EQUS corporate office solar

Installation at the new corporate offices in Innisfail.

Rural Alberta has always been home to innovation. Whether it’s borne of necessity, creative problem solving, or a desire for efficiency, sustainability, or resiliency, there is no shortage of innovative power solutions in our rural communities. EQUS is a rural Alberta co-operative electricity distributor, and has been powering those rural communities and supporting their innovative electricity solutions for over 70 years, so it was an obvious choice for them to pursue an innovative energy system in the construction of their new corporate office.

Completed in the summer of 2020, the 18,000-square-foot building sits adjacent to Highway 2 in Innisfail, and provides working and meeting space for over 40 employees and the co-op’s Board of Directors. The grid-connected building blends renewable solar power with a natural gas combined heat and power (CHP) system to create a highly efficient energy and heat supply.

For EQUS, the decision to include the alternative energy system in their construction plans was rooted in a desire to create value for the community and their members.

“We’re a co-operative, so we were motivated to create something that would provide long-term value for EQUS and for our member-owners,” says Andy Metzger, EQUS CEO. “The alternative energy system was an opportunity for us to add that value and sustainability to our facility, and to showcase how functional and beneficial this technology can be for a rural Alberta business.”

The system consists of a 55-kilowatt ground-mounted solar array that takes advantage of over 2,000 hours of annual sunlight, a 15-kilowatt battery to store excess electricity generated during peak times, and a highly efficient combined heat and power system which generates both power and heat. A smart building management system integrates these elements to optimize the generation, storage, and usage for maximum efficiency. Excess heat from the CHP is recycled through a sidewalk melt system in the winter months reducing maintenance costs.

Long-term projections for the system expect to see a 95 per cent reduction in grid power used, a 59 per cent cost savings on utilities, and a 31 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

Since the system came online in September, 2020, EQUS has seen a

carbon footprint reduction equivalent to 400 trees, with 70 tonnes of CO2 saved. They have also exported over 70,000 kW to the grid, receiving over $5,000 in credits.

The office’s high-traffic location just off Highway 2 provides easy access for travelling electric vehicle drivers looking to recharge at the free public charging station that was installed as part of the energy system. Metzger describes the feedback from drivers as being overwhelmingly positive. “The EV charger is located right next to our solar system, so we hear from a lot of EV owners that they really enjoy being able to charge their vehicle underneath the solar panels where they can see and feel that connection to the power supply.”

In the year that it has been operational and open to the public, the charger has seen steadily increasing traffic providing 265 vehicles with over 6,000 kW since July 2020. The installation of the EV charger was supported in part by the Town of Innisfail, and Natural Resources Canada provided funding to cover approximately 25 per cent of the total energy system project cost.

“We’re very pleased with what we’re seeing from our system so far, the solar component particularly has exceeded production expectations, so we’re feeling optimistic about our initial projections and the timeline for a return on investment,” says Metzger. “EQUS has had solar at our other Innisfail office since 2016, and we have also recently completed a 20-kW rooftop-mounted solar array with a battery and public EV charger at our Medicine Hat facility, so we are looking forward to continuing to see positive results and creating greater value and sustainability for our members.”

Rooftop view from the 2016 installation at EQUS’ second Innisfail location.