By: Michael Franzolini (York University)
The first step in the practical component of our project involves choosing a site that is capable of supporting the installation of a Photovoltaic system. Due to a member of the group also being a part of the Solar One G.I.S group working on a project with a focus on measuring the solar potential of the area around the Markham Convergence Centre, the scope of this project shifted to the Markham Convergence Centre to alleviate time and resource constraints. The Markham Convergence Centre is located on 7271 Warden Avenue. The Markham Convergence Centre and surrounding project area is depicted in Figure 1 in the Appendix, using an orthophoto of Markham (Solar One, 2012). The MCC is located in the southeast corner of the map, north of the open parcel of land, which is now the Monte Carlo Inn. The primary reason the Markham Convergence Centre was chosen as the project site is because of the influence the project will have on increasing the popularity of renewable energy technologies. As a complex used for business networking, and unique partnerships, the Markham Convergence Centre’s participation in the microFIT program would help promote the development and implementation of PV systems for other buildings, and homes. In the following two sections, the process and results of measuring the solar potential of the Markham Convergence Centre will be described, and illustrated.
Figure 1. An overview of the Markham Convergence Centre and the project site (Solar One, 2012).
Work Cited
Greater Toronto Area (GTA) Orthophotography Project 2007 – ORTH176340485402007FBS1 Image [GeoTiff File]. (2007) Ontario: Ministry of Natural Resources. Available: Scholars GeoPortal 2201565305 [Feb. 21st, 2012].
Greater Toronto Area (GTA) Orthophotography Project 2007 – ORTH176350485402007FBS1 Image [GeoTiff File]. (2007) Ontario: Ministry of Natural Resources. Available: Scholars GeoPortal 2201565305 [Feb. 21st, 2012].
Solar One Group. (2012). Comparing Methods For Accessing Solar Irradiance Potential in the area Surrounding the Markham Convergence Centre.
SmartFITting 