The RenuWell Project recently won the Environmental Excellence Award in the energy category at the 2024 Emerald Awards for their impressive achievements in promoting environmental stewardship in Alberta.
RenuWell is a collaboration of seven organizations that repurposes inactive oil and gas sites for small-scale solar installations. Their approach utilizes existing infrastructure to reduce lease reclamation costs and minimize competition for arable land. Its pilot projects in the MD of Taber have a combined capacity of 1.45 MW, enough to power 300 homes or 90 irrigation systems, and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
This initiative is making strides in proving the feasibility and scalability of accelerating oilfield reclamation to distribute solar energy generation, develop local employment, and promote economic diversification. Key partners include the Municipal District of Taber, IRRICAN Power, Iron & Earth, Medicine Hat College, RenuWell Energy Solutions Inc., SkyFire Energy Inc., and Canadian Solar.
The Emerald Awards, which highlighted nearly 400 recipients and 900 finalists, celebrate exceptional efforts in addressing environmental challenges across multiple sectors in Alberta and Canada. Continuing efforts like those of RenuWell demonstrate how land reclamation of abandoned infrastructure can benefit Alberta’s environment, promoting a sustainable, clean, and economically productive future.
