City of Edmundston unveils microgrid project

The City of Edmundston in the Canadian province of New Brunswick is set to host what is thought to be the largest rooftop solar panel project in the Atlantic region.

Cleantech integrator Ameresco is working in partnership with municipal utility Edmundston Energy to construct the Solstice microgrid which will supply the city with reliable, sustainable energy.

Enhance grid resilience

Solstice will feature a 1 MW solar capacity combined with a 2 MWh battery energy storage system (Bess), specifically designed to enhance grid resilience and meet peak energy demands.

The solar part of the Solstice microgrid will be installed on the roofs of the Jean-Daigle Centre and the Sports Pavilion. With construction underway, the project supports Edmundston’s 2024-2028 Environmental Action Plan and strengthens its leadership in the Atlantic region’s sustainable energy efforts. Planned operational launch is for summer 2025.

Once operational, the microgrid is designed to offset approximately 360 metric tons of CO₂ annually and ensure backup power to essential community facilities like the Sports Pavilion, which also serves as an emergency response centre.

“As cities worldwide work to transition to sustainable energy, projects like this showcase how innovative solutions can provide reliable, clean power to meet today’s demands”

“This project involves and will greatly impact the community. Many local entrepreneurs have been hired to work on the project, which will be a learning incubator for students from the Cité-des-jeunes, AM-Sormany, UMCE and CCNB programmes,” said Eric Marquis, mayor of Edmundston.

“We are very grateful to our provincial and federal partners for their contribution and their constant collaboration, which allows us to take this step in a very important project for the City of Edmundston.”