One day in the not-too-distant future, Torontonians may look forward to sunny days for more than just their warmth – more sunshine will mean more clean, renewable energy for the city, thanks to a new project led by U of T researchers.
This past winter, the university joined forces with ARISE Technologies and the Portlands Energy Centre to design the city’s first solar power research facility. The centre will feature a full-fledged commercial generating unit that will begin feeding solar power into the Toronto Hydro electrical grid in 2009. This will be the first time solar energy will be introduced to a grid in Ontario on a large scale, notes Professor Reza Iravani of the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering, one of the project’s lead researchers. The facility will be built on a four-acre parcel of land near the waterfront (in the eastern portlands near Cherry Street) that will be covered in solar panels about two-and-a-half to three metres high. Iravani says the facility will produce an estimated 1,000 kilowatts of power – enough for about 200 homes.
Recent Posts
U of T’s 197th Birthday Quiz
Test your knowledge of all things U of T in honour of the university’s 197th anniversary on March 15!
Are Cold Plunges Good for You?
Research suggests they are, in three ways
Work Has Changed. So Have the Qualities of Good Leadership
Rapid shifts in everything from technology to employee expectations are pressuring leaders to constantly adapt