Blackfalds’ Abbey Centre is going solar.
The recently built recreation centre was pegged as the best candidate for a solar power installation, following a feasibility study of town buildings by SkyFire Energy.
The $396,000 project, which will entail the addition of solar (photovoltaic) panels on the building, was approved by the town’s Recreation, Culture and Parks Board on May 3. NuEnergy Systems won the bid to install the panels, while SkyFire will provide consulting services throughout the project.
The building’s solar PV system is expected to be operational in August. It will produce about 220,000 kilowatt-hours per year of electricity — the equivalent of operating 30 average homes — while reducing the centre’s greenhouse gas emissions.
“Once everything is operational, we’ll start seeing immediate benefits in our power consumption along with reducing our carbon footprint,” said Rick Kreklewich, the centre’s general manager.