Solar installation approved for Kensington Credit Union Centre

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KENSINGTON, P.E.I. — The Credit score Union Centre in Kensington formally reopened on Nov. 4, just a few weeks forward of the completion of a multi-million-dollar renovation undertaking involving a serious change to photo voltaic vitality.

The $2.6-million undertaking was funded by the Investing in Canada program, which mixes federal, provincial and municipal funds for infrastructure enhancements throughout the nation.

Alongside important renovations to the inside of the centre, which included a full repaint, up to date LED lighting and the set up of a wheelchair accessible viewing space, Hansen Photo voltaic Vitality has been contacted to put in greater than 100 photo voltaic panels for the centre by the brand new yr.

Kensington Mayor Rowan Caseley has been happy with the progress and timeline of the renovations, particularly the change to inexperienced vitality.

“We fairly effectively hit all of the targets. The one factor that hasn’t is the photo voltaic panels, and that’s partly design as a result of the preliminary plan didn’t work,” Caseley advised SaltWire on Nov. 3.

Renovations of the centre have been carried out by neighborhood volunteers and contractors since April 15.

“We began quickly because the ice was out. We began straight away on washrooms and tearing out the partitions. We did a number of work ourselves,” Caseley mentioned.

Building was accomplished in time for the Kensington Harvest Pageant in August. And whereas the centre missed its Oct. 15 date to have the ice put in for hockey and determine skating, that was accomplished just a few days later.

The ultimate undertaking

Plans are nonetheless being finalized for the centre’s photo voltaic set up, however gross sales supervisor Jeff Rogers advised SaltWire that Hansen Photo voltaic Vitality is making progress with the undertaking.

“We’re simply looking for the perfect resolution for them,” Rogers mentioned throughout a SaltWire interview on Nov. 6.

Rogers defined the undertaking hit a snag when an inspection of the roof discovered it was not viable for photo voltaic panel set up.

Contemplating this, Hansen Photo voltaic plans to mount photo voltaic panels on the bottom, in addition to the partitions of the constructing, a twist on the standard software of photo voltaic vitality.

“I’ve by no means seen any main industrial functions of panels mounted on the wall, so it may very well be the primary of its type,” Rogers mentioned.

These wall-mounted items will probably be paired with ground-mounted panels, all to maximise the conversion share for the centre.

“The bottom-mount items are extra environment friendly as a result of you’ll be able to select the orientation and angle of the panels, they usually’re quite a bit simpler to take care of,” Rogers mentioned, evaluating ground-mounted panels to roof panels.

Do you know?

• Modifications on the Credit score Union Centre embody a brand new electrical entrance, newly renovated public washrooms, a completely repainted inside and a brand new security web across the total rink.
• Benches for hockey gamers have additionally been expanded, and the boards have been totally changed alongside two additional ft of security glass siding.
• As part of the inside renovations, the bleachers had been renovated, eradicating two rows to increase the principle walkway subsequent to the rink.
• The parking zone has been totally repaved and expanded to accompany the newly repainted exterior.

Based on laws throughout the Maritime Electrical grid, the utmost kilowattage allowed for impartial installations is 100 kilowatts (kw).

The Credit score Union Centre requires greater than 400 kw to function, eliminating the choice to completely solarize the centre.

“If we are able to get as many photo voltaic panels as we’re planning proper now that might be gravy, however we’re hoping to cowl roughly 25 per cent,” Caseley mentioned.

Hansen Photo voltaic Vitality intends to finish the set up of the photo voltaic panels by the tip of the yr, relying on the climate circumstances and the photo voltaic association finest becoming the centre.

“We’re working with the mayor and the city to determine what’s finest, what’s going to take advantage of sense and what’s most possible for the neighborhood to do,” Rogers mentioned.

Caitlin Coombes is a Native Journalism Initiative reporter, a place funded by the federal authorities. She might be reached by e mail at [email protected] and adopted on X @caitlin_coombes.