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Solvest Inc. and Yukon Energy Agree on Large Scale Solar Project

Monday, 13 July 2020 14:00

The agreement commits Yukon Energy to purchase the renewable electricity generated by the company's proposed solar project on the North Klondike Highway for the next 25 years. Solvest's 1 megawatt project is the first large-scale solar project in the Whitehorse area.

Yukon based Solvest Inc. has signed a new electricity purchase agreement with Yukon Energy for long-term renewable energy under the Government of Yukon's Independent Power Production policy's Standing Offer Program.

The agreement commits Yukon Energy to purchase the renewable electricity generated by the company's proposed solar project on the North Klondike Highway for the next 25 years.

Solvest's 1 megawatt project is the first large-scale solar project in the Whitehorse area and the second independent power producer to sign an electricity purchase agreement in Yukon.

Once constructed, Solvest's solar array will be the largest solar array operating in the territory. It will generate approximately 1.84 gigawatt hours of renewable electricity each year, about the same amount of electricity used by 153 Yukon homes in a year. Construction is slated to begin in August and completed in November 2020.

Solvest Vice-President Ben Power says, Solvest is pleased to take a leading role in renewable energy development in Yukon. This project will provide an economically viable example of solar in the north with hopes of encouraging further development of renewable energy here and across northern Canada.

The Vuntut Gwitchin government owns the 480 kilowatt solar array Solvest installed in Old Crow. The renewable energy system will displace the use of diesel to generate electricity in the off-grid community. Once the system is operational, ATCO Electric Yukon will purchase the electricity for the next 25 years.

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