Large solar project proposed for area south of Hays

Posted on July 27, 2023 by Vauxhall Advance

Southern Alberta Newspapers

A new large solar field proposal in southeastern Alberta, which includes a large capacity battery storage system, has been proposed in the region west of Medicine Hat.

Proteus Solar would be built on in three phases on about 1,000 acres of land owned by the Bow River Irrigation District located four kilometres south of the hamlet of Hays in the Municipal District of Taber.

Proteus Power, a Texas-based development company, applied to the Alberta Utilities Commission this week to construct the project first proposed in 2018.

Three phases of the 370,000 panel array would have maximum production capacity of 21, 24 and 162 megawatts, respectively, but are being considered as one application.

The two smaller phases would be built in 2024, according to the company’s application. The larger could be built in 2025 alongside the battery storage unit capable of storing enough power to provide 120 megawatt hours of power to the Fortis system of the provincial power grid.

The AUC has not yet announced a format or schedule for public feedback on the project.