ATCO collaborated with Clark Builders and Manasc Isaac Architecture to implement a multi-faceted renewable energy solution for Red Deer Polytechnic. It comprises 1.5 MW of solar PV, a 105 kW solar pedway and 1 MW of combined heat and power (CHP) in addition to an exterior lighting LED retrofit. 

This education-focused initiative included a state-of-the-art LEED Silver lab that allows students to learn about renewable energy in a hands-on classroom environment. Students can look at real data, examine solar panels in multiple configurations — including a fixed photovoltaic roof array, a variable angle array/tracking and octagonal arrays — and use onsite equipment such as a CHP demo unit to feed into their designs. 

Unique features included ATCO’s development of an alternate form of interconnection to accommodate array size and existing electrical infrastructure. We connected the system further upstream on the electrical grid, to the high-voltage powerline with a dedicated solar PV transformer, as opposed to the existing building electrical system (low-voltage) as is typical. Leveraging our high-voltage expertise, we designed a separate high-voltage solar service for the roof and pedway arrays, ensuring a safe and reliable interconnection.