Researchers from Simon Fraser University argue that British Columbia's northwest region holds significant untapped potential for solar energy. They advocate for the development of utility-scale solar projects to accelerate Canada's transition to green energy, emphasizing the benefits of solar energy diversification, reduced reliance on hydro power, and the potential for pumped hydro storage solutions.
Researchers from Simon Fraser University's Clean Energy Research Group (CERG) believe that British Columbia's northwest region holds more potential for solar energy than is commonly recognized. Their research, published in Solar Compass in December 2024, advocates for Canada to prioritize the development of utility-scale solar projects as a catalyst for its transition to green energy. Utility-scale projects integrate solar power with battery storage technology to maximize energy utilization.
Anil Hira, director of CERG and a political science professor at SFU, and Prasanna Krishnan posit that a combination of solar, wind, and hydro power would be most suitable for meeting the clean energy needs of northern British Columbia. Hira emphasizes the importance of exploring innovative energy storage solutions to address the seasonal variations inherent in northern B.C.'s climate. 'There are many creative ways to think about energy storage that could start to unravel the problem of seasonality that you have in northern B.C.,' he states. 'Solar can help us to diversify our energy mix so we are not so reliant on hydro and reduces the intermittency problems with wind.' Hira further suggests that solar can be leveraged to create a pumped hydro storage system in conjunction with large hydroelectric projects in the region, such as the Site C dam and hydroelectric generation station on the Peace River. 'When power is not being used, you pump the water back uphill, and then your reservoir acts as a battery,' explains Hira.The researchers also highlight the declining cost of solar panel installation as a compelling reason to advocate for utility-scale projects. 'The prices have dropped dramatically in the last decade by an estimated 90 per cent,' Hira notes. While solar power constitutes approximately four percent of global electricity generation, its contribution in Canada remains meager at 0.5 percent. Krishnan points to the Government of Canada's solar map, which indicates potential for solar in northern B.C. based on a region's photovoltaic potential in kWh/kWp. 'Certainly, it can't compare to somewhere like Southern California or Mexico, but from what I see, you'd be looking at generating half as much in the summer months,' Krishnan observes. 'It looks good.' Although not a utility-scale project, solar farms exist in the region, like the one on Haida Gwaii. Land use is a concern for large-scale solar development, but the authors propose concentrating projects in marginal areas with maximum sunlight exposure and minimal alternative uses. Concentrating solar in a few areas also mitigates community acceptance challenges. For instance, the proposed Upper Nicola Band/Okanagan Nation Alliance utility-scale solar farm project in the interior would be built on nearly 100 acres of underdeveloped land characterized by low-lying vegetation primarily consisting of shrubs and low grasses
SOLAR ENERGY UTILITY-SCALE PROJECTS BRITISH COLUMBIA RENEWABLE ENERGY TRANSITION PUMPED HYDRO STORAGE
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