The announcement was part of more than 500 private projects approved by the Ontario Power Authority across the province Tuesday. Loblaw will start with four installations in partnership with Northland Power Rooftop Solar.
The Orleans project will have a capacity of up to 500 kilowatts.
"This initiative is part of Loblaw's overall effort, through the use of renewable energy sources to reduce our carbon footprint," said Bob Chant, Loblaw’s vice president of corporate affairs, in a statement.
Loblaw also received approval for its stores on Rideau Street, Greenbank, McArthur, Robertson roads, as well as for its Real Canadian Superstore on Richmond Road and Your Independent Grocer in Stittsville.
The 510 projects approved by the OPA are the first contracts awarded to large generators through Ontario’s feed-in-tariff program, which guarantees producers a set price for their power.
In the case of rooftop solar, producers receive between 53.9 cents and 71.3 cents per kilowatt hour.
The provincial government has been critized for burying the skyrocketing cost of these contracts under a line charge labelled “provincial benefit” on the bills of large power users and those who have signed retail contracts.
Other local projects approved this week include:
-3G Energy Corp.’s 75 kW-solar rooftop project on Tremblay Road;
-Potential Solar Energy LP’s five projects on Industrial Avenue, Algoma Road and on Willowlea Road in Carp, with a combined potential of 857 kW
-MDKM Management Ltd.’s 250-kW solar rooftop project on Iber Road;
-10 schools belonging to Ottawa’s French public school board, with a total capacity of 960 kW;
-SKY OZZ International Inc. received approval for dozens of rooftop solar projects across the province, including large installations with a combined capacity of 1,400 kW at 3779 Strandherd Dr., 1616 Cyrville Rd., 10 Frank Nighbor and 2056 Bank St.;
-A 100 kW project from Stafford Road Property Ltd.;
-Hydro Ottawa’s 20.48-kW rooftop solar project on Merivale Road;
-Separate 250-kW rooftop solar projects by Legget Drive Property Ltd. and Lola Street Property Ltd.;
-A 40-kW project by R.E. Cole at 891 Boyd Ave.;
-A 250-kW solar rooftop project at 34 Stafford Rd. By Sanjoy Developments Ltd.;
-A 500-kW biogas project by Hydro-Gen Farms Ltd.
