Halton Hills: Halton Hills Hydro launched an innovative energy project November 8 that combines renewable energy and smart grid technology, to mount individual solar panels on about 200 hydro poles in Georgetown, Acton and surrounding communities today at Ballinafad Community Centre.
The panels will be mounted on hydro poles over November and December. The solar units can be installed quickly and simply on existing poles and begin to generate power immediately.
A key benefit of the project is the distribution system monitoring provided by these panels. This enhances the smart grid by providing valuable, real time information about the panels and distribution system so that the utility can adjust and improve overall efficiency. Distribution line losses are reduced as the panels generate clean, renewable power close to where it's needed. Each panel generates about 1kWh of electricity per day.
"The flexibility of the technology means that we can expand incrementally," said Halton Hills Hydro President Art Skidmore. There are 1,400 suitable hydro poles in the area, enough to power 50 homes.
The panels are supplied by Harvester Energy, a subsidiary of Halton Hills Community Energy Corporation and a Canadian distributor of the technology. Halton Hills Hydro is the mid-sized local distribution company serving more than 20,000 urban and rural customers in the Town of Halton Hills.