3940 & 3986 North Service Road East
Windsor, ON N8W 5R7
Smiths Falls Agrivoltaics
Smiths Falls Agrivoltaics Project (the “Project”) is a proposed approximate 9.5 Mega-Watt AC (“MWac”) power plant that will be located in the Regional Municipality of Drummond North Elmsley. The Project will be submitted to the Independent Electricity System Operator’s (“IESO”) Request for Proposals under the Long-Term 2 Procurement.
It is important to us that the Smiths Falls Agrivoltaics Project be successfully integrated into the Regional Municipality of Drummond North Elmsley and we are seeking to incorporate feedback through this Project Website into the development of this Project.
Provincial Needs
Ontario is entering a period of emerging electricity system needs driven by increasing residential and commercial demand due to the electrification of the automotive sector, growth of the agriculture sector, the retirement of the Pickering nuclear plant, refurbishment of other nuclear-generating plants, and expiring contracts for existing facilities.
In response, the IESO is conducting various procurements, including the ongoing Long-Term Request for Proposals (“LT2 RFP”), to secure approximately 2,000 MW of energy producing capacity in Ontario. Facilities that successfully demonstrate their capabilities will be contracted by the first quarter of 2026, with operations starting on or before 2030.
The Smiths Falls Agrivoltaics Project, among other electricity generation sites, will help address emerging global and regional electricity needs for the coming decades.
Project History and Description
The Project is a proposed up to approximately [9.5] Mega-Watt AC (“MWac”) power plant located at [insert coordinates here], under development by Compass Greenfield Development Inc., that will participate in contributing to the 75% increase in energy demand by 2050 in ON through the IESO’s LT2 RFP bid submission in Q3 of 2025. This infrastructure project will bring significant investment and local benefits including employment, lease payments and capital spending in the local economy.
Components
The Project will consist of photovoltaic modules connected in strings and installed across motorized mounting racks. The mounting rack’s height would be around 6 feet above the ground and each row would be spaced about 25 feet apart. The height of the panels allows for the sheep to easily pass underneath and provides them shade.
The enclosed area will also house the balance-of-plant equipment such as an inverter, combiner boxes, transformers, along with other interconnection equipment. The solar module strings feed inverters that connect to a transformer tied to the power grid. The Project will also have private access roads.
Visual Screening
The Project will consist of photovoltaic modules connected in strings and installed across motorized mounting racks. The mounting rack’s height would be around 6 feet above the ground and each row would be spaced about 25 feet apart. The height of the panels allows for the sheep to easily pass underneath and provides them shade.
The enclosed area will also house the balance-of-plant equipment such as an inverter, combiner boxes, transformers, along with other interconnection equipment. The solar module strings feed inverters that connect to a transformer tied to the power grid. The Project will also have private access roads.
Compliance
The Project will comply with all regulatory bodies permitting requirements including IESO, the Regional Municipality, and Ontario Ministry of the Environment.
Security
The Project will have restricted access to prevent any health and safety incidents and will be monitored 24×7 through a secure remote-monitoring facility.
More information about IESO’s procurements are available here:
Location
The Southern Saskatchewan region has been identified as having the highest solar resource potential across Canada. The Cymri Solar Power Project has engaged an independent, local environmental consultant to conduct a desk-top review to better understand the environmental permitting requirements for the proposed project site. Figure 1: Cymri Solar Power Project Map provides an overview of the proposed location of the Project.
Figure 1: Cymri Solar Power Project Map
Benefits to the Community
There are various economic and non-economic community benefits associated with the Smiths Falls Agrivoltaics Project, a proposed sheep grazing and solar generation project within the Township of Drummond North Elmsley. The Project will provide power to meet growing renewable electricity demand in Ontario, and provide local economic benefits during the design, construction, and over 20 years of operation.
- Optimize Land Use: Provide high-skilled job opportunities in construction – civil works, mechanical installation, electrical connection, landscaping.Original sheep grazing operations will remain present at the project site while solar generation is added.
- A Stronger Local Energy Grid: Distributed connected energy generators add to a municipalities electrical grid resiliency.
- Short-Term Job Creation, Local Economic Stimulus: Construction will lead to a brief creation of jobs). On-site activity will briefly boost the revenues of local business.
- Community Benefit Agreement (CBA): CGD will commit to an annual payment of $1,000 / MWac to the municipality
- Decommissioning Securities: CGD is required to decommission the Project at the end of its useful life. In addition, we post financial security to ensure that we complete the work. Diversified income stream for local landowners: keep landownership within your municipality.
- Increased tax based for the municipality
Lanark County – Sustainable Communities Official Plan (SCOP) – 2024
4.6 Energy
It is a policy of this Plan to encourage the use of alternate energy sources, such as wind, solar and energy from waste heat or gases. Alternative energy generation is permitted in any settlement pattern type in accordance with provincial and federal legislation. Land use patterns and development should promote energy efficiency.
Anticipated Project Timelines
2024
Land Lease
- Permitting review
- Municipal Support
Interconnection
assessment
2025 → 2026
IESO Procurement
- Proven process ensures a smooth process
2025 → 2026
Engineering, Design & Approvals
- ISO contract award
- Design and construction is planned with your land-use in mind.
2026 → 2028
Commercial Operation
- Construction
- Solar array is installed.
- Local electrical grid connection occurs along existing lines and connection points.
- Remote monitoring
- Annual maintenance
2051+
Decomissioning
- Equipment is removed
- Land fully remediated
- Opportunity for re-commissioning
- Re-negotiation of lease
Project Updates
Watch this space for updates on the Smiths Falls Agrivoltaics Project.
Notice Of 1st Public Community Meeting (Virtual)
Virtual Public Community Meeting Date and Time
November 10, 2022
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Public Community Meeting Summary
Community Meeting Presentation
Notice Of 2nd Public Community Meeting (Virtual)
Virtual Public Community Meeting Date and Time
February 8, 2023
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Public Community Meeting Summary
Community Meeting Presentation
Community Engagement Plan
Compass Renewable Energy Consulting Inc. is in the process of developing a Community Engagement Plan that identifies a strategy for establishing, sustaining a transparent and productive engagement with local Community stakeholders. Once available, we encourage interested stakeholders to review this document to understand the Cymri Solar Power Project’s community engagement process.
Developer Background
Capstone is generating our low-carbon future, driving the energy transition forward through creative thinking, strong partnerships, and a commitment to quality and integrity in how we do business. A developer, owner, and operator of clean and renewable energy projects across North America, Capstone’s portfolio includes approximately 776 MW gross installed capacity across 30 facilities, including wind, solar, hydro, biomass, and natural gas cogeneration power plants. Please visit www.capstoneinfrastructure.com for more information.
Wahgoshig Solar FIT5 LP
Wahgoshig Solar FIT 5 LP (“Wahgoshig Solar”), is a partnership formed between Wahgoshig First Nation and Compass Renewable Energy Consulting Inc. Wahgoshig Solar developed, constructed, and operates four 500 kWac/600 kWdc (2.4 MWdc total) ground mount Feed-in Tariff (“FIT”) projects under the former FIT program in Ontario. Wahgoshig Solar engaged Compass to manage the development, permitting and construction of these facilities.
Compass Greenfield Development (CGD) was born out of Compass Renewable Energy Consulting Inc., and out team members have been developing in Canada and the U.S. for over a decade, with experience across the development lifecycle from pre-screening, contracting, construction, commissioning and operations.. CGD leverages our consulting DNA, implementing a proven process, to identify and advance greenfield development opportunities for solar and battery energy storage. We have a long-term strategic perspective coupled with on the ground experience in doing the doing that results in projects getting to commercial operation. All of our stakeholders benefit including landowners, municipalities, Indigenous partners, investors and the public at large.
CGD was successful in securing Battery Energy Storage contracts in both the Expedited Long Term 1 and Long Term 1 procurements in 2023 and 2024 respectively.
Frequently Asked Questions
PV systems are subject to third-party certification to ensure they comply with all of the required codes and standards.
Solar facilities have an expected lifespan of 20 plus years with equipment replacement and repowering. At the time of decommissioning, the installed components will be removed and reused/recycled, where possible, and the site restored. All removal of equipment will be done per the applicable regulations and manufacturer recommendations. The below summarizes the decommissioning procedure that would be enacted at the end of project life for each component.
Solar PV – Disconnect all above-ground wirings. Remove all PV modules and support structures.
Medium Voltage (MV) Stations, Substation – Disconnect and remove all electrical equipment. Remove the inverter and associated equipment. Remove high-voltage substation transformer. Remove concrete foundations for MV Stations and substation components.
Access roads and other components – Consult with the property owner to determine if access roads should be left in place for their continued use. If roads are to be removed, the aggregate materials will be excavated by a backhoe/front-end loader, along with any underlying geotextile fabric. Compacted areas restored.
Underground cables – Underground electrical lines running between the inverters and the substation will be removed. All foundation materials will be removed.
Contact Us
It is important to us that the Smiths Falls Agrivoltaics Project be successfully integrated into in the Regional Municipality of Drummond North Elmsley, Ontario and we are open to incorporating feedback through this Project Website for the development of this Project.
To submit feedback or send us any questions about the project, please contact us:
Email:
info@smithsfallsagrivoltaics.ca
By mail:
192 Spadina Ave, Suite 506
Toronto, ON M5T 2C2