Pesakastew Solar Project 

Solar Project

Background

The Pesâkâstêw Solar Project is a 10 MW solar farm in development in the Rural Municipality of Weyburn, Saskatchewan, approximately 4 km southwest of the city of Weyburn on land with low environmental sensitivity. The project is set to be operational by 2020, supplying clean energy to the Saskatchewan electrical grid. 

This project will require approximately 85-100 acres (34-41 ha) of land and will connect directly to the SaskPower substation adjacent to the site. The project will be able to provide electricity to approximately 2,400 homes and, in doing so, will displace 18,860 tonnes of CO2 equivalent annually.

  • Project Owner: Starblanket Cree Nation (Red Dog Holdings) George Gordon First Nation (George Gordon Developments)

  • Type: Solar

  • Size: 10MW

  • Industry Partner: Natural Forces Ltd.

  • Launch Date: 2019

  • Status: Current

Project Highlights

Feature Metric
Land usage 85-100 acres
Homes Powered 2,400
Environmental Impact Displace 18,86085 tonnes of CO2 per year
Operational date 2020

Process

1. Development

  • Assess the solar resource
  • Survey for environmentally sensitive features
  • Consult with regulators and community stakeholders
  • Summarize the results of the environmental surveys and consultation in a technical proposal for provincial review
  • Work with the rural municipality to determine planning requirements
  • Optimize the project design to capture the sun efficiently and minimize impact on sensitive features
  • Apply for remaining permits

2. Construction

  • Prepare lands for construction
  • Build access roads and assemble panel racks
  • Install the panes and additional equipment required on site
  • Begin the interconnection process with SaskPower

3. Operation

  • Commission the solar project to start producing power
  • Conduct post-construction wildlife monitoring, if required
  • Monitor remotely for real-time alerts when additional maintenance is needed
  • Conduct periodical in-person site visits
  • Operate for 20 years​

4. Decommissioning

  • Assess solar panels, electrical circuits and equipment after 20 years
  • Decommission project components and reclaim the site to its former state; or
  • Receive approvals and permits to retrofit the solar panel or components to continue harnessing the energy​