There’s bang for the buck with solar

The replacement of the remaining barn for Bayview Poultry Farms will likely see the Jennings switching over to solar from wind energy. Although he’s happy with the wind turbines, Blake Jennings says they failed to provide as big a return on investment as expected.

Bayview Poultry Farms’ plan to harness the power of the sun comes as Kentville based Nova Solar Capital gears up to launch a program for big solar-energy systems for Nova Scotia farms.

Amanda Brulé, the marketing director for Nova Solar Capital, said in an interview in mid-March the company was hoping to roll out solar systems capable of producing up to 100 kilowatts.

Wednesday, the company’s president and chief executive officer, Dr. Andrew Bagley, confirmed the company is already in the process of recruiting someone to launch that program of solar systems for commercial users, including farms, before the end of this year.

Even though many people may think Nova Scotia is too far north to get much of a bang for the buck out of solar systems, Bagley said they work great in this province.

“We’re far more south than people believe,” he said. “If you look at Germany, they’re at 54 degrees (latitude) and they produce seven per cent of their electricity by solar power. We’re at 45 degrees. It’s actually a better place to produce solar power … It’s very cost effective.”