April 6, 2011

A contract to supply and support a 5MW ground mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) system, composed of 20,410 modules, has been signed between Alderville First Nation, a First Nation community within Southeastern Ontario, and Silfab Ontario Inc., a Canadian company, preparing to inaugurate its new PV module manufacturing plant in Mississauga, Ont.

The ground mounted system, will use the Silfab SLA245M high-efficiency modules made from 60 mono-crystalline high efficiency silicon cells produced in Ontario in accordance with the Ontario Feed-In Tariff program domestic content requirements.

The solar farm, consisting of a combination of fixed mounted racks and single axis trackers, will be installed on Alderville owned properties and is expected to be operational by November 2011 with an estimated production of approximately 5.7 million kWh per year, equivalent to more than 80,000 tons of avoided CO2 emissions during the lifetime of the facility.

“We are very proud‚” explained Franco Traverso, president and CEO of Silfab Ontario, “to be part of this important project for the Alderville First Nation community. We see great opportunities for similar communities and we are optimistic about the growth of the photovoltaic industry in Canada. Alderville has demonstrated great foresight and planning in the development of this project. We are pleased to be part of this vision and partnership.”

The companies say they share a common vision of creating a partnership that includes the training of local resources and the development of a Centre of Excellence for advancing solar energy research, education, and training.

“We are very excited to be working with Silfab on our ground mounted solar facility,” said Chief James Marsden, Chief of Alderville First Nation. “Their expertise in the photovoltaic industry was very evident in the way they approached this project.

“Programs like the Ontario Feed-In Tariff program are giving communities, like Alderville, an opportunity to bring additional economic opportunities into the community to benefit its current membership and its future generations,” he added.