Big Sky Solar: Accelerating Alberta’s renewable energy future

Big Sky Solar is a 184MWdc project in Alberta that powers the equivalent of 42,000 homes, reduces 135,000 tons of CO₂ annually, and provides long-term clean energy, local jobs and $30 million in community benefits.

Project Outcomes

• 184MW
  Zero-emission solar power supplied to Alberta’s power grid
• 340,000 bifacial solar panels
  maximize energy generation by capturing light on both sides
• $30 million
  in new tax revenue over its lifetime

The Challenge

Alberta’s electricity system, historically dependent on fossil fuels, faces mounting pressure to diversify its energy mix, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and meet the growing demand for clean power. The province has emerged as a hotspot for renewable energy development as global energy companies race to fulfill net-zero commitments.

However, realizing large-scale solar potential requires substantial upfront investment, skilled development, robust permitting and grid integration strategies, and a pathway to long-term financial viability—factors that many projects fail to align with.

RES identified both an opportunity and a challenge: how to deliver a utility-scale solar project in Alberta that would not only be financially viable but also accelerate the province’s low-carbon transition and attract global investment.

The Solution 

RES leveraged its extensive development, engineering and power market expertise to design and deliver Big Sky Solar, a 184MWdc photovoltaic solar farm located near Acadia Valley, Alberta. Spanning approximately 800 acres of previously disturbed farmland, the project was meticulously developed with bifacial solar panel technology—about 340,000 panels in total—maximizing energy generation by capturing light on both sides.

Working through Canada’s Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways (SREP) program, RES secured C$25 million in federal funding and facilitated a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) covering more than two-thirds of the project’s output, ensuring long-term revenue certainty and reducing exposure to market volatility.

The project is connected to Alberta’s power grid via ATCO’s 144kV transmission system and is future-ready, designed with the potential for energy storage integration to enhance grid resilience and support energy transition goals.

In early 2025, RES sold Big Sky Solar to TotalEnergies, one of the world’s largest integrated energy companies. As part of the agreement, TotalEnergies also signed on to acquire additional RES-developed wind and solar projects in Alberta totaling over 800 MW of capacity, signaling confidence in RES’s project pipeline and Alberta’s renewables market.

The Impact 

Big Sky Solar became operational in February 2025 and is now providing tangible benefits across environmental, economic, and energy sectors:

• Clean energy production: Generates enough electricity to power the equivalent of more than 42,000 homes annually.
• Carbon reduction: Offsets 135,000 tons of CO₂ emissions per year—equivalent to removing 41,000 vehicles from the road.
• Regulatory alignment: Generates carbon offset credits under Alberta’s TIER (Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction) carbon pricing system.
• Economic contribution: Expected to generate over C$30 million in tax revenue over its lifespan, supporting local infrastructure and public services.
• Job creation: Created approximately 250 construction jobs and supports ongoing operations with up to five permanent positions and additional local service contracts.
• Strategic investment: Strengthened TotalEnergies’ North American renewables portfolio, contributing to its goals of reaching 35 GW of renewable capacity by 2025 and producing over 100 TWh of electricity by 2030.
• Market signal: The successful sale highlights robust demand for well-developed Canadian solar assets and reinforces Alberta’s position as a growing clean energy hub.

Big Sky Solar is more than a renewable energy project—it’s a model for collaborative, high-impact energy transition. The project advances Canada’s clean energy goals by combining RES’ development expertise with TotalEnergies’ global investment strategy while reinforcing Alberta’s role in the low-carbon future.

“We are proud to have developed Big Sky Solar into a high-quality renewable energy asset, helping drive Alberta’s energy transition. This sale underscores the growing demand for well-developed solar projects in Canada, and we are pleased to be working closely with TotalEnergies on more projects in the future.”

Peter Clibbon, Senior Vice President of Development, RES