Innovative Solar Installation Celebrated in Georgetown Ontario

Solar Panel Installation at BRC in Georgetown

Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending a unique celebration that certainly illustrated the innovation  and creativity of its chief proponent and owner, Bill Melnik.

The celebration was held on the roof of the building in this photo. Guests climbed the stairs seen on the left  to a magical space atop BRC Sustainable Elements on Armstrong Avenue in Georgetown, Ontario.

Try to envision arriving on the roof deck to find a spotlessly clean spongy floor with a steel superstructure hovering above supporting hundreds of solar panels. That was cool just by itself, but now add in a live band and impeccable catering service and you have a special celebration that no one has experienced before.

This installation is unique, possibly in the world. One would normally expect the solar panels to be attached to the roof but that is not the case at BRC. In this application a new steel superstructure was constructed to support the massive solar array. The advantage is that when the roof needs to be renewed, it can be done without interference from the solar panels.

Bill Melnik owns both BRC and its building as well as the solar company, Solarform which did the installation. Another building further down Armstrong Avenue has just received the same treatment from Solarform and the building next door has just signed on as well.

The BRC installation covers the 35,000 sq. ft. building and is expected to generate 365 megawatts of electricity annually or enough power to service 30 homes. Annually this will save over 197 tons of greenhouse gas emissions.

Bill Melnik is a real believer in the future of solar energy. In his remarks he noted that Japan has started its own FIT program similar to Ontario's as it weans itself off of nuclear energy. In the past few years the efficiency of solar has improved by 20% and the cost has declined by 40%. At this rate of improvement he foresees solar becoming competitive with oil in as little as 5 years!

It would appear that Ontario is on the right track with its FIT program when it is obvious that it has triggered innovation and efficiencies within Ontario in this emerging technology.