This massive installation sits about 10 feet above the roof, supported by a steel grid.
Owner and President of Solarform, http://www.cdnsolarform.com/ Bill Melnik gave a rousing endorsement to the future of solar. In a reference to the concept of "Peak Oil" he reminded the audience of how the search for new oil has now reached to areas beneath the polar caps. The difficulty in securing new sources is creating larger and larger risks to the environment which in turn is driving up the cost of oil. On the other hand the cost of solar is trending downward, as innovation leads to greater efficiency. At this rate it is possible that solar and oil costs could reach a par within 5 years. If that were in fact to happen it would literally change everything in the energy world.
Just think of the possibility of solar panels on all of our industrial buildings that would be completely unobtrusive and completely free of risk to the environment. Compare this to the environmental degradation we are experiencing from our own tar sands projects in northern Alberta.
As I write this, Australia is proposing a carbon tax, undoubtedly because of the climate change related droughts of recent years. Japan is proposing its own version of the FIT program, in response to the tsunami.
If solar can go up in efficiency and down in price then it will most certainly become a major source of sustainable energy for all of us. As Bill Melnik said in his remarks, Solar is limitless and renewable without any nasty environmental side effects.
Canada has the opportunity to be a world leader in solar technology and Ontario is in the vanguard. And apart from the environmental benefits, the high tech jobs are the icing on the cake.
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