OPG completes solar plant at former Nanticoke site

NANTICOKE, ONT. —Ontario Power Generation (OPG) and its partners the Six Nations of the Grand River Development Corporation and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation have announced the completion of OPG’s first solar facility, located at the former Nanticoke Generating Station site near Port Dover, Ont.

The 44-megawatt facility is OPG’s fourth project with a First Nations community, said a March 29 statement. PCL Construction served as the constructor on a design, engineer and construct contract.

PCL was also awarded the supply contract for the project’s 192,431 photovoltaic solar panels and racking system.

The project required more than 20,000 helical piles buried two metres into the ground, with racking then attached and the PV panels, with an average rating of 345 watts each, mounted onto the racks. Electrical equipment such as transformers, breakers, AC-DC inverters and protection and control equipment were also installed.

The project covers 260 acres on the shore of Lake Erie. The new plant opened March 29.

The former coal-burning Nanticoke Generating Station was first brought into service in 1972 and had a peak capacity of approximately 4,000 megawatts of power. The station burned its last piece of coal on Dec. 31, 2013.

Demolition of two smokestacks took place Feb. 28 last year and demolition of the station’s powerhouse is scheduled for September 2019 and will be followed by site restoration in 2020.

Access roads for the site were built using concrete from the Nanticoke smokestack demolition.

“We are committed to investing in sustainable partnerships that deliver not only economic benefits but also employment and training opportunities to our beneficiary, the Six Nations Community,” said Hilary Visheau, chair of the Six Nations Grand River Development Corporation’s Advisory Committee, in the statement.

Added Andrew Moles, PCL’s director of solar, “Through the expertise of our solar energy team, and the relationships fostered with top suppliers and consultants, we were able to construct, generate and store reliable, renewable power quickly and efficiently, while ensuring the highest standard of quality for OPG, First Nations and the local community.”