Photovoltaic news and pv jobs

Ontario to be site of North America’s largest rooftop PV system

Photovoltaics (PV) system developer OYA Solar Inc. and Atlas Tube have said they will develop North America's “largest” rooftop PV project, worth $20 million.

Sandra Pupatello, MPP Windsor West and Minister of Economic Development and Trade. Image: Ontario Government.

The 3.5-megawatt (MW) project is expected to cover an area of around 650,000 square feet and will be located at the Atlas facility, a division of the John Maneely Company located in Harrow, Ontario.

Reportedly supplying enough electricity to power 300 homes, it is hoped the project will provide 30 percent of Atlas's annual energy consumption. Along with its strategic development partners such as Polar Racking, Conergy Canada and Tremco Weatherproofing Technologies, OYA expects the first 500-kilowatt (kW) of the project to be commissioned by next spring.

"Today we set a new standard for North American rooftop solar projects.  It is truly a testament to Ontario's green energy leadership. OYA Solar takes pride in our ability to engineer and deploy large-scale solar solutions for our clients. We foresee the market for rooftop solar growing significantly and have positioned ourselves well to meet our clients' demanding requirements", said Manish Nayar, managing partner of OYA.

In addition to the announcement, Polar, one of OYA's sister companies, unveiled its strategic alliance with Atlas. The company, which designs, manufactures and assembles racking in Windsor, has said it will work with Atlas to manufacture its second generation of rooftop racking systems.

The Honourable Minister Sandra Pupatello, Minister of Economic Development and Trade, and Bruce Crozier, MPP for Essex, were on hand to congratulate the local companies showcasing the region as the leader in solar renewable energy by building North America's largest rooftop renewable energy project in Ontario.

"Congratulations to OYA Solar Inc. and Atlas Tube - your partnership means new investment and jobs in our community," said Sandra Pupatello, MPP Windsor West and Minister of Economic Development and Trade. "This announcement highlights the manufacturing expertise and capabilities of the Windsor-Essex region, and is representative of how Ontario continues to lead the way in green energy projects."