ESTEVAN — Development and engineering teams for the proposed Iyuhána Solar Power facility in Estevan continue to work toward the start of construction.
Devin Petteplace, a senior manager of corporate services with Iyuhána Solar LP, said it expects construction to begin during the fourth quarter of 2025.
“As of now, everything is on schedule and moving towards that deadline,” said Petteplace in an interview with SaskToday.
SaskPower has a power purchase agreement (PPA) in place with Iyuhána. Under the PPA, Iyuhána — a partnership between Greenwood Sustainable Infrastructure and Ocean Man First Nation — is responsible for the design, construction and commissioning of the solar facility.
Iyuhána has held open houses at Southeast College’s Estevan campus for the project, giving the public the opportunity to ask questions and gain more information. Representatives of Greenwood also spoke to Estevan city council earlier this year.
Petteplace said the project is moving in the right direction for the notice to proceed, though some permits are still required.
“We’re still working with all of the interested parties, such as the RM of Estevan, and so on and so forth to get that permitting clause down,” he said.
Iyuhána hopes to complete as much construction as possible before winter, though some tasks can be carried out during colder months.
Once construction starts, it is expected to last 12 to 18 months, depending on various factors. Based on that timeline, the project would be completed in late 2026 or early 2027.
If it proceeds, the project would be Saskatchewan’s largest solar facility. Located eight kilometres southwest of Estevan, it would produce 100 megawatts of emissions-free electricity — enough to power 25,000 homes.
