Dunrobin Solar Inc. is developing the Dunrobin Solar Project located in the City of Ottawa within Ward 5, West Carleton-March.
Dunrobin Solar Project
Our project website is committed to facilitating open communication and engagement with local stakeholders. We understand that collaboration is vital for success, and we are devoted to considering your ideas, concerns, and feedback. By joining forces, we can achieve positive outcomes that serve the community effectively.
We invite you to collaborate with us as we pursue our shared objectives.
About the Project
Welcome to the Dunrobin Solar Project
Project Size
~100-150 MWac
Technology
Solar PV
Project Footprint
~161 Hectares
Location
Ottawa
To support Ontario’s growing demand for electricity and ensure long-term grid reliability, the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) has launched a series of Long-Term Request for Proposals (LT RFPs) to secure new energy resources for Ontario’s future.
Dunrobin Solar Inc., a subsidiary of Westbridge Renewable Energy Corp., is submitting a proposal to the IESO LT2 RFP for a ground-mounted utility-scale solar project in the City of Ottawa called the Dunrobin Solar Project (the Project).
We are committed to sharing information about the Project and working with the local community to ensure that we receive and understand stakeholder feedback and concerns. We will be reaching out to your by mail, telephone, email and via an open house. Your feedback is important and we encourage community members and stakeholders to participate throughout the development process and to contact us if you have any questions or concerns about the Project – our contact information is included below.
Project Location
Project Benefits
The Project will have many benefits to the local community and to Ontario including:
Westbridge Renewable's projects provide substantial economic, social, and environmental advantages. Our projects offer a dependable and cost-effective energy source, keeping prices low for utilities and their customers. By making significant capital investments, we stimulate regional economic growth and generate millions in new tax revenues that enhance the local base while requiring minimal community services in return This influx of revenue supports vital infrastructure, local schools, and community priorities, both now and the future, while also creating well-paying construction jobs and fostering long-term careers in the expanding solar industry.
Project Summary
The Dunrobin Solar Project is a solar PV project located in the City of Ottawa. The Project lands includes approximately 400 acres of privately-owned land zoned as Rural Countryside.
The Project components include solar PV modules, racking, inverter/transformer stations, an electrical collection system, internal access roads, a collector substation, and a new 230 kilovolt (kV) transmission line which will connect the Project to an existing Hydro One 230kV transmission line approximately 5 km southwest of the Project. Dunrobin Solar is in the preliminary stages of assessing potential routes for the connecting transmission line. As part of Project development, Dunrobin Solar will complete environmental assessments and other engineering studies. If awarded a contract under the IESO’s LT RFP, the Project will proceed to complete Hydro One’s interconnection process and proceed to apply for and obtain all necessary permits, approvals and permissions prior to construction.
We look forward to engaging with you and other community members to discuss the Project and to better understand how we can benefit the community.
Preliminary Project Schedule
Frequently Asked Questions
How much land is needed for a solar power plant? A good rule of thumb is to allow five acres of land for every megawatt of solar power capacity. We may contract additional land to provide more flexibility for construction staging, site layout, and to account for non-developable areas on the landscape such as environmental features and to avoid existing infrastructure such as roads, wells, and residences.
Is the conversion of land to solar generation permanent? No. At the end of the solar project’s life, it will be decommissioned or repowered with new or upgraded equipment. If decommissioned, equipment such as the solar modules and racking could be recycled and salvaged. Solar installations use steel posts that are driven or screwed into the ground, but do not use concrete pilings. All infrastructure below 1.5 meters will remain underground to prevent further disturbance to the land. This means that the landowner can resume its operations onsite after the life of the approximately 30-40 year lifespan of the solar project.
What is the amount of land that would be taken out of agricultural production with the proposed project? During the life of the project, the land would be given a rest and preserved for future agriculture use. While the installation of a solar facility changes the land use of the property, the soil fertility is enhanced by planting grasses and other low-growth species beneath the panels, in turn, managing weed growth and reducing soil erosion. At the time of decommissioning, the land will be restored to its previous condition or intended future use.
How much water a solar farm consumes as opposed to other sources of energy? Solar PV systems require minimal water use during operation for cleaning of the PV panels to maintain energy output. The exact cleaning schedule is a function of precipitation, dust, and other particulate settling on the panels. To minimize cleaning of solar panels, the Project intends to treat neighboring roads with environmentally friendly solutions that are typically used in the area for gravel road stabilization and dust control. This will reduce water consumption related to cleaning during the operation period.
What if the solar farm operator changes ownership or has insufficient assets to decommission or reclaim the solar farm? If the solar farm changes ownership, the new operator will be subject to all of the obligations Dunrobin Solar Inc. is bound by. The project owner will be responsible for removing the electrical equipment, poles, piles, foundations and conduits, as well as access roads, fencing, groundcover, landscaping, and anything else installed as part of the project. Switzerville will prepare a Decommissioning and Reclamation Plan prior to construction which will specify that a bond or letter of credit security in the amount sufficient to fund the decommissioning/reclamation costs will be put in place. The property will be restored to a condition reasonably similar to its condition prior to development of the major facility.
What is involved with day to day operations of the solar farm? Solar farms are very passive in nature during the operations phase. The site will be visited periodically for operations and maintenance activities including regular operations site checks, vegetation maintenance, and environmental monitoring. The site will be fenced for security and safety purposes and lighting will be placed at the main entrance gate and at key operational locations on the site. Security measures may also include CCTV, motion lights, anti-intrusion alarms, and dispatchable security guards.
What types of activities are expected during construction? How will dust be controlled? Construction will include delivering equipment, site preparation, trenching the electrical collector system, and assembling and installing the solar modules and other electrical equipment. We will always try to minimize disruptions to a landowner’s surrounding operations. Dust palliatives, suppressant, or binders and water tankers will be used to help control dust while the construction activities are occurring on the site. During the construction of the facility, best management practices will be utilized to limit fugitive dust from being airborne and traveling beyond the property lines. Dust control efforts will be monitored by the site foreman on a regular basis to ensure fugitive dust is adequately controlled.
How will vegetation and weeds be managed on the solar farm? An Integrated Weed Management (IWM) approach will be implemented for treatment of noxious weeds within the project area. An IWM approach enables selection of one or more weed management methods based on site specific environmental conditions and control needs. The following weed management methods will be considered for the project area: Cultural – planting native or desirable plant species for site colonization and promoting healthy vegetation communities in reclaimed areas; Mechanical – mowing, pulling, disking, and plowing may be used on weedy species for which these treatments are effective; Biological – introduction of insects or other biologic agents which are known to inhibit or prevent reproduction of noxious weed species; Chemical – application of appropriate herbicides by a licensed applicator (All herbicides will be applied in accordance with the manufacturer’s label and in accordance with regulatory requirements).
About Us
Westbridge Renewable Energy Corp.
Westbridge is a publicy-traded renewable energy company listed on the Toronto Venture Exchange with a focus on originating and developing utility-scale solar and energy storage projects to deliver clean electricity to Canadians. The management team behind Westbridge has developed more than 2-gigawatts of renewable energy capacity across Europe and North America, including four utility scale solar PV development projects comprising 985 MW and 300 MW of energy storage for a total of 1,285 MW in progress in Alberta. These projects will support clean energy procurements by government, various industries, and utilities.
