Construction is well underway on the Dundonald Avenue Solar Farm, Saskatoon’s first ever utility-scale solar project.  

In fact, you might have already seen the beginnings of the construction phase, which is expected to be complete by the end of 2025. Just west of Circle Drive south, and east of Dundonald Avenue, there is a field of screw piles popping out of the dirt. 

Sustainable Electricity Manager with Saskatoon Light and Power José Cheruvallath says within the next two months, you should expect to see panels mounted on top of them. 

“The City has goals and ambitions to lower our emissions within the community, and essentially to go to net zero by 2050.  It’s going to take a lot of effort, including building initiatives like the solar farm into the future and hopefully build them larger.”

He adds that the farm will generate enough energy to power about 400 homes.

“The total system size is 2.8 megawatts of solar which will be roughly 3.5-million-kilowatt hours of energy,” he explains. “We’re expecting for the cost to be paid back in about 15 years, and then anything past that would be revenues that would help the utility offset costs.”

However, the project has a 30-year lifespan, meaning the panels will probably need to be replaced or decommissioned in 2055.  

As part of the project, the City is also naturalizing the landscape in that area. This will boost biodiversity, enhance soil health and reduce erosion.