Medicine Hat solar thermal plant embraces green energy

Medicine Hat takes its claim asCanada's sunniest city seriously.It now has a way to harness the sunshine and turn it into renewablegreen energy.

The southeastern Alberta citynow operates a solar thermal power plant the first of itskind in Canada.

"The idea behind this project is helping to save gas, some day we will run out of it," said Mayor Ted Clugston.

• Medicine Hat looks to solar power

The plant is part of a $10-million project and follows another green energy project wind turbines constructed within the city limits. The project was funded with help from the federal andprovincialgovernments.

Large curved steel panels reflect the sun's rays to heat oil inside a metal tube. The oil then creates steam, turninga turbine at the nearby power plant.

"The purpose of the project was to determine whether or not this technology would work in our climate, our environment," said Gerry Labas, who leads the Medicine Hat energy division.

The focus on renewable energy is a change of direction for Medicine Hat, which has a century-long history in natural gas.

• Funding found for Alta. solar-thermal project

"We haven't turned our back, we've only faced the future," said Clugston. "That's what this project is."

The mayor admits the project makes little financial sense because it only produces one megawatt of electricity on an ideal summer day. It was approved in 2009, back when the city was more flush with cash, and Clugston says if faced with the decision today, council would not approve the project.

The mayor says thereare many positives to the project, suggestingit will boost tourism, be a magnet for elementary field trips and make the city seem much more progressive.

The new solar thermal plant is expected to generate enough energy to power 150 homes per year and is one step towards reaching the city's goal of relying on renewable energy for 25 per cent of its electricity by 2025.