The Cariboo Regional District actively works with communities and regional services to ensure that the Cariboo Chilcotin is a socially, economically and environmentally desirable region. In the 2022 business plan, the regional district included the goal to install a solar photovoltaic system on the rooftop of the South Cariboo Recreation Centre.

After producing a feasibility study and presenting it to the regional district, Hakai Energy Solutions was selected to install and commission 103kW solar PV system for the South Cariboo Rec Centre. Commissioned in early 2023, the system provides the sports complex with more than 100,000 kilowatt hours of electricity a year. The sprawling 224 solar panel array is estimated to offset 78 metric tons of CO2 . Funding for the project was made possible with assistance from the Cariboo Regional District Community Works Fund. The system is anticipated to provide the district with annual energy cost savings of $10-20,000. As utility energy rates climb, financial savings from the solar energy system do too.

In order to maximize power generation from the rec center’s roof space, Hakai incorporated 460kW high output Bifacial Solar modules. Bifacial solar modules are designed to maximize the overall system value. Additional gain from rear side of the bifacial panel is an added benefit to the system’s operation. The Cariboo Region experiences extremely hot summers and harshly cold winters. The modules and racking components used in this installation are rated to support 5400Pa snow load. All materials selected for this design were chosen with these seasonal factors in mind, which will promote high PV productivity based on the system’s operational environment.

Hakai installed a livestream monitoring system which is now on display in the foyer of the sports complex, providing the community with real-time and historical data on the solar energy generation.

System Performance Highlights