By Medicine Hat News on February 22, 2025.
@MedicineHatNews The proposed Saamis Solar Park, planned for north Medicine Hat, would be the largest urban solar power facility in Canada if fully built. But, a proposed first-phase outline by now owner, the City of Medicine Hat, would rank just sixth largest in Alberta in operation today . The project as designed by developer DP Energy would have a total capacity of 325 megawatts, making it one of the largest ever approved in the province. Further applications are needed before construction on an initial 75-megawatt phase can begin, as well as a decision by city council to green light the work. Five larger solar facilities are in operation today, while the city’s solar power production would also be less than that of Capital Power, Atco, Vancouver-based Elemental Energy and Alberta-based power developer Greengate. The largest operating solar power plants in Alberta with owner/developer, capacity and location, with the Saamis project noted for comparative purposes: – Travers Solar, Greengate, 465-megawatts, Vulcan County; – X-Saamis Solar, DP Energy/City of Medicine Hat 325-MW (full scope), City of Medicine Hat; – Big Sky Solar, RES, 140-MW, Acadia Valley; – Claresholm 1 and 2, Elemental Energy, 123-MW, Claresholm; – Fox Coulee, Neoen (France), 100-MW, Starland County; – Saddlebrook Solar, TC Energy, 80-MW, M.D of Foothills (High River); – Sollair Solar, General Land and Power, 75-MW, Airdrie region; – Clydesdale Solar, Capital Power, 75-MW, Enchant; – X-Saamis Solar, Phase 1, DP Energy/City of Medicine Hat, 75-MW (proposed), Medicine Hat; – Wheatcrest, BluEarth, 50-MW, Enchant; – Joffre Solar (1 and 2), Pace Canada/Concord Green Energy, 47-MW, Lacombe County; – Brooks Solar (3 total), Elemental, 42-MW, Brooks city; – Strathmore Solar (1 and 2), Capital Power, 41-MW, Strathmore; – Deerfoot Solar, Atco, 41-MW, Calgary; – Empress Solar Park, Atco, 39-MW, Cypress County; – Barlow Solar, Atco, 32-MW, Calgary; – Spring Coulee, Brookfield, 30-MW, Cardston County. 25