Ottawa firm's shiny solar technology wins Wal-Mart contract

A little Ontario company has a contract with the biggest retailer in the world to test and demonstrate its powers of concentration of the sun's energy.

Menova Energy's concentrated solar power system will soon grace the roof of a Wal-Mart somewhere in Ontario as part of a pilot project worth up to $5.9 million, funded half by the provincial government and half by Wal-Mart itself, the company announced Friday.

Menova is based in Stittsville, a community on Ottawa's western outskirts that is now part of the city.

The company's Power-Spar systems use curved mirrors to focusand collect the sun's rays. The energy is thendirected either at solar cells that generate electricity, or used for heating water or the building itself.

The demonstration system is expected to produce 894 kilowatts of heat, supplyingabout 72 per cent of the Wal-Mart building's needs. It is also expected to produce 848 kilowatts of electricity, supplying 11 per cent of the building's needs.

Al Caughey, Menova's manager of sales and training, said the Wal-Mart contract will help the company's technology get noticed.

"We are a small company, and for Wal-Mart to effectively endorse what we're doing or allow us to be a demonstration in their stores means a lot of other companies are going to take a look at us."

The store where the system will be installed has not yet officially been selected or constructed. However, Menova president Dave Gerwing confirmed Monday that the company believes it will be a Supercentre in Markham.

The system will be manufactured by Woodbine Tool & Die in Markham, Ont.

The Ontario government's funding includes a $2.8 million forgivable loan, while Wal-Mart's contribution is up to $3 million to support testing and installation.