Natural Resources Canada announced more than $160 million in federal investments for nine Alberta-based solar energy power projects that will generate significant clean solar power and deploy 163 megawatts (MW) of new solar generation and 48 MW of battery storage capacity.

“We are investing over $160 million in job-creating solar energy projects, which will contribute 163 megawatts of new power generation across Alberta. By working with Indigenous partners and industry, the Government of Canada is helping to unlock the economic potential of our clean technologies as we advance toward a prosperous net-zero future,” said Jonathan Wilkinson, minister of Natural Resources Canada.

The following projects were funded to create good jobs, provide clean power and advance economic reconciliation:

• Capstone Infrastructure Corporation and Sawridge First Nation’s Michichi Solar LP and Kneehill Solar LP projects will each deploy a 25-MW solar farm with smart-grid–enabled solar inverters. These projects are supported by an combined $64-million federal investment and are expected to create up to 240 good jobs.
• Concord Green Energy (a Concord Pacific Group Company) and the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation (ACFN) partnered to create the Concord Monarch Partnership, Concord Vulcan Partnership and Concord Coaldale Partnership, each of which will deploy 15 MW/34 megawatt hours (MWh) battery energy storage systems on the sites of existing solar arrays in Alberta, supported by a combined federal investment of over $45.8 million, and are expected to create over 100 good jobs.
• Métis Nation Power Authority (MNPA) Inc. will deploy a 4.9-MW solar project in Métis Nation Region 3 in southeastern Alberta, supported by a federal investment of approximately $12.8 million. This is expected to create 24 good jobs, together with training for Indigenous youth.
• Chappice Lake Limited Partnership, alongside Cold Lake First Nations, will deploy 14 MW of solar electricity generation equipment paired with 2.9 MW/8.3 MWh of battery energy storage and artificial intelligence (AI) battery dispatch software, supported by a federal investment of approximately $21 million. This is expected to create over 80 good jobs.
• Enterprise Solar L.P. will deploy a 65-MW solar energy generation project in Vulcan County, Alberta, supported by a federal investment of approximately $12 million. This is expected to create up to 935 total jobs.
• Cardston Spring Coulee Solar Limited Partnership will deploy a 29.5-MW bi-facial solar plant, using single axis trackers, in Cardston County, Alberta, supported by a federal investment of approximately $5.5 million. This is expected to create up to 145 good jobs.

The nine projects funded will deploy 163 MW of new solar generation and 48 MW of battery storage capacity. This will reduce emissions by more than 150,000 tonnes CO₂e per year while creating over 3,000 job years.