Vote: Canada Solar Project of the Year 2025
The 2025 Solar Builder Project of the Year Awards are extended this year with a new category — Canadian Project of the Year — and the polls are open for voting!
The form is at the bottom of the page. You are allowed to vote once per day from now until Friday, Oct. 31 at midnight ET (spooky!). FYI: Our voting widget will let you vote more than once a day, but we filter these out in the back-end. Sorry, ballot stuffers. The winners will be announced and profiled in the December edition of Solar Builder Canada.
Thanks to APsystems for sponsoring the 2025 Canada Project of the Year Award
Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge Microgrid
British Columbia | 824kW PV + 1.6 MWh storage
Earlier this year, Hakai Energy Solutions partnered with Clayoquot Wilderness Resort to design and install British Columbia’s largest solar and battery microgrid. The microgrid features an 824 kW, 1,512-panel solar array paired with a 1.6 MWh battery energy storage system. This combination enables Clayoquot Wilderness Resort to reduce its reliance on diesel generators, cutting diesel consumption by 80%. This significant reduction not only enhances the Resort’s energy efficiency but also aligns with broader sustainability goals in the region.
The resort is very remote and located north of Tofino, accessible only by seaplane or boat. This made transporting the project team and all necessary supplies a challenge. The team relied on barges to ship in the solar panels, batteries, and other equipment required for the installation. Despite the logistical complexities, the crew’s expertise and determination ensured the project was completed with precision and care.
Developer: Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge | EPC/Installer: Hakai Energy Solutions and Collins Construction Project Specialists Inc. (foundations) | Modules: Longi | Inverters: SMA Peak Power | Storage: Tesla | Mounting/Racking: Polar Racking
ENWIN Utilities Net Metering Facility
Ontario | 1.44 MW
The 1.44 MWdc rooftop solar array installed at ENWIN Utilities’ head office and net metering facility in Windsor, Ontario, stands as one of the largest rooftop systems of its kind in Canada. Developed in partnership with Essex Energy Corp., the facility includes five separate rooftops, among them a 25-year-old standing seam metal roof, and a flat roof system that hosts a separate solar PV installation. With ENWIN’s building consuming approximately 1,600,000 kWh annually, the new solar array was designed to match that load with renewable energy — completely offsetting the utility’s electricity needs. A key goal was to maximize solar panel coverage while preserving the integrity of the existing roof. The team had to contend with rooftop obstructions — such as HVAC units, vent stacks and natural gas piping — which required careful planning to ensure effective panel placement and safe access for maintenance. Compounding these challenges were elevation changes across the roofs that introduced shading issues, making it critical to carefully position solar modules to avoid performance losses.
Developer/EPC/Installer: Essex Energy Corp. | Modules: Longi | Inverters: SMA Sunny Tripower CORE1 | Storage: N/A | Mounting/Racking: S-5!
Estrada Power Plant
British Columbia | 25 kW
This house has a solar system of 25 kW, which produces approximately 26,000 kWh per year. Having seven children, the home owner turned this house into a mini resort, but couldn’t get a 400A upgrade. This PV system will provide enough power to eliminate the bill and also beatify the house thanks to metal conduits to high-end pest/rodent guards. Using microinverters helped Ready Solar Inc. overcome the challenge of multiple roof phases and not having to look for a location to mount equipment. An additional benefit of this system is its capability to add a battery in the future for the customer.
Developer/EPC/Installer: Ready Solar Inc. | Modules: Longi | Inverters: AP Systems | Mounting/Racking: S-5! and Kinetic Rack
