Following up on last month's story about the Atrium Modernization Project, the Edmonton Convention Centre, Bird Construction, the City of Edmonton, and DIALOG provided media with a closer look at the installation of photovoltaic solar panels on the 36-year-old building.

Photovoltaic glass installation on the Edmonton Convention Centre, photo by Dave Sutherland

Approximately half of the 696 glass panels on the atrium are being replaced with photovoltaic glass by Onyx Solar, and together are expected to produce approximately 227,000 kilowatt hours of electricity per year. When complete, the project will be the largest building-integrated solar installation in Canada.

Solar PV panels by Onyx Solar, photo by Dave Sutherland

According to Brad Watson, Facility Infrastructure Delivery with the City of Edmonton, the energy savings from the $10.8-million replacement is expected to be in the area of $219,000 per year. The project is expected to break even after 22 years, less than the 30-plus-year expected lifespan of the panels.

Media touring the roof of the Edmonton Convention Centre, photo by Dave Sutherland

Despite the panels being partially opaque, the amount of sunlight reaching the interior of the Convention Centre is actually expected to increase by 1-2 percent due to the transparent portions allowing more light penetration than the previous glazing.

The sloping atrium of the Edmonton Convention Centre, photo by Dave Sutherland

SkyriseEdmonton will continue to follow this project as it progresses. More information can be found in our project Database, as well as in our Forum. What do you think of the modernization project? Leave a comment below!