On September 14, renewable energy developer Enfinity Canada announced that its logistics and distribution provider, Wills Transfer, Ltd., will install rooftop solar power generation systems at three of its warehouses in Ottawa, Brockville, and Perth, Ontario. These projects will benefit from the province’s economic incentives for renewable power generation, its manufacturing infrastructure, and its range of solar energy classes and installation training programs.
Enfinity plans to finance, develop, and maintain the renewable power systems, which are designed to generate more than a million kilowatt-hours per year, with a total peak capacity of 1.3 megawatts. The three installations will provide enough solar energy to power more than 125 homes and divert 645 tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Enfinity and Wills Transfer Embrace Renewable Power Generation
Brent Ellis, Director of Commercial Warehouses for Wills Transfer, says that the solar installations reflect the organization’s commitment to green technology and environmental protection for the community. “Energy efficiency and reduction of greenhouse gases are key business and environmental strategies for Wills Transfer, and we continue to work to make them an integral part of our operations,” says Ellis.
Chris Young, Managing Director of Enfinity Canada, is also enthusiastic about the renewable power generation initiative. “Our installation with Wills Transfer,” says Young, “is the latest example of Enfinity’s continued commitment to supply solar solutions that require no upfront capital costs, provide new sources of revenue, and offer fully managed solar power services for commercial and industrial building owners.”
Solar Energy Retrofit Benefits from Ontario Workers, Installation Classes
The trio of new solar projects is currently in the design phase, with construction of the PV arrays slated for early next year. Combined, Wills Transfer’s warehouse facilities cover more than half a million square feet of space. To construct such large projects, Enfinity and Wills Transfer will draw on Ontario’s abundant and underemployed workforce, which still suffers from the effects of the 2009 recession and the corresponding decline in manufacturing.
Schools such as Ontario Solar Academy continuously supply the province’s solar energy market with graduates of PV installation training classes, inspired by the opportunities available in the expanding green technology sector. Projects like Enfinity’s venture with Wills Transfer make use of Ontario’s skilled workers while moving the province closer to its goal of phasing out coal-fired power plants by 2014.
