Many municipal sites harness the power of solar energy systems to generate clean electricity and reduce energy costs. Learn more about the different types of solar energy systems and the initiatives underway in support of HalifACT: our long-term climate action plan.
Rooftop solar panel systems to be installed at another eight municipal sites by end of 2025
The municipality is installing rooftop solar panel systems at eight municipal sites across the Halifax region, with installations expected to be completed by the end of 2025, pending a structural analysis at some sites.
Solar panel installations have been planned for these locations:
- Keshen Goodman Library
- Ragged Lake Transit Centre
- East Preston Community Centre (64 kW system)
- North Preston Community Centre
- Carroll’s Corner Community Centre (18 kW system)
- Sackville Sports Stadium
- Wallace Lucas Community Centre
- Sackville Bus Terminal (22 kW system)
Altogether, the rooftop solar panel installations are expected to produce an abundance of renewable energy and save hundreds of thousands of dollars in electricity costs each year.
These rooftop solar panel systems are in addition to those installed at five other municipal sites between fall 2022 and summer 2023, which included the Acadia Centre, Dartmouth North Community Centre, Halifax Commons Aquatics Facility, Kiwanis Grahams Grove Community Building and Mackintosh Depot.
Operations at those sites will not be impacted, as installation work will take place outside of regular business hours. These efforts support the municipality’s ambitious targets to decarbonize its corporate buildings by 2030 as outlined in HalifACT.
Types of solar energy systems
Solar energy systems can typically be categorized as solar electric or solar thermal (hot air and hot water):
Solar electric systems generate clean electricity to be used throughout the building when needed. Additional electricity that is not needed is sent to the grid and credited against the buildings future electricity consumption.
Solar thermal systems reduce energy costs associated with hydronic heating. Solar hot air systems offset energy required for space heating while solar hot water offsets energy required for domestic water, pool or space heating.
Learn more about the types of solar energy systems at municipal sites across the region:
- Fire Station 03 – West Street (Flat Plate)
- Fire Station 04 – Duffus Street (Evacuated Tube)
- Fire Station 10 – Millwood (Evacuated Tube)
- Fire Station 12 – Highfield Park (Flat Plate)
- Fire Station 16 – Eastern Passage (Evacuated Tube)
- Fire Station 17 – Cole Harbour (Evacuated Tube)
- Fire Station 36 – Meaghers Grant (Flat Plate)
- Fire Station 38 – Middle Musquodoboit (Flat Plate)
- Fire Station 56 – Black Point (Evacuated Tube)
- Fire Station 58 – Lakeside (Flat Plate)
- Findlay Community Centre (Flat Plate)
- Centennial Pool (Flat Plate)
- Halifax Regional Police Headquarters (Flat Plate)
- Canada Games Centre (Flat Plate)
- Evacuated tube panels
- Harrietsfield Williamswood Community Centre
- Lakeside Community Centre
- Ste. Therese Community Centre
- Upper Hammonds Plains Community Centre
- Alderney Gate Public Library (12 kW)
- Chocolate Lake Beach Washroom (3.9 kW)
- Commons Pavilion (6 kW)
- Dartmouth North Community Centre (68.9 kW)
- Fire Station 03 – West Street (12.5 kW)
- Fire Station 62 - Williamswood (47.4 kW)
- Fort Needham Memorial Park Washroom (8.6 kW)
- Halifax Common Aquatics Facility (98.4 kW)
- Kiwanis Grahams Grove Community Building (16.38 kW)
- Mackintosh Depot (80 kW)
- Northbrook Police Training Facility (12 kW)
- North Commons Public Washroom (3 kW)
- Sackville Public Library (35.6 kW)
- Sir Sanford Fleming Park Canteen (8.6 kW)