Amherstburg Solar Park

 

When completed, the 20 MW Amherstburg Solar Park is expected to produce approximately 37,600 megawatt hours of electricity annually

Asset Overview

The Amherstburg Solar Park is a crystalline solar photovoltaic (PV) power project in Amherstburg, Ontario that will be designed, built and operated on MPIC’s behalf by SunPower, which currently has more than 300 MW of solar power plants operating globally, including in Germany, Spain, Italy, Portugal and the United States.  The Amherstburg Solar Park will also use the proprietary single-axis SunPower® Tracker T20 system, which is engineered to follow the sun during the day, increasing daily energy production by up to 30% more than fixed-tilt installations.     

Solar PV cells convert sunlight directly into electrical energy in proportion to the sunshine intensity and the angle at which solar PV cells are radiated.  As a result, solar PV cells are capable of producing electricity even in the winter and during cloudy weather, although at a reduced rate.  Electricity production typically varies by season, with peak production occurring in the summer, and over the course of a day, with peak production occurring at midday. 

Quick Facts

Item Description
Location Amherstburg, Ontario
Start of Operations Expect to start commercial operations in June 2011
Ownership Interest 100%
Net Capacity 20 MW
Power Purchase Agreement Expiry 2031
Customer Ontario Power Authority
Other Contracts Fixed-price engineering, procurement and construction contract; two-year performance guarantee; and 20-year operations and maintenance contract, all with SunPower

Key Performance Drivers

  • Contracted long-term electricity rate provides stable revenue
  • As a zero-cost renewable energy source, solar power eliminates volatility related to fuel prices
  • Low maintenance and capital expenditure requirements will support low variability of cash flow