It Takes an (Eco) Village: Summerland Energy Centre

Funding provided through the Canada Community-Building Fund

The new Summerland Energy Centre in Okanagan, British Columbia, is contributing to a more environmentally friendly future. It’s the first utility-scale solar and battery storage facility in the region! Utility-scale power plants are large energy systems that combine solar power with battery storage technology. Energy is harnessed from the sun, while the battery storage system stores extra energy produced during sunny periods.

Additionally, the Summerland Energy Centre helps lower energy costs for residents! The stored electricity comes in handy during high-demand periods, outages, or when the sun isn't shining. The extra energy can be used to make electricity more affordable, especially during peak times when many people are using it.

The Summerland Energy Centre, funded by the Canada Community-Building Fund and the District’s capital reserve, won a Climate & Energy Action Award in 2021 from the Community Energy Association for its innovation in sustainability. Not only does it help the community save money, the centre’s use of renewable energy sources contributes to a cleaner environment.

Being leaders in climate and energy action is nothing new for the District of Summerland.

The District of Summerland is committed to helping the environment. They were even chosen to represent Earth Day Canada in 2021 for a campaign called "Mobilizing Municipalities." As Earth Day champions, Summerland encourages its residents, local organizations, other municipalities, and provincial and federal organizations to work together to adopt more sustainable practices

Accolades aside…

The Summerland Energy Centre is not only helping with energy supply, it’s creating jobs, boosting the economy, and is the starting point for a future eco-village. The district combines Indigenous principles of stewardship with the knowledge of engineers, urban planners, architects, and climate experts. They’re building an environmentally sensitive neighbourhood with diverse housing styles and active transportation options, all aimed at connecting residents to downtown Summerland while lowering the impact on the environment.

For more information, visit:

• Summerland Energy Centre
• Summerland’s Integrated Solar Project
• Eco-Village Project

Quick facts:

• The Summerland Energy Centre battery storage has a capacity of up to 1 MW, a solar array with 412 kW solar power capacity, and 3.56 MWh power supply.
• The federal government invested $6 million in the Summerland Energy Centre through the Canada Community-Building Fund (CCBF).
• CCBF provides municipalities with a permanent, predictable, and indexed source of long-term funding, enabling construction and rehabilitation of core public infrastructure.
• The fund offers communities the flexibility to make strategic investments across 19 different project categories, promoting investments in increased productivity and economic growth, a clean environment, and strong  cities and communities.