New program expanding solar panel use at the TTC

The second Friday of March is Solar Appreciation Day – a day to celebrate energy independence and sustainability. Solar power energy can offset the energy needed during the most expensive and polluting times of the day, keeping our air cleaner and reducing energy costs.

The TTC is exploring opportunities to incorporate solar panels at all bus garages as part of the eBus charging infrastructure. This will build on the success of existing initiatives, like the rooftop solar panels at McNicoll Garage.

The TTC’s large, flat roofs are ideal for solar panels and some of our garages may be able to generate as much energy as they consume. To store the excess energy during the day, cutting-edge energy management systems will direct the power into eBus fleets or into large battery storage systems. This stored energy can reduce our demand on the electricity grid at night or be part of our backup power systems.

Solar panels will also be added to the Greenwood Complex as part of the Greenwood Pilot under the Innovation and Sustainability Program. The Pilot, which is currently in the study phase, seeks to improve energy conservation and efficiency, thermal and solar performance, evaluate innovative renewable energy generation opportunities, maximise carbon offsets, and harden our operations against the effects of extreme weather events.

Through these and other initiatives, the TTC is prioritizing ways to make the TTC greener and more sustainable – and to better serve our customers in the future.