Giant Six Nations and Samsung solar plant powers up in Cayuga

Falling somewhere between the sound of library and hushed conversation, 45 decibels is not loud sound.

But it's the maximum level of sound that can be made to meet regulations amidst the 445,392 panels in a Cayuga solar farm, the largest of its kind in Canada. 

In the shade of the three metre-high solar panels, there is no hum. No power is stored on site. There are just birds chirping, and the faint sound of engines screaming at Cayuga speedway in the distance.

Crews finished construction this week on the 100-megawatt solar farm some 40 kilometres south of Hamilton. From the roadway, berms make it hard to see the 404 hectares (1,000 acres) of solar panels.

At this point it's really unclear if the project can continue or not.- Tim Smitheman of Samsung Renewable Energy on the Mountsberg solar farm project in Flamborough

The solar farm "is the largest, actually, in Canada of its kind. It's producing enough power to power the homes of 17,000 Ontarians," said Tim Smitheman, manager of government and public relations with Samsung Renewable Energy, who partnered with financiers Connor, Clark & Lunn Financial, and Six Nation for the project. 

At roughly $400 million, the project is part of a larger Green Energy Investment Agreement, a deal with the province that plants to put in 1,369 MW of wind and solar energy back into the grid by 2016. 

That title of largest in Canada will be short lived. In four to five months, Smithemann said, a Kingston plant will be slightly larger than Cayuga's, which feeds into the power lines from Nanticoke's coal-fired, 3,964 megawatt plant at Hagersville.

Between Hamilton and the solar farm is Six Nations, who are 10 per cent partners in the project after Samsung approached them four years ago. 

'Historic'

"It's not on Six Nations territory but it is on their traditional lands. That's why we sought out to partner with them," Smitheman said.

Six Nations chief Ava Hill called the completion of the project "historic." 

What we have achieved is a template for many more green energy projects in the Haldimand Tract.- Chief Ava Hill, Six Nations

"What we have achieved is a template for many more green energy projects in the Haldimand Tract," Hill said in a press release.

"The fact that the Grand Renewable solar project provides green energy for our coming generations is a significant accomplishment for all of us to celebrate."

That view has not been shared by all on Hamilton city council. 

The Cayuga solar farm is very similar — a larger version — of one council voted against approving outright in Flamborough.  

Project similar to the one proposed for Flamborough

That site would sit on 40 hectares (100 acres) of farm land that one landowner calls "marginal" for its pour yields. The proposed Mountsberg Solar Farm would produce between 15 and 20 megawatts of power, enough for roughly 5,000 homes. Samsung will submit that project to the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) by Sept. 1. The IESO will analyze every application, and the Ministry of Environment will do environmental assessments on each winning bid. Projects with community and council support will have a better chance of acceptance.

The Cayuga site is split up into five sub sites, each producing 20 megawatts, similar to the Flamborough proposal.

"We're obviously disappointed with council's decision," Smitheman said Thursday, noting that the project in Flamborough is separate from the energy agreement Samsung has with the province. 

He said Samsung went into the project with "high hopes," which have since changed.

"At this point it's really unclear if the project can continue or not," Smitheman said. "It's unfortunate that council ruled against it."