Toronto energy developer Kelly Rumble poses in front of one of the solar panels he hopes to install across London this summer.
NORMAN DE BONO - SUN MEDIA
The equivalent of about 16 football fields -- maybe even more -- of solar panels will blanket London rooftops by summer.
A Toronto energy developer has already optioned more than one million square feet of space in the city to install the panels. Kelly Rumble, chief executive of Rumble Energy, said yesterday he wants to add up to one million square feet more -- or another 16 football fields -- by summer when he envisions solar panels feeding power to the Ontario grid. Rumble is leasing the space from building owners and, in turn, will sell energy from the panels. He said he hopes to have 20 rooftops leased in London and about 80 more across the province by summer. Rumble is focusing on the London and Ottawa regions because of the amount of sun they get.
Rumble was in London this week scouting locations for panels. He met with officials from London Hydro and University of Western Ontario researchers to discuss the project, he said. He has optioned about 40 roofs across Ontario. He said he believes the average London rooftop will range anywhere from 40,000 to 70,000 square feet. The 20 London rooftops, when operating by the summer, will feed up to eight megawatts into the grid, he said. If needed, Rumble will reinforce the rooftops, free of charge, to hold the panels.
Peter White, chief executive of the London Economic Development Corp., said he believes the installation of solar panels is just the beginning and could lead to landing a manufacturer if the city can establish itself as a green energy city.
The province has demanded a large percentage of future solar panels installed by 2013 be made here and that's an opportunity for London, White said. "They have to make them here to keep the requirements and we want to be as supportive a community as possible," White said. "We anticipate this will give us a leading edge." Other energy companies want to install panels in London but Rumble is seen as a leading company in the industry, White said. The LEDC has introduced Rumble to local building owners. "We are just trying to make it is as easy as possible for him," White said. Elizabeth MacDonald, president of the Canadian Solar Industries Association, agreed Southwestern Ontario is a hot spot for solar, saying there's "incredible" interest in solar power in Ontario.
A provincial tariff program -- called a feed-in tariff -- is similar to programs used in Europe and that's making it easier for European industries, which lead in renewable energy production, to consider locating here. "We have a program Europeans understand -- this is critical. There is incredible interest now in North America," she said.
According to the Ontario Power Authority website, Ontario's feed-in tariff -- or FIT program -- is the first comprehensive guaranteed pricing structure for renewable electricity production in North America. It offers stable prices under long-term contracts for energy generated from renewable sources, including: biomass, biogas, landfill gas, on-shore and off-shore wind, solar photovoltaic (PV) and waterpower.
"It ensures there is a revenue flow. We have become one of the largest areas for solar development now in North America," MacDonald said. Rumble credited London Hydro chief executive Vinay Sharma and the London Economic Development Corp. for welcoming his efforts. "We have a good relationship with London Hydro and the LEDC. They are very progressive when it comes to energy alternatives compared to other municipalities," he said. "London is very open arms."
The Ontario government wants to phase out coal-fired electricity generation, such as the Lambton generating station, by 2014.
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Solar power
Rumble Energy wants to lease roof space -- on which solar panels would be installed -- on about 20 London buildings.
More than one-million-square feet of rooftops in London have already been optioned for leasing.
Leases will pay owners up to $22,000 a year for 20 years for a 40,000-square-foot roof.
The solar panels, when operating, will generate up to eight megawatts to the grid, enough to power 8,000 homes.