Canada Should Embrace Ambitious Solar Power Initiatives, Study Suggests

This recommendation is detailed in a new paper released in the journal Solar Compass, which analyzes the existing state of solar energy and contrasts the benefits of large-scale projects with those of smaller, decentralized approaches, where individual homes and commercial establishments install their own solar panels.

“Solar energy presents significant advantages over wind, geothermal, and nuclear power as a renewable energy source,” claims Anil Hira, director of the Clean Energy Research Group (CERG) and a political science professor at SFU. “The installation costs of solar panels have plummeted by about 90% in the past decade and have become a crucial component of energy strategies in numerous countries, yet Canada is barely tapping into this potential. While solar power constitutes around four percent of the global electricity production, it accounts for a mere 0.5% within Canada. Concentrating efforts on utility-scale solar projects could greatly benefit regions in Canada, especially British Columbia, by diversifying our energy sources and lessening our dependence on hydro, while also addressing the limitations associated with wind energy.”

The paper indicates that much of the current solar policy has leaned towards small-scale, decentralized generation, which tends to be politically favorable since it incentivizes individuals and companies to invest in technology for their benefit and minimizes land usage issues as panels are mostly placed on existing structures.

Nevertheless, the authors emphasize that this strategy does not produce sufficient electricity for a green transition, fragments the electricity system, and raises concerns about equity due to the varying suitability of locations for solar power. Wealthy homeowners and large businesses are often the only ones inclined to make substantial investments in panels and batteries. On a clearer note, the costs associated with utility-scale solar technologies are approximately 64% lower than residential installations and 50% lower than commercial ones, on average.

Although utility-scale projects face their own hurdles, such as high initial costs, public resistance, and the space required for extensive arrays of solar panels, the report suggests that the concerns regarding land usage are often overstated. There is potential for creative solutions that allow for multiple uses of land where solar installations take place. The authors believe that the advantages far surpass the challenges. Notably, the land required for solar to make a significant contribution to our electricity supply is much less than commonly assumed. They advocate for utilizing public lands for these mega-projects to mitigate NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) sentiments.

The study also cites various solar projects globally, including those in the U.S.

For instance, California’s Solar Star project, which consists of 1.7 million panels sprawled over 13 kilometers, generates enough electricity for 255,000 homes, equating to 579 megawatts. Similarly, the Mesquite Solar 1 Power Plant in Arizona produces 150 megawatts and was built at a cost of $600 million in 2013, largely financed by a $337 million loan from the U.S. Department of Energy.

To leverage the potential for transitioning to clean energy, the report calls for proactive policies and financial support from higher levels of government.

“While deploying solar at various scales is important, from a capital efficiency viewpoint, policies should prioritize the quick rollout of utility-scale projects in areas with optimal sunlight conditions,” states CERG co-author Prasanna Krishnan. “All these considerations indicate a pressing need for national strategies to alleviate the barriers to developing large-scale solar and storage farms, which also includes the necessary reform of interconnection practices. Supporting these initiatives could fundamentally transform our electricity systems.”