Who We AreCanSIA is a national trade association that represents approximately 650 so-lar energy companies throughout Can-ada. Since 1992, CanSIA has worked to develop a strong, e!cient, ethical and professional Canadian solar energy in-dustry with capacity to provide innova-tive solar energy solutions and to play a major role in the global transition to a sustainable, clean-energy future.

MissionA national, not-for-pro"t association, CanSIA works on behalf of its mem-bers to facilitate and promote the re-sponsible and sustainable growth of solar energy across Canada. CanSIA provides education and networking opportunities for members, researches and develops renewable energy policy options for di#erent levels of Canada’s government and implements a broad range of communications activities on solar energy.

ALBERTA’S Solar Energy ResourceC A N A D I A N S O L A R I N D U S T R I E S A S S O C I A T I O N

ReferencesGlobal Horizontal Irradiation solar resource map, kWh/m2/day, annual average - Data Source, Spatial Resolution, Period: Alberta: NRCAN 10km (2002-2008), NSRDB 10km (1998-2005), and NASA SSE 1 Degree (1983- 2005) Ontario: NASA SSE 1 Degree (1983- 2005) Germany: NASA SSE 1 Degree (1983- 2005).

Optimal Tilt Irradiation solar resource maps, kWh/m2/day, annual average for Alberta, Ontario and Germany Data Source, Spa-tial Resolution, Period: NASA SSE 1 Degree (1983- 2005). In the presented map set Op-timal Tilt refers to placement of solar panels tilted from the horizontal at a degree equal to the latitude of the site.

Green Power Labs Inc. ©

Alberta has a world-class solar energy resource So it’s clear that Alberta has a quality solar energy resource – but how does it rank in Canada against the other provinces? When we look at the largest maximum solar energy resource achievable in each province (optimal tilt), we "nd Alberta at the top of the table:

The quality of Alberta’s solar energy resource, combined with rapidly decreasing technology costs and the need for environmental stewardship makes it only a matter of time before solar energy technologies become widespread across the province. To achieve this, a coordinated e#ort from all stakeholders is required.

For more information about solar energy technology, industry and markets —visit our website at www.cansia.ca.

Drake Landing Solar Community in Okotoks receives 97% of its annual heating demands from solar energy. The Okotoks Region receives approx. 2,300 average hours of sunshine per year and more solar energy from June to October than Miami, Florida.

November 2012

City Province kWh/m!/day

Crowsnest Pass AB 4.23Fernie BC 4.23Owen Sound ON 4.21Yarmouth NS 4.17Claredon QC 4.17Minton SK 4.16Clarence Ridge NB 4.15Goodlands MB 4.05Mimengash PE 3.92Wabush NL 3.64

Green Power Labs Inc. ©

CanSIA

ALBERTA’S Solar Energy Resource

Alberta’s energy resources and the human talent required to harness them have largely brought the prov-ince to where it proudly stands today – a global energy leader with a diverse resource portfolio including coal, electrici ty, minerals, natural gas, conventional oil, petrochemicals, renewable and oil sands. How-ever, the province’s largest proven energy resource – solar energy – remains a largely untapped energy resource. This document prepared by the Canadian Solar Industries Association (CanSIA) presents infor-mation about the quality, scale and potential of Alberta’s solar energy resource.

Why is solar energy important to Alberta?Today Alberta considers the solu-tions that would secure its posi-tion as a responsible world-class energy supplier, an energy tech-nology champion, a sophisticated energy consumer, and a solid glob-al environmental citizen for the future. Accelerating the deploy-ment of technology to harness the high-value low-impact solar en-ergy resource has the potential to:

Diversify Alberta’s resource-based economy.Stimulate billions of dollars of economic activity and invest-ment.Create thousands of quality jobs. Displace millions of tonnes of greenhouse gases.

How strong is Alberta’s solar energy resource?Alberta’s solar energy resource is almost one million-billion kilo-watt hours (1,000,000,000,000,000 kWh) per year. Alberta has not only the best solar energy resource in Canada, it is also world-class. Many people don’t realize this.

Solar Facts

C A N A D I A N S O L A R I N D U S T R I E S A S S O C I A T I O N

Here are some other facts that every Albertan should know: Is Alberta too far north to e!ectively harness its solar energy resource? No. The e#ect of latitude on the so-lar energy resource is not quite what many would think:

Edmonton is on the same latitude as Manchester (UK) but its annual solar energy resource is over 20% greater.

Okotoks is over 25° of latitude North of Miami (US) but has a greater solar energy resource between July and October.

Are Alberta’s winters “too long and harsh”? No. Solar energy technology functions well in wintery conditions – especially very cold days with blue skies:

Solar heating and electricity tech-nologies both operate more e!-ciently with cold ambient tempera-tures. In fact, in 2009 – over 75% of solar electric panels were installed in countries that experience snow.

Keep reading for more information…..

IN ONE YEAR

Alberta’s solar energy re-source is almost one mil-lion-billion kilowatt hours (1,000,000,000,000,000 kWh).

IN ONE DAY

Alberta’s solar energy resource is equivalent to the province’s remaining conventional estab-lished oil reserves, estimated at 1.5 billion barrels.

CanSIA

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ALBERTA’S Solar Energy Resource

These maps show the average daily solar energy resource in Alberta, Ontario and Germany on a horizontal surface (kWh per m2). As can be seen, Alberta’s solar energy resource is equivalent to, or better than that of Ontario and Germany – two jurisdictions with globally recognized markets for solar energy technology.

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These maps show the maximum daily solar energy resource achievable in Alberta, Ontario and Germany on a surface tilted optimally toward the sun (kWh per m2). As can be seen, Alberta’s solar energy re-source is again equivalent to, or better than that of Ontario and Germany – most signi"cantly in Alberta’s most populated areas.

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C A N A D I A N S O L A R I N D U S T R I E S A S S O C I A T I O N

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What is the MAXIMUM daily solar energy resource in Alberta?What is the AVERAGE daily solar energy resource in Alberta?

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Alberta1) Grand Prairie2) Edmonton3) Calgary4) Medicine Hat

Ontario5) Thunder Bay6) Timmins7) Ottawa8) Toronto9) Windsor Germany

10) Hamburg 11) Berlin 12) Munich

Alberta1) Grand Prairie2) Edmonton3) Calgary4) Medicine Hat

Ontario5) Thunder Bay6) Timmins7) Ottawa8) Toronto9) Windsor Germany

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CanSIA