019
Pavagada Solar Park
India
2050
2020
Bhadla Solar Park
India
2245
Also see list of photovoltaic power stations and list of notable solar parks (a) year of final commissioning (b) capacity given in MWAC otherwise in MWDC
^Enbridge Income Fund Assets – Green Power
^"Enbridge completes Sarnia solar farm". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 4 October 2010. Retrieved 5 October 2010.
^Sarnia Solar Farm
^CPS Energy ratchets up investment in solar
^Large-Scale PV Power Plants - Top50
^FIT program overview retrieved 2011 03 02
^Enbridge and First Solar Agree on 60 MW Renewable Energy Expansion at Sarnia
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