A very special thank you to all those involved in bringing our Truro Curling Club solar project to life.
In the spring of 2022, Chuck Dyke brought forward the idea of installing solar panels on the Truro Curling Club to the Board of Directors. Several solar installers presented to the Board of Directors with various different proposals, and it became clear that a project of this scale would require a team of knowledgeable volunteers to evaluate such a significant Club investment.
A Solar Committee was officially formed shortly after the 2022 Annual General Meeting with newly appointed Facilities Chair David Quinn, Gerald Post, Nevin Jackson, Terry Amirault, Mike Tulkens, and Chuck Dyke. This group went to visit several solar installations in the summer of 2022, including Andrew McCurdy's farm and the Don Henderson Memorial Sportsplex in Brookfield. After receiving positive feedback and useful information from both visits, the group went away with the task of turning the project into a reality.
The Committee explored possible funding options, discussed project obstacles, and debated contractors. Around this time, Chuck and Mike stepped away from the Committee for other commitments. In the fall of 2022, the Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund (SCCF), funded by the Province of Nova Scotia, and administered by the NS Federation of Municipalities, opened for its first round of applications, and the Committee submitted an application for consideration by the deadline of December 16, 2022. The project mostly went dormant until confirmation of approval for up to $200,000 in funding was received (80% of the total estimated costs) a few days prior to the Spring 2023 Annual General Meeting. At this meeting, David presented to the membership and received approval for the project to proceed with $50,000 of Club funds.
Following the successful application for funding, the Club needed to obtain a Net Metering Agreement with Nova Scotia Power which was critical to the project's success. A Net Metering agreement allows the Club to generate power during the summer months to accumulate an energy credit, and then use power during the winter months when our energy demand is at its highest and deplete that credit. Obtaining a Net Metering agreement was delayed for almost an entire year while waiting for new Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board rules to come into effect, but was finally received this past summer.
While waiting for the Net Metering Agreement, a preliminary structural analysis of the ice shed roof where the solar panels would be installed was completed. The preliminary consultant had reservations about adding additional weight to the roof, although they did indicate that the structure was acceptable under its present loads. Terry suggested that we investigate shingle removal from the roof to reduce the dead load (there were layers of shingles below the newer steel roofing). Upon further exploration, Terry, Chuck Patriquin, David, and Earle Atkinson cut a section of the shingles out of the roof to weigh them. The weight of the shingles was confirmed to be heavier than the weight of the future panels. The removal of the shingles to reduce the dead load of the roof to prepare for the installation of the panels was reviewed and approved by structural engineer Glen Buchanan, P. Eng., of the Buchanan Design Group which allowed the project to move forward. Throughout this process, both Earle and Marion MacAulay were involved in providing advice and assistance as Board Executives, replacing Gerald and Nevin as their terms on the Board expired.
The shingle removal work was completed during this past summer and the existing steel roofing was reinstalled. The south side of the roof now has a new synthetic roofing underlay and all new roofing screws. David also initiated the installation of industrial snow guards on the roof to resolve the long-standing concern of snow shedding from the roof/panels onto neighbouring properties. Once these were installed, Geddes & Murphy Electric Ltd. adjusted their original panel layout to accommodate the snow guards and a contract was signed to formally initiate the panel installations.
David had discussions with neighbouring properties to the south of the Club, and was very pleased when our neighbours allowed us to cut their trees which were overhanging the Club's roof and future solar panels. These trees posed both a hazard to the panels during windstorms, as well as a source of shading which would reduce the efficiency of the panels. Tree removal work was done by Darwin Carr of Colchester Tree Service in August 2024.
Geddes & Murphy Electric Ltd. completed all required electrical upgrades and panel installations this fall, and NS Power completed their final inspection of the solar array on November 14, giving their approval to turn the system on. Below is a photo of the fully installed solar array on the roof facing west.
Geddes & Murphy Electric Ltd. submitted a separate rebate application to Efficiency NS for approximately $27,500 on our behalf, which was approved. With the SCCF Grant and this Efficiency NS Rebate, along with the hard work and dedication of the Solar Project Committee that kept this project alive despite numerous obstacles, the cost to the Club for the entire project totaled just under $22,000. You can view the entire project budget summary here. The return on investment period for the solar array will be roughly 13-14 months, therefore the system is expected to be entirely paid off by the end of the 2025 calendar year.
The Club uses approximately 210,000 kWh of power each year, and this solar array will offset approximately 55% of our total power usage. Not only will this save the Club an estimated $20,000 per year, based on an annual production of 115,500 kWh, but the net metering agreement protects us from future rate increases on this same power as NS Power must exchange our power at the same rate that they charge. The solar panels and all associated hardware have an expected 25-Year lifespan which will result in over $500,000 in energy savings throughout the lifespan of the system, reducing the Club’s carbon footprint by an estimated 1,100 tonnes.
