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A $14‑to‑$15‑million solar project is coming to Saint John, bringing clean energy to more than 1,200 homes. Saint John Energy made the announcement on Tuesday and that it will be one of the largest in New Brunswick.
Ryan Mitchell, president and CEO of Saint John Energy, said the decision to use solar was based on extensive evaluations of multiple renewable options. “This project allows us to deliver lower-cost, reliable clean power through a 30‑year power purchase agreement,” Mitchell said.
Officials say the facility is expected to cut nearly 10,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year, and will produce up to 10 megawatts of power. Saint John Energy is partnering with Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation) and Universal Kraft Renewables to build, own, and operate the Menahqwesk Kisuhs Energy Hub along Old Black River Road.
Saint John Energy is taking a bold step forward. In partnership with global renewable energy developer Universal Kraft and the Indigenous community of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), we’re developing the largest solar energy project in our province’s history — and the first for our utility.
A normal solar power system for an average single-family home in Switzerland costs around CHF 15,000 after subsidies and tax savings. The higher the self-consumption and the proportion of solar energy produced in the total energy requirements, the faster the solar system pays for itself.
On February 1, 2023, Switzerland held its first auction for one-off payments for large photovoltaic (PV) systems. 94 applicants received payments ranging from CHF 360 to CHF 640 per kilowatt (kW), supporting a total capacity of 35 MW. In 2021, Switzerland's photovoltaic (PV) installations increased to 685 MWp from 475 MWp in 2020.
In 2022, Switzerland derived 6% of its electricity from solar power. Studies show that installing solar panels on mountaintops in the Swiss Alps could produce at least 16 terawatt-hours (TWh) a year, approaching half of the nation's 2050 solar energy target.
Installing solar panels on a multi-family home with nine residents spread across four apartments and a heat pump pays off in almost all Swiss cities and communes. The median lies at a return of 10.5 percent. On average, 63 percent of the solar power generated is consumed at home.
An energy storage system (ESS) for electricity generation uses electricity (or some other energy source, such as solar-thermal energy) to charge an energy storage system or device, which is discharged to supply (generate) electricity when needed at desired levels and quality. ESSs provide a variety of services to support electric power grids.
Electrical energy storage systems (ESS) commonly support electric grids. Types of energy storage systems include: Pumped hydro storage, also known as pumped-storage hydropower, can be compared to a giant battery consisting of two water reservoirs of differing elevations.
Variable power is produced by several renewable energy sources, including solar and wind. Storage systems can help to balance out the supply and demand imbalances that this produces. Electricity must be used promptly when it is generated or transformed into storable forms.
Zakeri and Syri also report that the most cost-efficient energy storage systems are pumped hydro and compressed air energy systems for bulk energy storage, and flywheels for power quality and frequency regulation applications.
