Harnessing the sun: Buffalo Pound water treatment plant unveils $4 million solar project

In a province known for its agriculture and sunny skies, it’s fitting that the approach to the Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Plant can now harvest the sun’s rays thanks to a $4 million solar power project dollars recently unveiled by the Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Corporation (BPWTC) on June 18.

The solar project launched in August 2022 will soon generate 10% of the plant’s annual electricity consumption from next June, and administrators expect a full return on investment within 15 years due to the reduction in energy requirements. external energy.

“The Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Plant Solar Project is not just (an) investment in renewable energy; it is a commitment to our community for generations to come,” announced Regina Mayor Sandra Masters.

The new solar array is designed to generate 1,800 kilowatts of alternating current and will be used to power the plant’s new administration building, as it operates independently of the SaskPower grid. Total savings from the project are estimated at $330,000 per year, which will help reduce current total expenses by approximately $3 million per year.

The signs are also just one element of the plant’s new improvements.

Originally commissioned in 1955, the facility has played a vital role for residents of southern Saskatchewan over the past 70 years, but improvements have been few.

The latest upgrades began in July 2022 and will see much of what Ryan Johnson, president and CEO of the plant, described as “old-school technology” replaced with cutting-edge components, including n+1 redundancies to ensure consistent operations.

All told, Johnson said these improvements will ultimately extend the plant’s life by another 25 to 30 years — a typical time frame for this type of facility.

The solar component of the upgrade may only represent 10 percent of the plant’s total consumption, but BPWTC board chairwoman Patricia Wasaba said it’s a step in the right direction.

“(Although this) represents a small portion of the energy consumed by the plant, it is an important milestone and we anticipate it will lead to expansion into other green energy projects at the “future,” she announced.

She also noted that for the plant to be completely solar powered, about 75 acres of panels would be needed due to the high energy requirements of its pumps and other equipment.

Johnson took the opportunity to remind everyone of the importance of water conservation, especially during the hot summer expected this year.

For Moose Jaw residents, the plant is supported by water tanks in the city that can provide enough water for three days at current consumption rates, but Johnson said that could drop to two days when the Temperatures will start to rise.

Wasaba then thanked Masters and Moose Jaw Mayor Clive Tolley for their continued support. These two cities share ownership of the plant, with the City of Regina owning 74 percent and Moose Jaw the remaining 26 percent.

“I would also like to extend a special thank you to all the staff at the Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Plant… We are fortunate to have such a skilled and committed team of employees supporting this critical resource,” he said. -she declared in a speech addressed to the 36 employees of the factory. members who help provide water to nearly a quarter of Saskatchewan residents.

The Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Plant is located approximately 30 kilometers northeast of the city of Moose Jaw.

The upgrades are expected to be completed in approximately 18 to 20 months, with a final completion date planned for early 2026.