Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge Embraces the Power of Solar in Renewable Energy System

Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge has revealed its new solar energy and battery microgrid system, the largest solar project on Vancouver Island. The CAD$4.2million installation is now fully functioning and working to enable the luxury camp to operate in a significantly more sustainable way.

The team at Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge worked with British Columbia-based, leading renewable energy contractor Hakai Energy Solutions to design and install the state-of-the-art system.

The new system is enough to keep the luxury outpost – with its 25 tented guest pavilions, restaurant and bar, spa and experiences hub - running to a large extent off-grid, or at least at a greatly reduced reliance on the diesel generator which had traditionally fuelled the property's power needs. A short video featuring Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge General Manager Sarah Cruse explains more here.

Clayoquot's new renewable energy installation uses smart technology for maximum efficiency. It includes an 824kW ground-mounted solar photovoltaic array and a 375kW/1660kWh battery energy storage system.

The installation comprises some 1512 solar panels and 255 battery modules which work together to reduce the property's annual diesel fuel consumption by 80 per cent, while the equivalent annual carbon offset is some 480,000 kg.

The solar array generates emission-free energy that offsets any remaining energy generated by the diesel plant. When the output of the solar array is high enough to supply the site's electrical demands, the intelligent microgrid controller will automatically shut down the diesel plant and run the site purely on solar and battery power. The system works so as there's no disruption to power supply between sources.

As a sample case study, in its first full month of operation in June 2024, which had several overcast and rainy days, Clayoquot's solar system was already demonstrating substantial energy saving benefits with just 117 hours of generator use compared to some 720 hours on the generator pre-solar. For the entire month of July, the generator ran for a total of just 13 hours.

Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge General Manager Sarah Cruse said the new system was a result of careful planning with the team at Hakai Energy Solutions and some six months installation and testing, with excellent results.

“To be able to work with Mother Nature and harness her own natural energies for our fortunate guests here in Vancouver Island's pristine wilderness means the world to us,” Ms Cruse said.

“We're delighted to be operating in a way that's not only better for the natural environment but uses smart technology to ensure the system is efficient and supplies continuous power around the clock,” she said.

Hakai Renewable Energy System Designer Jason Wilson said the team was honoured to deliver this project for Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge and to support the goal of drastically improving the sustainability of their operations.

“The project has been a tremendous success; it is a big win for the lodge, and for the environment,” Mr Wilson said.

“This project is the largest of its kind on Vancouver Island and it has raised the bar in terms of what is possible for commercial entities to operate sustainably on the coast of British Columbia. It is a benchmark that we hope other businessesill look up to and strive to achieve,” he said. 

“At the end of the day, Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge has a project that will pay for itself in less than five years - and that is in terms of both economics and embodied carbon emissions. It is a win-win situation.”

For more information and bookings, visit  www.clayoquotwilderneslodge.com, contact reservations at reserve@clayoquotwildernesslodge.com or call +1 250-266-0397