Resource World Magazine

58 www.resourceworld.com o c t o b e r / n o v e m b e r 2 0 1 5 alTErNaTivE ENErGy rEviEw Developments in Alternative Energy by Jane Bratun sunmine produces solar power for over 200 homes The SunMine, located in Kimberley, is British Columbia's larg- est solar power project and Canada's largest solar tracking system. SunMine is community owned, distinct, and well suited to capi- talize on Kimberley's clear and sunny conditions. Located in southeastern BC, Kimberley's story begins with the discovery of galena in 1892 at the North Star Mine, now the location of the popular Kimberley Alpine Resort. A year later four prospectors discovered what would become the largest lead and zinc mine in the world for much of the 20th century – the Sullivan Mine. The mine fueled the growth of Kimberley and what would later become the Consolidated Mining and Smelting Company (Cominco), and later Teck-Cominco, now known as Teck Resources Ltd. [TCK.B-TSX; TCK-NYSE,] headquartered in Vancouver, BC. The SunMine is located on Teck's former Sullivan Mine concentrator site, which has been fully reclaimed. "Participating in SunMine reflects both Teck's commitment to supporting local communities, even after mining has ceased, and our focus on expanding the use of alternative energy," said Don Lindsay, President and CEO of Teck. "We're proud to be contrib- uting to the long-term prosperity of Kimberley and commend the city for their entrepreneurial spirit." In a 2011 referendum, an overwhelming majority of Kimberley voters supported the city borrowing $2 million toward construc- tion of the SunMine. The city and its partners spent three years working to secure funding, negotiate ownership, undertake the due diligence and pre-feasibility studies and complete 17 agree- ments with eight organizations. The Province's Innovative Clean Energy (ICE) Fund program has provided $1 million for SunMine through the EcoSmart Foundation, a Vancouver-based nonprofit foundation promot- ing economically and ecologically smart projects among public and private sectors. The SunMine project also receives support from the Columbia Basin Trust, which supports efforts to deliver social, economic, and environmental benefits to the residents at the Columbia Basin. Additional funding and assistance has been received from the Southern Interior Development Initiative Trust. The SunMine has 4,032 solar-cell modules, mounted on 96 solar trackers, which follow the sun's movement, maximizing solar exposure. SunMine is the first solar power project in British Columbia to sell power to the BC Hydro grid. Photovoltaic (PV) cells are the most common method of gener- ating electricity. PV cells generate electricity when solar radiation (as photons) strikes a PV semiconductor to produce a difference in electrical potential (voltage). PV solar power is becoming an economically competitive power source because of decreasing costs of technology and more rigorous standards being applied to conventional energy. Solar power competitiveness has a mixed public perception due to the highly publicized challenges of North American solar panel man- ufacturers largely due to predatory trade tactics and consolidation in the market for component suppliers. Solar power production, however, is growing as it becomes increasingly cost competitive with other forms of energy generation. Production data since June 22 confirms that the energy being generated by the SunMine is exceeding the modeled design potential. SunMine is supplying enough electricity to the BC Hydro grid to power approximately 200 homes. "SunMine is a symbol of Kimberley's commitment to the envi- ronment. When Kimberley's mineral resources were depleted, we took advantage of our solar potential and developed a new resource which is renewable," said Scott Sommerville, Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Kimberley. Kimberley receives the most sunshine in BC (over 300 days per year), and the community-owned SunMine is well suited to capitalize on these clear and sunny conditions.

• Cover