The US is leading the charge for solar in North America, but its next-door neighbours, Canada and Mexico, are also pressing ahead with plans to boost deployment. Danielle Ola reports on the policy developments expected to underpin the growth of solar in the two countries.
Energy storage manufacturer for solar, Sunvault Energy, is involved in a project to construct and maintain Canada’s first "self-sustainable community", combining technologies including solar, energy storage and biomass, alongside what will be British Columbia’s largest PV park.
Under phase 2 of the Large Renewable Procurement (LRP) Scheme, Ontario is opening bidding for 930MW; almost doubling its renewable energy ambitions for solar (250MW), wind (600MW), hydroelectricity (50MW) and bioenergy (30MW).
Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) has awarded seven solar energy contracts totalling nearly 140MW with a weighted average price of CAD0.1567/kWh (US$0.12).
The first official visit by a Canadian prime minister to the US in 19 years yesterday saw climate change take centre stage and a pledge by the two countries to collaborate more closely on renewable energy.
Canadian-based PV project developer JCM Capital said it had secured an undisclosed tranche of funds as part of a US$50 million private placement offering for project financing requirements of three projects scheduled to reach financial close during 2016 and 2017.
Samsung Renewable Energy, through its partnership with Connor, Clark and Lunn Infrastructure (CC&L Infrastructure), has closed on US$195 million of debt financing for a 50MW solar project in Windsor, Ontario.
