Case Study 

Longhurst Solar Project     

Project Type: Solar Rooftop

Applicant: VanDyk Family

Grants Awarded:  G1 $16,200/G2 $18,900

Project Size:  90 kW

Status:  Installation Completed and Connected

The Longhurst project was put in motion in November, 2010.  Within a year, this family-owned solar roof-mount project was connected and feeding 90 kW of clean electricity into the grid. 

Helen and Arie VanDyk worked together with their son Erik to realize their role as community power producers. Helen and Arie, the property owners and main investors in the project, installed the panels on the roof of the barn themselves. Their son Erik, partnered with his brother-in-law Adam to take on managing the project.

Their barn sits on 27 acres of Elgin County land, where you’ll find black beans, kidney beans, wheat and corn growing.  Just down the road, the VanDyk’s project inspired two new 10kW microFIT projects installed by neighbours.  Longhurst was connected to the grid on September 30th, 2011. 

This project has received funding support from the Ontario Power Authority through the Community Energy Partnerships Program. Such support does not indicate endorsement by the Ontario Power Authority or the Province of Ontario of the contents of this material. The views expressed in the material are the views of the Recipient and do not necessarily reflect those of the Ontario Power Authority or the Province of Ontario.

Longhurst Images