Michichi Solar Park: supporting Alberta’s clean energy transition
In 2021, the Englobe team was called in by Boréa to optimize the design of the foundations for the panels in a 25 MW solar park in Michichi, located in Alberta's Starland County, to make them more economical, sustainable, and efficient.
Recognized across our industry for our rigorous focus on innovation and added value, our team played a key role during the pre-design, design, construction, and quality control phases.
To address the site’s numerous complex geotechnical challenges, Englobe implemented innovative, tailored solutions by developing a customized geotechnical strategy.
Michichi solar farm: project overview
The Michichi Solar Project, led by Capstone Infrastructure Partners and executed in partnership with the Sawridge (Cree) First Nation, is a solar farm located in Starland County, Alberta, one kilometre north of the town of Drumheller.
The project deploys renewable energy and grid modernization technologies to supply cleaner energy to the Alberta electricity grid. It is estimated that this solar farm will reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by approximately 21,745 tons of CO2 annually - the equivalent of pulling nearly 6,700 gas-fueled vehicles off the road.
This project will also enable distribution grid operators and researchers to analyze, integrate, and further develop similar technologies to meet grid demands, allowing for greater penetration of solar power in rural Indigenous communities and other underserviced areas.
Based on available data, work on the Michichi Solar project created about 120 jobs. Once completed, the solar farm will generate enough emissions-free energy to power over 6,000 Alberta homes annually.
Federal government involvement in the Michichi Solar Farm project
In 2023, the federal Minister of Natural Resources announced funding for nine projects across Alberta to create jobs while producing and storing clean electricity.
Funding for these projects was provided through the Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways SREP Program, which will invest up to $1.56 billion over eight years for smart renewable energy and electrical grid modernization projects. Led by Indigenous communities, these solar energy and battery storage projects are considered a critical part of Canada’s energy future, which includes a growing clean energy industry.
Englobe’s innovative approach on the Michichi Solar Farm project
The Englobe team was tasked with optimizing the installation of 10,500 screw piles to support nearly 10,000 solar panels. Once the studies were under way, the team quickly realized that the project site presented numerous geotechnical challenges.
The installation of the necessary screw piles was complicated by these geotechnical challenges:
- Silty sands and clay deposits of varying compactness, consistency, and thickness;
- a considerable number of stones and boulders;
- and irregular rock depths.
Englobe engineers and technicians called upon innovative solutions to overcome these obstacles.
A tailored strategy to overcome geotechnical challenges on the Michichi solar farm project
The Englobe team developed a precise, tailor-made strategy. It featured an ingenious combination of sophisticated geostatistical analyses, a variety of onsite and laboratory tests, and a comparative analysis of Canadian and international standards in the field.
An in-depth analysis of this data identified different zones presenting similar geotechnical properties, which were then characterized according to:
- their hardiness to frost;
- the soil’s geomechanical properties;
- and bedrock depth.
Armed with this information, the team was able to optimize the design of the piles for proper installation and, by extension, better energy performance.
A cutting-edge topographic and spatial modeling approach
Using Golden Software's Surfer platform, the Englobe team developed a cutting-edge topographic and spatial modeling approach to better understand the spatial variability of the soil and rock, and identify different areas with similar characteristics on the site. This approach enabled the accurate sizing of the project’s 10,500 piles with a high degree of confidence.
We then subjected our design to 500 load tests, with a success rate above 99%. These sound results prove the reliability of our team's methods, which will ensure the durability and efficiency of the solar farm's operations over its entire lifecycle.
Managing complexity and mitigating solutions for screw pile installation on the Michichi solar farm project
The stratigraphic complexity and variability of the site, the limited information available, and the tight project schedule prompted the Englobe team to rethink traditional geotechnical analysis processes.
During the preliminary design phase, pile loading tests were proposed to:
- consider soil heterogeneity;
- manage all resulting uncertainties;
- and calibrate the piles’ design parameters.
By combining geostatistical data and pile loading test results, Englobe segmented the site into six (6) zones with different conditions.
By superimposing additional layers of information from boreholes and the many iterations of the load test plan calculations, a detailed zoning plan with consistent geotechnical characteristics emerged. This agile scientific approach enabled the client to optimize its time and mitigate delays associated with pile procurement.
Beyond these challenges, the start of construction presented numerous logistical and financial issues
To ensure the financial success and timely completion of this large-scale project, it was imperative that the piles be meticulously designed to ensure a tailored supply. The outcome of the team’s technical and spatial analyses led to the creation of key performance indicators (KPI).
By configuring the existing relationships between the piles’ axial capacity and rotational force, the Englobe team optimized the piles’ length and dimensions according to each specific zone on the site. This ensured the piles’ resistance to frost heaving throughout their 35-year useful life.
The large quantity of underground boulders and the soil’s irregular topography presented the final challenge in optimizing the screw pile installation. The team prepared targeted recommendations, such as tapering the piles to a sharp point, to ensure rapid and efficient installation.
How Englobe minimized the environmental impacts of the Michichi solar farm project
This project aligns perfectly with Englobe’s mission to integrate environmental protection and sustainable development principles in every project.
GHG emissions reduction
When combined with the expertise of Boréa - a Canadian leader in renewable energy construction – it was clear the Michichi project would contribute significantly to reducing GHG emissions while ensuring lower-emission energy production over a long operating life spanning several decades.
Flora and fauna protection
In addition to this focus, our project team expended considerable effort to protect the flora and fauna surrounding the solar farm. Following preliminary analyses, the work was carried out in a way that was minimally disruptive to native animal species and bird habitats, and would preserve local wetlands, streams, and other waterways.
Use and reliance on steel reduction
A real effort was also made to reduce the project’s use and reliance on steel. Special attention was given to optimizing the screw piles’ depth and profile. This approach minimized the effort and energy required to install the piles, significantly reducing the resources required at each stage of the project.
Current and future social and economic benefits of the Michichi solar farm project
Cost reduction
As discussed, the use of KPI to optimize the screw pile design considerably reduced the number of load tests required to validate the screw pile sizing. When coupled with the continuous availability of Englobe’s experienced engineering experts and other mitigation activities, the team was able to significantly reduce costs to the project owner.
Positive social impact on the regional community
Beyond the monetary benefits, the project has had a positive social impact on the regional community. The Michichi solar park was developed through a close partnership with the Sawridge Cree First Nation. With a 25% equity stake in the solar park, this community is a co-partner in the long-term development of its activities and will benefit directly from the financial returns generated by the facilities' sustainable electricity production. Through this new revenue stream, this community will be able to accelerate its growth and its ability to carry out future development projects.