News

Potentia Solar and OZZ Solar to Co-develop 30 MW of
rooftop solar power in Ontario

TORONTO, November 17, 2011 /CNW/ - OZZ Solar and Potentia Solar Inc., today announced they have entered into an agreement to co-develop and co-own 30 megawatts of new solar power generation capacity in Ontario.

Under the agreement, OZZ Solar and Potentia Solar will design, finance and construct rooftop solar generation facilities ranging from 50 to 500 kilowatts on more than 200 rooftops across the province, with roughly one-third in the Ottawa region and the balance largely in the GTA. The projects will be constructed on commercial, industrial and institutional buildings, including schools, and are expected to be completed over the next two years. When completed, enough electricity will be generated to meet the annual needs of approximately 3,300 homes with clean, emission-free power. Development of the 30 megawatts of solar power assets will create approximately 750 skilled manufacturing, engineering, construction and maintenance jobs, and result in approximately $150 million of new investment.

“We are excited to be partnering with Potentia to deliver more clean energy to Ontarians,” said Marco Pisterzi, President of OZZ Solar. “Like ourselves, Potentia is investing in the province to create a better environment and more jobs, and I look forward to building our leadership positions together.”

Chris Asimakis, President & COO of Potentia said, “The agreement with OZZ is an important step for us in fulfilling our objective of becoming a leading independent solar power producer. We look forward to working with OZZ Solar to implement these projects.”

About OZZ Solar

OZZ Solar, a wholly-owned subsidiary of OZZ Clean Energy Inc. (www.ozzcleanenergy.com) has the regulatory expertise, technical experience and access to over 400 installation personnel to install, service and maintain rooftop solar projects, backed by 24/7/365 service support. OZZ Solar is currently developing projects for customers and property owners including Longo's, Morguard and many others. OZZ Clean Energy is diversified provider of low and no-carbon energy solutions for customers ranging from residential homeowners to large industrial and commercial enterprises throughout North America. OZZ Clean Energy’s Gas & Power division offers competitively priced natural gas and electricity to commercial, industrial and institutional customers. OZZ Clean Energy is headquartered in Concord, Ontario.

About Potentia Solar Inc. 

Potentia Solar is an Independent Power Producer in Ontario, generating electricity through its own 100% solar-powered energy systems. Potentia Solar is supported by respected and well capitalized Canadian companies, including Victoria Square Ventures, a wholly owned subsidiary of Power Corporation of Canada, Conundrum Capital Group and MKB Solar Rooftops Inc., an affiliate of MacKinnon, Bennett & Company Inc.

For more information please contact:

OZZ Clean Energy Inc.
Sue Molyneux
Vice President, Corporate Operations
smolyneux@ozzcleanenergy.com
905-326-2519

Potentia Solar Inc.
Chris Asimakis
President and COO
casimakis@potentiasolar.com
416-814-4422

or

Lorne Stephenson
lstephenson@potentiasolar.com
416-703-1911

 

Roofs for rays, Toronto schools sign onto 66 MW solar scheme

01. June 2011 | Applications & Installations, Industry & Suppliers, Markets & Trends | By: Jonathan Gifford
Article published in PV Magazine.

Hundreds of schools will get a makeover ‘up top’ as solar panels pay for roof repairs in an agreement between the Toronto schools and AMP Solar Limited Partnership.

Photovoltaic panels with an expected output of between 58 and 66 megawatts (MW) are to be installed on the roofs of around 450 schools in the Canadian city of Toronto. In return for the space, much needed repairs will be carried out on the roofs themselves.

The exact number of solar installations will be determined by the schools and the AMP Solar Limited Partnership on a "school-by-school" basis according to the suitability of the school itself, the state of its roof and once a feed-in tariff (FIT) contract from the Ontario Power Authority has been received.

AMP Solar Limited Partnership is a joint venture between AMP Solar Group and Potentia Solar Inc. Potentia’s president and chief operating officer Chris Asimakis explained to pv magazine that instead of leasing the roof space, the partnership will instead repair school roofs, many of which are in a poor state. "To access roof space, we typically offer a lease payment to be on the roof over the course of the 20 years. What we’ve done here is offer roof repair in lieu of payment."

The project is expected to take three to four years and Asimakis told pv magazine that because the total installation is across a large number of schools, with roofs in various states of disrepair, solar installation can occur immediately on some, while repairs must first take place on others.

"For a school that had a new roof put of two or three years ago, we’ll immediately go and put panels on that roof, because we know that roof will be good for at least 20 years. We’re also going to work of roofs that the school board have identified as being critical, so we’ll repair those roofs immediately."

The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) described the solar installation agreement as a win-win for the schools and for the environment. "By installing solar panels, Toronto communities will get clean green energy (and) schools will receive much-needed roof repairs," said TDSB chair Chris Bolton.

There is also an educational aspect to the installation with students at the newly solar equipped schools able to learn about the sustainable energy systems. Potentia’s Lorne Stephenson told pv magazine that this is a major part of the project. "One of the biggest pieces (of this project) is that the TDSB wanted curriculum activity on behalf of solar (and we were able) to transfer what’s going on on their roof into an educational module."

The solar panels for the targeted 66 MW of installation will largely be sourced from the local area, Asimakis explained, and while the final decision on a particular supplier has not yet been made, Ontario has seen rapid growth in the number of manufacturers moving into the area.

"There’s a special sort of nuance in the Ontario marketplace where there’s a requirement for a certain amount of equipment and labor and engineering to be sourced from Ontario. And as a result there are more than a dozen of solar panel manufacturers setting up some sort of operation here."

AMP Solar LP accepts new assignment with Toronto District School Board

Toronto, ON (May 19, 2011)

AMP Solar LP, an AMP Solar Group and Potentia Solar Inc. Joint Venture, today welcomed the announcement of its 20 year contract with the Toronto District School Board (TDSB).

“This is a history making award and we are honoured,” said Dave Rogers, President and CEO of AMP Solar Group. “Our recognized expertise installing solar panels on school roof tops means we are ready to begin work tomorrow on schools in the Toronto District.”

“Potentia Solar is pleased to be working with AMP Solar on this important joint venture,” said Dan Argiros, Chief Executive Officer. “Our strengths complement each other and we look forward to proceeding with this very significant solar build.”

About AMP Solar Group – www.ampsolargroup.com

AMP Solar Group™ is a fully integrated solar PV rooftop designer, builder, installer and manager. AMP Solar Group is owned by companies and individuals who bring relevant renewable energy investment, commercial roofing, electrical and construction experience to further the advancement of solar rooftop array installation in Ontario. The AMP team has the expertise and capacity which is necessary to deliver to its customers world class integrated solar PV rooftop systems.

About Potentia Solar Inc - www.potentiasolar.com

Potentia Solar is an Independent Power Producer in Ontario generating electricity through its own 100% solar-powered energy systems. Potentia Solar is supported by respected and well capitalized Canadian companies including Victoria Square Ventures, a wholly owned subsidiary of Power Corporation of Canada, Conundrum Capital Group and MKB Solar Rooftops Inc., an affiliate of MacKinnon, Bennett & Company Inc.

For more information please contact:

AMP Solar Group
Steve Shaefer
sschaefer@ampsolargroup.com
905.271.7800

Potentia Solar Inc.
Lorne Stephenson
lstephenson@potentiasolar.com
416-703-1911

 

Getting easier to be green

April 9, 2010

Mississauga will get a bit greener in the next few years after renewable energy projects at 19 city businesses were approved by Queen's Park.

Mississauga East-Cooksville MPP Peter Fonseca, whose riding is home to seven of the projects, made the announcement on April 9 at Davis Design, a graphic design company on The Queensway E. that will soon begin using solar power.

Toronto-based Potentia Solar Energy is designing and operating the solar panels for 20 businesses across Ontario, including the seven in Mississauga East-Cooksville. The city's 12 other participants are using other solar companies. The businesses themselves will pick up the tab for the solar panels.

“This is a great day for a greener Mississauga,” said Fonseca. “We are here to build an energy system that will free the next generation’s economy.” The Mississauga projects are among 184 announced by Ontario's Liberal government under the Green Energy Act's Feed-in Tariff program, a plan to adopt green energy sources. “Here in Mississauga, we will be outfitting the rooftops of the buildings with solar panels,” said Fonseca. “All of this will be like providing energy for 13,000 homes as well as taking 1,300 cars off the road, reducing emission gases.” The other projects across Ontario are a mix of ground-mounted solar, onshore wind and water power endeavours, among others. The new power, while cleaner, is also more costly.

Ontario Energy Minister Brad Duguid estimated that the contracts awarded under the Province's green energy legislation will add about $5 per month to the average homeowner's power bill by 2012, when the new projects are completed. “We have to work for it (green energy); we may have to pay a little bit more for it, but so what,” said Mayor Hazel McCallion, who was on hand for the announcement. “If we really want to protect the environment, then we have to get involved, very actively, as well as picking up a bit of the tab for it, but that’s the future and the future depends on our involvement.” Davis Design president Ron Davis said his company is excited to be one of the first users of the new energy. “As tenants of the building, we wanted to see this happen,” he said.

Ontario's Green Energy Act is part of the government's Open Ontario Plan, which supports the Province’s commitment to eliminate dirty coal-fired generation by the end of 2014 and create up to 50,000 “green-collar” jobs. “This is green-energy jobs that Mississauga is producing,” said Fonseca. “We want to be the world leader in green energy and with this act, we are staying ahead of the pack.”

Source: www.mississauga.com