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Clean energy to create clean water: the kīsikāw pīsim solar farm
The E.L. Smith Water Treatment Plant (WTP) is essential to life in Edmonton and its metro region. Constructed more than 40 years ago, today it supplies more than 65% of all the water consumed in Edmonton and more than 90 surrounding communities.
Edmonton's City Plan envisions the region growing to 2 million people and beyond over the coming decade. Most of the water needed to serve that population will come from the E.L. Smith WTP. The facility is already EPCOR's second largest source of greenhouse gas emissions as a result of electrical energy used to pump water. As water demand and treatment volumes grow, reducing emissions from electricity consumption at the water treatment plant is essential for us to meet our emission reduction targets.
The kīsikāw pīsim solar farm tackles this challenge directly. Commissioned in fall 2022, the water treatment plant gives access to three sources of electricity:
The project is designed as a behind-the-meter smart grid. This means that the renewable power source is located next to the water plant, not on the grid. This enables the plant to directly access green power for its own needs and reduce its grid power consumption. It is a “smart grid" because the water plant, solar panels, and battery work together as a system. They're united by intelligent controls that optimize when the energy is stored and how it is used.
The solar farm helps EPCOR achieve real, tangible and immediate reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. It helps to meet the City of Edmonton’s goal to produce 10% of electricity locally and close to where it is used — part of the City’s environmental strategic plan.
Enoch Cree Nation gifted the name kīsikāw pīsim (KEY-see-gaw PEE-sim) solar farm to EPCOR through a pipe ceremony with senior leadership of both the Nation and EPCOR. kīsikāw pīsim solar farm means “daylight sun” in Cree.
In the spirit of reconciliation, EPCOR seeks to reconnect Enoch Cree Nation and its people with this important location, through this beautiful name. In the past, Indigenous people gathered at these lands and drew strength from nature. Now, we honour and reconnect with our shared history through the name “kisikaw-pisim,” and draw energy from the “daylight sun” that will help address the impact of climate change.
Why build a solar farm at E.L. Smith?
This location was selected for a number of reasons:
As well, this location allowed the solar farm to connect directly to the treatment plant, which means:
Other benefits
Research, technology and education partnerships all require a project that combines renewables, battery storage and energy consumption at a single location.
We intend to make the solar farm a highly accessible site for research, tours and sharing of history and cultural resources including interpretive signage in a prominent location and establishing a demonstration site that will facilitate school tours and other learning opportunities.
We have also partnered with the University of Alberta and NAIT to explore other research and post-secondary learning and development opportunities.
Vegetation, wildlife and river valley land
As part of our commitment to the environment, we transferred 31.5 acres to the city for the river valley park system, resulting in a net increase of river valley park land. In addition, we:
Did you know?
Financial support of approximately $10.7 million from Natural Resources Canada allowed us to include the battery energy storage system. Housing this technology on site gives our NAIT and University of Alberta partners a working site for practical testing and demonstration of this new technology.