The Outlook of Solar Energy in Alberta

Learn more about solar energy and its use in the province of Alberta. Check out the different solar energy projects that Alberta has launched to supply its energy needs.

How solar energy works

Since the sun gives out a constant supply of light and heat, several techniques and technologies have been developed to capture that energy and use it for practical purposes. That is how solar energy utilization works, in a nutshell. All over the world, there are several initiatives to use solar energy for heating, cooking, water distillation, and electricity generation. Using solar energy is a simple matter of converting solar heat and radiation into thermal energy that can be applied in everyday lives. This is done through materials that effectively capture heat, such as reflectors and insulators, or through the use of photovoltaic cells, as in electricity generation.

Innovations in Alberta

Since the climate in Alberta is continental, it’s easy to collect solar energy in the summer and store it for use in winter. And even if it’s the middle of winter, there is still enough solar radiation available for heating purposes. Using European and Japanese models, Alberta is also working towards the direction of harnessing the sun’s power to supply the province’s energy and electricity demands. There are several initiatives already set in Alberta regarding the utilization of solar energy. In 2005, a solar-powered subdivision was constructed in Drake Landing which uses solar energy for heating during the winter. In 2006, 20 municipal buildings in Alberta were installed with solar photovoltaic panels that will serve as complementary sources of electricity. In Canmore, Alberta, solar energy is also used to for ice production for its arena. Another project was the installation of photovoltaic cells in the Biosphere Institute of Bow Valley in late 2007.