Brightfields: The Convergence of Green?

Contaminated Site, Toronto

Everyone knows the electronic convergence of the computer, internet and television is happening right before our eyes. But there is a lesser-known environmental convergence developing in North America, called 'Brightfields'. 

Brightfields are environmentally contaminated properties that are used for clean energy production, usually solar or wind. Solar or wind production can be an ideal long-term use for sites that are highly contaminated and may require many years to clean-up or remediate. 

Recent and rapid advancements in clean energy technologies are what make this convergence possible

City Solar Project, Chicago

The Brightfield sector is more established in the United States than Canada, with many large projects in full production, including Chicago’s Solar City 10-megawatt solar installation located on a 41-acre brownfield. However Canada’s Brightfield sector does already have some significant players and supporting funding channels. 

Most Canadian banks will finance costs related to establishing qualified Clean Energy projects, and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Green Municipal Fund will consider additional financing related to characterizing and remediating the property. 

Several companies like ArcStar Energy based in Toronto will finance, design, build and manage large-scale green energy projects for both Greenfield and Brownfield sites. With a multinational coverage ArcStar looks for sites that suitable for utility and large scale industrial power delivery, and for sites that are eligible for green energy incentives, such as Ontario’s Feed In Tariff or ‘FIT’ program. 

The percentage of Brownfields sites that are suitable for renewable energy projects is quite small. However the large number of Brownfields in North America, over 1,000,000 by some estimates, means that there are likely 10,000 - 20,000 sites that are ideal candidates for a Brightfield devlopment. 

Links:

Ontario Power Authority
Federation of Canadian Municipalities
ArcStar Energy