Skip to content
Join our Newsletter

Capital Park solar project sets high bar

The James Bay mixed-use development is installing 251 solar panels on the rooftops of two office buildings, expected to produce 114 kilowatts of electricity a year.

Capital Park has set a high bar for solar-energy collection.

The James Bay mixed-use development behind the legislature is installing 251 solar panels on the rooftops of two office buildings, an impressive array that is expected to have a capacity of 114 kilowatts of electricity.

That’s the equivalent of what between 12 to 15 typical single-family homes would use in a year, and an annual saving of about $10,000.

The $200,000 installation will be one of the largest arrays of solar panels on Vancouver Island — and the largest by private investors, according to Shift, the company contracted to acquire, design and install the system.

The buildings, at 525 and 545 Superior St., contain provincial government offices, including the Ministry of Environment.

Capital Park, completed five years ago, is a joint project of Jawl Properties and Concert Properties. It includes condominiums and rental units as well as businesses such as Red Barn Market and a branch of the Greater Victoria Public Library.

Both office buildings are built to LEED Platinum standards, and the solar array will reduce the need to draw energy from the grid, said Karen Jawl, a director at Jawl Properties.

She said environmental sustainability has been a guiding principle for Capital Park since the initial design of the project.

“While solar was not a viable alternative when the office buildings were initially built, the preparation work was done for a future installation as it felt inevitable that things would evolve,” said Jawl. “It is exciting to see that only five years later innovation and technological advances have closed the gap to make solar power not only the right environmental choice, but also the right financial decision.”

She estimated the partners will pay off the investment through savings on hydro bills in about 15 to 16 years, based on 3% yearly increases by B.C. Hydro.

dkloster@timescolonist.com