Apr 18 2011
A contract to supply and support a 5 MW ground mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) system, composed of 20,410 modules, was signed between Alderville First Nation (Alderville), a First Nation community within Southeastern Ontario, and Silfab Ontario Inc. (Silfab), a Canadian company, preparing to inaugurate its new PV module manufacturing plant in Mississauga, Ontario.
The announcement was proudly made today by Franco Traverso, President and CEO of Silfab Ontario Inc., and Chief James Marsden, Chief of Alderville First Nation, after signing the agreement.
The ground mounted system, will use the Silfab SLA245M high-efficiency modules made from 60 mono-crystalline high efficiency silicon cells produced in Ontario in accordance with the Ontario Feed In Tariff program domestic content requirements.
The solar farm, consisting of a combination of fixed mounted racks and single axis trackers, will be installed on Alderville owned properties and is expected to be operational by November 2011 with an estimated production of approximately 5.7 million kWh per year, equivalent to over 80,000 tons of avoided CO2 emissions during the lifetime of the facility.
Silfab and Alderville share a common vision of creating a partnership that includes the training of local resources and the development of a Centre of Excellence for advancing solar energy research, education, and training. Thanks to expertise gained in over 30 years of working at the highest level in the solar photovoltaic field, Franco Traverso and his staff intend to transfer a wealth of knowledge to the First Nation, enabling the community to be self-sufficient in the management of the facility and be capable of developing future solar power projects.