City tilts eye to sun for potential Transit bus power

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This article was published 10/04/2023 (913 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The City of Winnipeg is exploring a new green energy option to help power its upcoming fleet of electric buses.

In a new request for proposal, the city seeks a contractor to create an initial design and refined cost estimate for a “microgrid” or local energy network. The grid would use rooftop solar panels to generate power at the 600 Brandon Ave. Winnipeg Transit garage and be tied into the existing hydroelectric grid to ensure a steady power supply.

The effort to harness solar power is promising and could help the city tap into senior government funding to support its transition from traditional diesel buses to zero-emission ones, according to Coun. Janice Lukes.

“I think it’s super exciting. Any time that we can use solar energy and retain the energy to power buses, I think it’s very positive,” said Lukes, chairwoman of the public works committee.

Transit expects its first round of 16 emission-free vehicles to arrive around mid-2024, including eight battery-electric and eight hydrogen fuel cell battery-electric models. A funding agreement with the provincial and federal governments calls for the city to obtain about 100 green buses by 2027.

A RFP for the project notes the Brandon Avenue garage is eventually expected to serve only battery-electric buses.

Lukes said the solar proposal could save the city money on energy bills.

“Ultimately, it would lower the price of energy if we’re pulling (it) from the sun, so that’s positive. (We will) have to weigh the cost of (the system) against (the) benefits and that’s what this… study is going to do,” she said.

Lukes also hopes the research and design will help the city figure out whether solar power would be feasible to use at other civic buildings in the future.

“It’s looking at other energy sources that are sustainable. Just because we have a lot of hydro (electric power) doesn’t mean we should fritter it away,” she said.

Erin Cooke, project manager for Winnipeg Transit’s transition to zero-emission buses, said the potential solar power option would have a large battery to store excess power for future use.

Cooke said Transit expects adding another form of green power would also better prepare the public system for extreme weather events, which have grown more common in recent years.

“One of the benefits of the solar (power) on (our system) is really the resiliency with climate change… We are experiencing more outages at our facilities than we have in the past, and solar gives us that resiliency to be able to maintain our service if there is a prolonged (hydroelectric) outage,” she said.

Cooke said there is potential for solar panels to help save the city money on energy bills and power about 20 battery electric buses.

While an early estimate indicated the system would cost about $8 million to $9 million, the upcoming study will help determine a more precise cost estimate, she said.

The consultant’s work is also meant to identify any structural updates that may be needed to accommodate the weight of solar panels, Transit spokeswoman Megan Benedictson said in an emailed statement. “This information will be needed to apply (for) potential funding sources in the future.”

Transit officials would require city council approval to actually add a solar power supply.

The city expects to award the contract by June 30.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

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