SolarBank Gains Permits, Funding to Build $4.57M Community Solar in Nova Scotia
Community solar in Nova Scotia is moving forward with a new 2.4-MW project led by developer SolarBank.
The $4.57-million Sydney Community Solar project is owned by investment group AI Renewable Flow-Through Fund, although Solar Bank leads on design and development. Nova Scotian firm Trimac Engineering will work with SolarBank on delivering the projects.
Planners say the Sydney farm should generate about 2,730 MWh of carbon-free electricity annually, helping avoid some 1,900 metric tons of CO2 emissions compared with conventional energy generation.
With permits secured and interconnection under progress, construction is expected to begin in spring 2026. The project alone will generate over $1.36 million in electricity savings for local residents over its lifetime while creating local jobs and supporting the province's net-zero goals. This is SolarBank's second community solar project in Nova Scotia.
Nova Scotia has announced a goal of 80% renewable energy by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050. Both the Canadian federal and Nova Scotia provincial governments work to encourage renewable project investment with incentives such as the Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Program (SREPs), Indigenous-Led Clean Energy Stream, and the Low Carbon Communities program.
Four community solar projects have been approved so far by Nova Scotia’s regulatory authorities.
Community solar offers an affordable entry point for customers eager to invest in renewable energy. The subscriptions are not as costly as installation of residential rooftop solar, while the generation produced is closer and more direct than utility-scale solar in remote locations.
Community solar allows renters, businesses, and homeowners to subscribe to the solar farm and receive bill credits and savings of $0.02/kWh, without installing any equipment, as compared to traditional rooftop systems. Project feeds directly into the local electricity grid and offers a flexible, accessible way for Nova Scotians to participate in the clean energy transition.
