Solar Power – Facilities
Application
2113260 Alberta Ltd., operating as Oyen Solar Partners (“OSP”), requested permission to alter the 15-megawatt Oyen Community Solar Project (the “Power Plant”) located near the Town of Oyen, Alberta. OSP requested that the AUC rescind the Power Plant’s community generating designation. The AUC initially approved the Power Plant in Approval 27905-D02-2023.
Decision
The AUC approved the application to alter the Power Plant and rescinded the community generating unit designation.
Applicable Legislation
Alberta Utilities Commission Act, SA 2007, c A-37.2.
Hydro and Electric Energy Act, RSA 2000, c H-16.
Hydro and Electric Energy Regulation Alta Reg 409/1983.
Small Scale Generation Regulation, Alta Reg 194/2018.
AUC Rule 012: Noise Control.
Pertinent Issues
OSP applied for approval of the following changes to the approved Power Plant:
(a) a reduction of the number of solar panels from 54,000 to 35,672 and a rating increase from 360 watts to 545 watts each;
(b) a change of solar panel tracking system from fixed-tilt to single-axis tracking; and
(c) a reduction of the number of inverters from six to five, with a rating increase from 2,500-kilovolt ampere (“kVA”) to 3,600 kVA each.
OSP submitted that there were no changes to the fence line of the Power Plant and that the final update would not result in an increased impact on the environment or local landowners. After the completion of a participant involvement program, no new concerns were raised about the project.
The AUC found that the application filed by Oyen met all requirements set out by AUC Rule 007: Applications for Power Plants, Substations, Transmission Lines, Industrial System Designations, Hydro Developments and Gas Utility Pipelines, the Hydro and Electric Energy Regulation, and Small Scale Generation Regulation. The AUC was satisfied that the changes to the project are minor, that no person is directly and adversely affected by the proposal and that no significant adverse environmental impact will be caused.
