Kimberley's SunMine on pace for January completion

The SunMine looking east.

image credit: submitted

Construction on Kimberleys unique SunMine project, the largest solar farm in western Canada, is proceeding on pace.

According to the latest project update, last week the Prime Contractor Conergy Canada and construction manager SkyFire Energy completed the installation of all 4,032 photovoltaic modules.

Modules are now arranged in ninety six 38 foot by 20 foot tables and have been mounted on masts topped with a specialized tracking system that will rotate to track the sun. There are 42 photovoltaic modules per table top. Once the installation and commissioning is complete the table tops in the picture (right) will tilt at similar angles to maximize solar exposure and energy generation.

Trackers provide approximately 30 per cent more energy than fixed panels.

The trackers sensors also feature load sensing capabilities and will increase the tilt angle to dump snow as needed and adjust the tilt angle to reduce windload. Performance will be digitally monitored by a data acquisition and monitoring system.

Construction continues on pace for operation in early 2015. Mayor Ron McRae says that it looks like everything will be ready to go in January.

In parallel to the tracker installation, trenching and installation of cabling is complete and electricians have begun wiring the trackers and connecting the string inverters that convert the suns energy into electricity that is suitable for delivery via a powerline to the BC Hydro system. String inverters allow for segmented power production in the solar array, providing more power production than centralized inverters which have been historically more popular.

Upcoming activities include installation of the powerline connecting SunMine to the Teck Kimberley substation and BC Hydro, and modifications to the substation itself.

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Kimberley's SunMine on pace for January completion