Heather Latter
With 220 project sites situated between Fort Frances and Rainy River, Azgard Solar is keeping busy across the district.
The Calgary-based business, with more than 25 years’ experience in the energy industry, expanded here in January, setting up shop next to NorFab Building Components on Highway 11 just west of town.
“Everything just seemed to fall into place,” enthused Patrick Fulawka, head of business development.
Company president Neale Johannesson said because of Ontario’s programs for renewable energy, such as the Feed-in Tariff (FIT), they had discussed expanding to Ontario.
Upon doing some further research, they determined
Northwestern Ontario, particularly Rainy River District, has some of the highest solar radiance in the province.
“We hired local people, some very good workers,” Fulawka noted. “The equipment is local and the materials are from Ontario.
“We wanted to try to keep it as local as we can,” he stressed.
Retired OPP Sgt. Steve Loshaw is the area manager for the local business. The systems are manufactured locally, then installed throughout the district.
Azgard Solar has designed a number of solar energy systems to work with the Ontario Power Authority’s microFIT program, which guarantees a price over a 20-year term for all the electricity produced and delivered to the province’s electricity grid.
Johannesson explained the systems are table-mounted on a base and holds 10 kW of solar energy, which then is converted to AC power and sold to the OPA.
“Ours is the lowest-cost system out there,” said Johannesson, adding their systems are designed and engineered to withstand harsh environmental conditions.
“We’ve kept the technology simple, so they are durable and don’t require any maintenance.”
The systems’ manually-adjusted tilt is simple to operate and can be adjusted four times a year to increase energy production.
Johannesson noted they have been leasing land from local farmers and landowners, but also have had interest from people who want to purchase their own solar energy system to sell the power themselves.
“It’s a great opportunity and they’re making a good return on it,” he remarked, indicating with a one-time investment of $58,500, people could generate up to $12,000 a year for 20 years.
“We will also help with all the paperwork and administrative work so they don’t have to,” Fulawka said, noting since the systems are so easy to install, people are able to install it themselves to save money if they want to.
As of last week, the company had installed eight systems here in Rainy River District, with Fulawka expecting about two or three more to be installed each week throughout the summer.
Currently, Hydro One has been able to provide 70 connections for the 220 project sites and they are working on getting more down the road.
“We are still cautiously optimistic,” Fulawka enthused, stressing it’s not to late for those interested to get involved in the microFIT program.
Over time, Johannesson said Azgard Solar hopes to find customers in other provinces and into the United States, but the main assembly plant will remain here.
The company also is in the process of developing its Black Bay Solar Project, located 80 km east of Thunder Bay, along with another 25 smaller project sites.
Construction of the 10 mW Black Bay Solar Project, which will encompass about 150 acres, will begin next year, with all of the work being based out of the plant here.
“We’re bringing income into the area, whether they are buying the system themselves or by leasing their land,” Johannesson remarked.
“And it’s nice that the farmer can participate in the energy industry.”
“We’ve had a good response. This summer will be busy for us,” added Fulawka.
