Alberta's Solar Industry: What's the Deal?
I bet you didn't know that Calgary is home to a successful little solar inverter manufacturer - Sustainable Energy Technologies.
Or that Kyle Kasawski, whose original solar company was acquired by German solar giant Conergy, has now started a new company - Provident Solar.
Or that the Okotoks community, Drake Landing, is home to a recent world record where 80% of space heating needs are met by a solar powered district heating system.
These are the beginnings of a self-sufficient solar industry in Alberta.
Last week Calgary was home to the CanSIA Western Solar Conference and Showcase. This is the first time that CanSIA (Canadian Solar Industries Association) has had a conference west of Toronto and they deliberately chose to host it in Calgary.
With Enmax a marquee sponsor, openinig remarks from the chief bureaucrat at Alberta Energy and a meeting afterwards these are positive signs from the province of Alberta that they're ready to embrace the solar industry as a viable energy and heating partner.
Albertas has some of the best solar resources in the country, it's time we took advantage of them.
