Sarnia Photovoltaic Power Plant near Sarnia, Ontario, is Canada's largest photovoltaic plant with an installed capacity of 97 MWP (80 MWAC).Sarnia Solar FarmCPS Energy ratchets up investment in solarLarge-Scale PV Power Plants - Top50

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.FIT program overview retrieved 2011 03 02 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.Enbridge and First Solar Agree on 60 MW Renewable Energy Expansion at Sarnia Phase II (60 MW) was completed in September 2010 at a cost of C$300 million.Sarnia Project Celebrationpvresources. Retrieved 6 September 2010 The project was developed by Enbridge.eXenewable Project Profile Page - Sarnia, PV, Canada

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 and contains about of modules, 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,Sarnia Becomes Largest PV Farm 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.

See also

List of solar farms in Canada

References