Crescent Beach Resort, on West Hawk Lake, has just become the largest working solar system in Manitoba.

Resort Owner Shaun Harbottle says the 200.2-kilowatt network of 608 solar panels, activated August 2nd, will eventually allow the resort to operate completely independent of hydroelectricity.

Within the first half-day, they went live, Harbottle claims, the results were instant: “We’ve totally offset our costs already. It was amazing to actually see it when it was fired up.”

Bird's-eye view of Crescent Beach Resort's new solar system (Photo Credit: Evolve Green)Harbottle notes the resort has been a family run business since 1958, so part of the project’s incentive was adopting this technology for their kid’s eventual ownership of the business. “For us it means sustainability. We’ve got young kids so we’re looking towards the future for them and I think this is a big turning point.”

The other big incentive, indicates Harbottle, is that Manitoba Hydro will pay them back for any excess electricity they generate. “Now in the [sunnier] months, we’ll be building up a credit with Manitoba Hydro and when the winter months come we’ll be using up that credit.” Harbottle suggests this money saved by the new solar system should allow the prices at the resort to become increasingly competitive.

Though Crescent Beach Resort currently holds the record for the biggest operating solar network in Manitoba, Harbottle suggests many cottages and resorts in the region seem to be following suit. “I think when everything is said and done West Hawk Lake and the South Whiteshell area will be one of the greenest places in our Province.”