OREC expands museum solar installation to be Ottawa’s largest rooftop project

Aerial view of the Museum of Science & Technology solar installation in Ottawa.

We’re excited to announce a major expansion of our rooftop solar installation on the Canada Science and Technology Museum in Ottawa. We’re adding 660 kW DC to the Photovoltaic (PV) panels to triple the size of our existing 254 kW DC installation — marking a significant milestone for community-owned renewable energy in the city.

At 914 kW DC, this will be OREC’s largest solar project to date — and potentially the largest rooftop solar array in Eastern Ontario. Combined with our acquisition of four existing solar sites in Ottawa and Muskoka and the resumption of operations at AP Muni, OREC’s total annual production has increased by 27% compared to last September.

This project also marks a return to new construction for OREC, our first in several years. With Ontario’s current regulations making it difficult to develop new community-scale renewable energy projects, this expansion is a meaningful step forward — and a testament to what’s still possible with determination and strong partnerships.

The expanded system, now under construction, will continue operating under a net metering agreement, allowing the Museum to directly use the clean electricity it produces — lowering both emissions and energy costs. It’s expected to offset approximately 157 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually — that’s equivalent to driving from Ottawa to Toronto over 1,400 times in a gas-powered car!

To our members and partners: thank you. Your continued support powers projects like this and moves Ottawa closer to a cleaner, more sustainable energy future.

Stay tuned for more updates as this exciting project unfolds.