Large Scale
Wind And Solar Project
(In Progress)

Full Circle Consulting is working on a preliminary feasibility study to develop a large utility scale Solar Farm with the capacity to produce substantial megawatts of electricity. The scale of this farm would be in relation to three key aspects of a viable Solar Farm.

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• Resources- The staple would be amount of solar energy, as the project area is known for high sunshine quantity, it would be a likely conclusion that this portion of the pre-feasibility study will be positive. However, it must be confirmed, therefore, a historical research aspect of weather must be completed outlining a multiyear documentation of sunshine hours, cloudy periods, flooding possibility, wind patterns, storms and rainfall.

• Infrastructure. Due to the costs of constructing electrical power grids, a Solar Farm must be in close proximity to substations, and transmission grid lines. Research of power lines within the area would have to be undertaken. Complete with size, map locations, power phase, compacity, ownership and life expectancy. As well as connectivity capacity.

• Land availability is critical to establish a Solar Farm. It is and has been our client's practice, to consider brownfield or disturbed land first rather than agriculture or developable lands. This is confirmed by the two completed projects in Calgary, Alberta. These projects were on former industrial land which was not suitable for future development. The proposed project area has vast amounts of mined and reclaimed and also underclaimed land which may be suitable for a Solar Farm minimizing the use of viable agriculture farming land. The following aspects would have to be quantified on a go forward process. All characteristics of potential sites are vitally important and must be taken into consideration before a site may be further analyzed. These characteristics include but are not limited to:

  1. Topographical layout - to ensure slope adaptability for a Solar Farm

  2. Geotechnical analyses - to ascertain stability for anchoring of Solar panels and bases.

  3. Categorizing sites with priority to previously disturbed soil not suited to farming. Explore agriculture uses in combination to a solar farm, i.e., Grazing of smaller animals, such as sheep.

  4. Preliminary discussions with landowners to ascertain willingness for a long-term leasing or purchase.

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Developing a large-scale Solar Farm is greatly dependent on the ability to secure a buyer for the electricity produced. In person meetings would have to be facilitated enabling negotiations on potential electricity sale, or other purchasers. The second aspect of market conditions would be the evaluation of other potential organizations, or corporations with the intentions of opening the door to joint ventures. For both electrical use and offsetting of carbon credits, working toward a net zero carbon footprint.

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Our client is proud of its involvement in bettering the local community. Therefore, quantifying the beneficial spin-offs of a Solar Farm for the local area is important to us. The construction jobs, and supply chain by local businesses is critical to the viability for both our client and the local community. The long-term employees, skill set required for operating and maintenance must be identified so planning can be implemented for successful fulfillment of the project.

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