Municipal and Institutional Solar
Solar installations transform municipal facilities and institutional buildings into cleaner, greener energy-producing powerhouses.
As municipalities and institutions make greater commitments to environmental sustainability, many are turning to solar energy solutions. Hakai specializes in designing and installing large-scale solar projects that transform idle roofs into energy-generating structures. We’ve worked across British Columbia to help colleges, universities and municipalities earn platinum STARS ratings while saving substantially on long-term energy costs.
Selected Municipal/Institutional Projects
Selkirk College
Located in Castlegar, BC, Selkirk College is dedicated to mitigating the effects of climate change and putting sustainability into the learning environment. In October of 2019, the Hakai team installed a 275-module custom solar array on the main campus building. Selkirk College is living proof that large-scale organizations can make better, future-proof decisions and lead by example.
Central Saanich Firehall
The District of Central Saanich has an ambitious vision for a low carbon community: they aim to be 100% renewable by 2050. Within three months from concept to completion, Hakai installed a 20,000 square foot custom solar array on their fire hall, with screens that display production and consumption metrics in the main lobby. The array is the largest on Vancouver Island and one of the largest in BC, and the district anticipates $450,000 in energy savings by 2045.
Nursing and Population Health Building at Thompson Rivers University
Increasing sustainability has been a major strategic goal for Thompson Rivers University, and it is the first university in Canada to earn a platinum rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. In 2019, Hakai installed a solar array to offset energy consumption within the 49,000 square foot, three-storey Nursing and Population Health Building in Kamloops.
Williams Lake Campus of Thompson Rivers University
Since March 2020, the Williams Lake campus of Thompson Rivers University has had a large solar array to complement the new biomass (waste wood) and Low Carbon Electricity (LCE) heating system. Together, the campus has reached over 95% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions—bringing the university closer to its sustainability goals.
School District 27
At Naghtaneqed Elementary Junior Secondary School in Nemiah Valley, diesel-electric generators had been the sole source of electrical energy for over 45 years. Hakai installed 140 high-output solar modules with a total capacity of 50kW, plus a 118 Kwh of lithium-type energy storage and 86 kW of combined inverter technologies. The solar-voltaic system has helped the Cariboo Chilcotin school greatly reduce diesel consumption, noise and pollution from the schoolyard.
School District 69
Located in Qualicum on central Vancouver Island, School District 69 is a role model for sustainability. The district commits to environmental sustainability through energy and water-saving programs, fuel choices and fuel efficiencies, recycling, and other measures that contribute to reducing the area’s carbon footprint. In the spring of 2016, Hakai installed a renewable energy system at the off-grid False Bay School on Lasqueti Island. Other schools in the district with solar arrays include Oceanside Elementary, Kwalikum Secondary School, Nanoose Bay Elementary and Springwood Elementary, and Ecole Ballenas, for a total of 8 school properties now producing clean, low-carbon electricity.
Richmond Brighouse Fire Hall No. 1
Brighouse Fire Hall No. 1, in the heart of the City of Richmond, was built in 2018. At the time, the structure was designed to be a LEED Gold Certified building, and the vision included solar from the beginning. Following an extensive review process conducted between the city, a team of architects, the Roofing Association of BC, Structural and Electrical Engineers, and the firefighters themselves, Hakai Energy was awarded the contract. In July 2020, our team installed 136 solar panels on this post-disaster response center, carefully integrating the array into the rooftop structure in compliance with the strictest code requirements.
Vancouver Fire Hall No. 17
The Vancouver Firehall #17 is the first firehall in Canada to achieve the zero-carbon accreditation. Hakai Energy is pleased to have been part of this impressive project, and delivered the project’s solar scope. This system is a community showcase of the City of Vancouver’s commitment to sustainability. The firehall demonstrates that it is possible to purpose build climate neutral buildings, and place sustainability at the forefront of new builds and renovations.
