Skip to main content

3 technologies that help power renewable energy sources

wind farm sunrise

Renewable energy sources are growing rapidly in Canada:

  • 66% of Canada’s total primary energy supply is coming from renewable energy sources1
  • Wind energy and solar energy are Canada’s fastest growing electricity sources2

In Canada, this trend is especially important to us because our vast bodies of water create massive amounts of opportunity for renewable energy production. By adding to this base, we can help make our country truly sustainable – and ready for the future.

As we move to this future state, we are encountering new concerns. For example, when I work with engineers and owners to plan the construction of new wind farms or solar farms, they can feel very uncertain. Many of their questions focus on: how can we do this on time, on budget, and more importantly reliably?

My recommendation: to power renewable energy sources, you need the right technologies.

Three technologies that are helping support the energy demand in Canada.

sunny solar farm

The most common concerns I hear from our customers are reliability, quality, and the overall cost of ownership. To help overcomes these challenges, here are three technologies I recommend:

1. 3M Medium Voltage Splice Kits

  • Fast and easy to install
  • Minimize your footprint and maximize your flexibility and reliability with 3M™ Mechanical Shearbolt Connector, QCI 2-250, 2 AWG - 250 kcmil for direct burial
  • Formulated with an innovative blend of silicone that helps offer high performance, while also allowing excess heat to be safely and quickly dissipated to keep connection cool and long-lasting

2. 3M Medium Voltage Termination Kits

  • Fast and easy to install
  • Comprised of an innovative silicone formulation which helps provide outstanding outdoor performance (UV stability, and hydrophobicity), as well as incredible tracking protection, rendering the termination long-lasting

3. 3M Markers and Locators

  • Allows for custom information to be programmed into the markers, so that the information resides with the asset itself and can be retrieved whenever you need it
  • Locate assets and faults with ease and good accuracy with the advanced multiple antennae system
  • Built for durability – they require no power source to function, helping them to last a lifetime, tracking the exact location of assets in the ground
  • Manage and track your assets anytime and anywhere with the 3M™ Asset Tracking App

Design tip: Make sure to put a lot of thought into grounding. Grounding can be easily overlooked but it is a critical step in the project. Ask yourself: How will the ground grid be installed? Where will cable runs be grounded? Does a circuit need to be de-rated? Will it be single-point or multi-point grounded? Should it be cross-bonded?

Learn more or contact an expert about your renewable energy project.

The 3M lab is here to help you tackle your renewable energy project questions.

 

References

About the Author

[enBio=Paolo Rocca is 3M’s renewable energy expert; he works directly with customers and end-users – helping provide solutions to their problems. Paolo is focused on actively driving and developing change within the electrical industry, by testing new solutions to customer problems and adapting current products in new innovative ways. Over the last few years, Paolo has authored eight inventions, several of which are now filed as a patent.],[enJob=Renewable Energy Specialist, Electrical Engineering, 3M Canada],[frBio=Paolo Rocca est l’expert en énergie renouvelable chez 3M. Il travaille directement avec les clients et les utilisateurs finaux en les aidant à trouver des solutions à leurs problèmes. Paolo se concentre à favoriser et à opérer le changement de manière active au sein de l’industrie de l’électricité, en mettant à l’essai de nouvelles solutions pour résoudre les problèmes des clients et en adaptant les produits actuels de manières novatrices. Au cours des dernières années, Paolo a mis au point huit inventions, dont plusieurs sont désormais en cours d’obtention d’un brevet.],[frJob=Spécialiste en énergie renouvelable, génie électrique, 3M Canada]

Profile Photo of Paolo Rocca
3M™ Cold Shrink Medium Voltage Cable Accessories.