A California company is preparing to install a massive solar installation near Sarnia, Ontario (across the river from Port Huron, Michigan) that will be the largest solar installation in North America. Currently, the largest installation in the world is a 12 megawatt facility in Germany. In the United States, a 15 megawatt facility was recently announced to begin construction on an air force base in Nevada. However, the Canadian facility will eclipse both of these, with a capacity of 40 megawatts. It won't necessarily be the world's largest solar farm, however. A 40 megawatt installation is also underway near the present German facility.

The OptiSolar Farms Canada Inc. solar farm will cover nearly 365 hectares (900 acres). Sarnia is close to major grid pathways, making it easy to tie the power produced by this solar farm into the North American grid. It is also a relatively southern location (for Canada), which gives it good solar access.

Part of the selection of the Canadian site was due to the premium for solar electricity that the Ontario government is currently offering (currently 42 cents per kilowatt hour).

"The company hopes to break ground in 2008 after getting the necessary municipal zoning approvals and building permits. It has already purchased the real estate it needs, mostly low-value farm and industrial land, and has full backing of the local community."

The Sarnia solar facility is expected to be online and fully functioning in 2010.

Link: Toronto Star