Loblaw states its $10-million, 7.5-megawatt rooftop solar task - anticipated to be in 2026 - at its distribution centre in East Gwillimbury, Ont., will be the nation's largest.Supplied/ Loblaw Cos.
Ltd. Large-scale roof solar jobs have yet to gain widespread traction with Canadian designers.
Financing can be complicated and it can require time for developers to acquire returns on their financial investments, however brand-new solar jobs are still being announced, says Victoria Papp, senior director of technique and innovation at BOMA Canada, a group representing Canadian structure owners and managers.
" Solar uptake in business property is still far from being a prevalent practice throughout the market, but it's definitely increasing," Ms. Papp states. "It can be challenging to retrofit structures that were never created with solar panels in mind."
This month, the Canadian Renewable Energy Association stated it's tracked more than $31-billion in investment in sustainable energy - such as solar and wind power sources - across the country. A just recently released report likewise discovered Canada's solar, wind and energy storage sectors have actually grown by 46 percent over the previous five years, with 10,000 megawatts of brand-new capability anticipated to be connected by 2030.
As a comparison, almost 6,500 megawatts of solar power - enough to power as lots of as two-million homes - was created in Canada in 2022, according to the federal government.
Scaling solar across Canada
While nationwide financial investment figures highlight solar's growing function in Canada's energy mix, some business are taking the lead in scaling up jobs of their own.
In late July, Loblaw Cos. Ltd. announced it's developing what it says will be Canada's largest roof planetary system installation at its brand-new distribution centre in East Gwillimbury, Ont., north of Toronto.
The $10-million, 7.5-megawatt task, expected to be completed in 2026, will cover the structure's roofing system with nearly 435,000 square feet of solar panels - about the size of 7 football fields. It's anticipated to create 8.5-million kilowatt-hours a year, about a quarter of the requirements of Loblaw's automated circulation centre.
" The structure itself is really energy-intensive due to the automation and refrigeration systems within," states Tom Marson, Loblaw's vice-president of developing innovation and energy. "The solar panel system will help us balance out energy usage in the structure."
Great Circle Solar Management Corp. will be the home builder, owner and operator of the task and offer the power to Loblaw under a long-term contract. The task is the biggest of almost 60 rooftop solar initiatives in which the 2 business have partnered in the past ten years.
" Power from the solar panel system on the roof is fed straight into the electrical spaces of the center and utilized to directly power the site's operations in East Gwillimbury," says Clarke Herring, Great Circle Solar's CEO.
Meeting business climate targets
Commercial circulation centres are not the only kinds of residential or commercial properties setting up massive solar jobs. In Waterloo, Ont., Conestoga College established a 1.3-megawatt solar photovoltaic system at its Kitchener-Doon campus. The system, which went reside in 2023, creates about 1.6-million kwh of eco-friendly, tidy energy a year, enough to power a minimum of 40,000 homes.
The system, which spreads out more than 3,000 solar panels over the roofings of a number of buildings, helps Conestoga meet 15 per cent of its annual electricity requirements and balance out peak need from the standard grid by 57 per cent.
" We're devoted at Conestoga to supporting Canada's clean development and climate-change objectives for a more sustainable future," says Tim Schill, the college's vice-president of centers and capital advancement. "This job is a substantial action forward in helping minimize [greenhouse gas] emissions and promoting sustainable stewardship of our environment and resources."
Ontario's Conestoga College has set up a 1.3-megawatt solar photovoltaic system at its Kitchener-Doon school that generates about 1.6-million kilowatt hours of sustainable, clean energy a year.Supplied/ Conestoga College
Loblaw states one of the reasons for setting up photovoltaic panels at its circulation centre is to help meet the company's net-zero emissions reduction targets.
" We're aiming to accomplish net no for our Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 2040," Mr. Marson says. Scope 1 emissions are produced directly from sources owned or managed by a company, while Scope 2 emissions represent those produced from the generation of bought electricity that's taken in by the business or company.
" Procuring and consuming eco-friendly energy on residential or commercial properties where high amounts of energy is consumed is a crucial step for us," Mr. Marson says, adding it's especially important for Loblaw, given that the company interacts with customers daily.
" We operate countless shops all across the country, which suggests we are deeply woven into the fabric of the neighborhoods we serve," he says. "Countless everyday consumers and our 220,000 coworkers and workers expect us to lead."
According to Mr. Marson, Loblaw initially set carbon decrease targets for its corporate stores in 2016, and it satisfied those years ahead of schedule. "We reset our standard in 2020, and included franchise stores and Shoppers Drug Mart places. Ever since, we have actually lowered our carbon footprint 16 per cent and continue to make substantial progress."
Finding the right financing
Mr. Schill states constructing small and medium-sized solar projects, such as Conestoga's, can be tough because of problems securing financing, in addition to shifting regulations and reward programs.
" Until recently, it was much easier to get beneficial government-backed financing if you had a $100-million project," he says. The move by Prime Minister Mark Carney to scrap the undesirable federal carbon tax was a setback because the tax had used gas more costly and solar energy more attractive, he adds.
Mr. Schill is encouraged by current moves such as the new $100-million collaboration between the Canada Infrastructure Bank and Scotiabank, which aims to help owners retrofit small and mid-sized business structures.
Ali Hoss, head of sustainability and ESG at Colliers Canada, states the country can benefit from relocations in the United States to discontinue solar-power rewards.
" Investors in the U.S. need to now price-in high political risk," he says. "Canada, by contrast, has broad, multi-party assistance for sustainability. This predictability is a critical benefit for attracting the long-term, patient capital required for real estate and facilities tasks like solar."
Great Circle Solar's Mr. Herring concurs. "Going solar supplies a crucial long-lasting fiscal hedge versus uncertain future electrical energy expenses."
Report an editorial error
Report a technical concern
Editorial standard procedure
Follow associated authors and topics
Loblaw Companies Limited
Ontario.
Renewable Energy.
Sustainable Development.
Authors and topics you follow will be contributed to your personal news feed in Following.
Interact with The Globe
Terms & Conditions.
Community Guidelines.
Privacy Policy.
Disclaimer.
Subscribe.
Digital + Home Delivery.
Digital Access.
Globe2Go.
The New York City Times.
Globe Email Newsletters.
Gift Subscription.
Advertise with Us.
Group Subscriptions.
Globe Campus.
DataStore.
Globe Event Centre.
Leadership Institute.
Address and Telephone Number.
Standards Editor.
Staff.
SecureDrop.
Submit a post.
Account Settings.
Technical Support & FAQs.
Subscriptions.
Member Benefits.
Privacy Settings.
Company Information.
Work at The Globe.
Accessibility.
Editorial Code of Conduct.
Sustainability.
Licensing & Permissions.
Election Advertising Registry.
Modern Slavery Report.
Subscribe
Digital + Home Delivery.
Digital Access.
Globe2Go.
The New York Times.
Globe Email Newsletters.
Gift Subscription.
Business services
Advertise with Us.
Group Subscriptions.
Globe Campus.
DataStore.
Globe Event Centre.
Leadership Institute.
Contact us
Address and Telephone Number.
Standards Editor.
Staff.
SecureDrop.
Submit an article.
Reader services
Account Settings.
Technical Support & FAQs.
Subscriptions.
Member Benefits.
Privacy Settings.
About us
Company Information.
Work at The Globe.
Accessibility.
Editorial Code of Conduct.
Sustainability.
Licensing & Permissions.
Election Advertising Registry.
Modern Slavery Report.
© Copyright 2025 The Globe and Mail Inc. All rights reserved.
1
Commercial Properties still Turn To Rooftop Solar
rufuslindstrom edited this page 2026-01-13 18:26:40 +08:00