Overview
Dave Rampel Solar Park is a 10 MW solar PV facility in Ontario, Canada, owned by Rainy River First Nations Solar 3 LP. It contributes to Canada's growing renewable energy capacity.
Dave Rampel Solar Park is a 10 MW solar photovoltaic facility located in the Rainy River region of Ontario, Canada. The plant is owned by Rainy River First Nations Solar 3 LP and is currently operational. As a medium-scale solar installation, it supports the local grid with clean electricity. The facility operates under Ontario's regulatory framework, which includes the Green Energy Act and the province's Long-Term Energy Plan. Solar PV technology converts sunlight directly into electricity, and this plant's capacity of 10 MW places it in the small-to-medium scale range for Canadian solar farms. Ontario has a strong renewable energy target, aiming for 100% clean electricity by 2050, and facilities like this contribute to that goal. Environmentally, the solar park helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions by displacing fossil fuel generation. It also supports Indigenous economic development through the involvement of Rainy River First Nations. The plant's location in a rural area minimizes land-use conflicts, and solar PV has low operational water consumption, making it suitable for the region's climate.
Environmental context
The Rainy River region in northwestern Ontario has a continental climate with cold winters and warm summers, making solar generation seasonal but viable. Solar PV installations like this one have minimal visual impact in rural settings and no bird or bat mortality risks associated with wind turbines. The plant's operation supports Ontario's goal to phase out coal and natural gas, contributing to improved air quality and reduced carbon emissions.
Frequently asked questions
Dave Rampel Solar Park is located in the Rainy River region of Ontario, Canada, near the coordinates 48.7152° N, -94.2518° W.
Dave Rampel Solar Park has a capacity of 10 megawatts (MW), making it a medium-scale solar photovoltaic facility.
The facility is owned by Rainy River First Nations Solar 3 LP, an Indigenous-owned entity.
Ontario's renewable energy sector is supported by the Green Energy Act, the Long-Term Energy Plan, and the federal Clean Fuel Regulations. The province aims for 100% clean electricity by 2050.
Solar PV reduces reliance on fossil fuels, lowers greenhouse gas emissions, and helps Canada achieve its goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. Facilities like Dave Rampel Solar Park add distributed clean energy to the grid.