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Overview |
TC Energy is proposing to construct and operate a solar and energy storage project, known as the Saddlebrook Solar + Storage Project. It will consist of a solar-generating facility that will operate in conjunction with a battery energy storage system.
The proposed solar-generating facility will use state-of-the-art bifacial solar panels to generate energy and the battery energy storage system will be supplied by Lockheed Martin and will employ their long-duration GridStar® Flow energy storage system.
The Project will be located entirely on TC Energy-owned land at the Saddlebrook Industrial Park, southeast of the intersection at Highway 2A and Township Road 200, in 31-19-28-W4M in Aldersyde, Alberta.
Phase
One
Phase One of the Project will consist of the installation of up to 102.5 megawatts (MW) of solar generation, which can generate enough electricity to power approximately 30,000 homes.
Phase
Two
Phase Two of the Project will consist of the installation of a utility-scale energy storage facility, up to 6.5 MW, 40-megawatt-hour (MWh).
Both phases will utilize inverter technology to convert the electricity produced by the solar panels and battery into alternating current. The electricity produced will feed into the Alberta Interconnected Electric System (AIES) through an existing substation located on the Project lands.
Project timeline
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Q1 2021 |
Distribute Stakeholder and landowner notification |
| Q1/Q2 2021 |
Conduct survey and field work |
| Q1/Q2 2021 |
File for a land use amendment and development permit application through the County |
| Q2 2021 |
File regulatory application with Alberta Utility Commission (AUC) |
| Q2 2022 |
Subject to regulatory approval, commence construction activities for Phase One |
| Q4 2022 |
Anticipated in-service date for Phase One |
| Q2 2023 |
Subject to regulatory approval, commence construction activities for Phase Two |
| Q1 2024 |
Anticipated in-service date for Phase Two |
Emissions Reduction Alberta
The proposed Project is partially supported by $10 million in funding from Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA) through their BEST Challenge, to support the development of a hybrid solar generation facility combined with a flow battery energy storage system.
ERA’s BEST Challenge targets technologies that demonstrate the potential to reduce GHG emissions in Alberta and secure the province’s success in a lower carbon economy. Innovators with technology scale-up, demonstration and first-of-kind implementation projects in the areas of biotechnology, electricity or sustainable transportation were invited to apply.
Why bifacial solar panels?
Conventional PV modules are mono-facial, meaning that their electricity output is a function of irradiance, both direct and diffused, captured on the front side of the module only. Conversely, bifacial modules convert irradiance captured on both the front and back sides of the module into electrical power. As a result, bifacial modules typically offer enhanced power over mono-facial modules through the capture of reflected light on the backside of the panel. Bifacial modules hence generate more electricity than a traditional mono-facial module utilizing the same footprint.
Additionally, snow is normally a hindrance to energy production in conventional solar facilities. However, bifacial modules benefit from the higher reflectivity of snow on the ground because more light is reflected onto the backside of the module to generate electricity. It is expected that the application of this technology in Alberta’s climate will assist in producing markedly more energy throughout the year, especially during winter.