Turning Sun Solar Project

 

Located in the Rural Municipality of Estevan in southeast Saskatchewan, the 100 MW AC Turning Sun Solar Project (the Project) will produce enough power for the equivalent of approximately 25,000 homes. This historic initiative is one of the largest groundmount utility-scale solar facilities under development in Saskatchewan, Canada.

Turning Sun Solar, formerly Iyuhána Solar, is a partnership with GSI Management Inc. (GSI) and Ocean Man Nakoda Nation (OMNN). The Project has been awarded an exclusive Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with SaskPower, to construct and operate the Project for 25 years.

Project Details

 

Project Location & Site Plan

The 550-acre Project site will be located on SaskPower owned lands approximately 8 kilometers southwest of the City of Estevan. It is located in the northwest corner of the intersection of Range Road 2091 and Township Road 14. The Project will look to utilize approximately 181,000 Bi-Facial solar PV modules, 27 inverters, and 1 High Voltage transformers all enclosed in 12 kilometers of perimeter fencing.

Completed Road Improvements

Turning Sun Solar and Estevan-based Ironside Energy Services Ltd. completed 2 miles of road upgrades along Township Road 14, from Range Road 2091 to Range Road 2093. These improvements will support safe and efficient access throughout construction and long-term operations, while enhancing overall road conditions for nearby residents.

To utilize the interactive Site Plan, please click here.

 

Project Anticipated Timeline

Project Construction Phase

Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contractor, Barton Malow Canada, will lead the construction of the groundbreaking 100-MW Turning Sun Solar Project.

Project construction will span up to 18 months, requiring up to 150 staff onsite supporting a wide range of activities.

There will be various opportunities to join the Turning Sun Solar team. Please see below links for available employment opportunities with Barton Malow Canada:

If you are interested in being considered for upcoming construction opportunities, please submit your contact information via the Turning Sun Solar Construction Contact Form or alternatively we invite you to submit your resume to RecruitmentCanada@bartonmalow.com.

 

Turning Sun Solar Key Construction Phases & Associated Equipment

Site Grading

The Project Area is generally flat and requires minimal grading. Grading for the site is limited to areas including the high voltage substation, access roads, and few areas where localized grade changes do not allow suitable installation of the rows of solar modules. Topsoil and subsoil from grading activities will be separated and stockpiled on site as needed.

Access Roads

Gravel roads, approximately 6 m wide, will be constructed within the Project Area to provide access within the site during construction and maintenance of the facility. The Project site will be accessed via Range Road 2091 and Township Road 14.

Piling Installation

Steel piles are screwed to a depth of 2.5 meters to 4.8 meters. Piling installation is utilized to create a strong and stable foundation for required racking and solar PV modules. Installation has reached 67% completion, with primary focus on areas where ground conditions are sufficiently dry to allow excavator access.

Racking Installation

Steel racking is installed onto the piles and used to safely support the solar PV panels. The Project utilizes Single Axis Tracker racking which aligns the panels with the sun and uses a mechanical motor to slowly rotate the solar modules to follow the sun from east to west as the day progresses.

Racking activities have commenced on site, beginning with pile cap installation, followed by torque tubes and other tracker hardware.

Solar PV Module (Panel) Installation

The solar modules will be mounted onto the racking system to transform absorbed sunlight into generated electricity when exposed to sunlight.

During the summer months, solar modules were installed on the two Golden Rows, which are reference rows designed to demonstrate the exact build standard for the rest of the facility. Serving as a demonstration area where the installation process for the racking and modules can be reviewed, the Golden Rows allowed the various teams to confirm procedures and quality standards before moving into further construction. Installation activities have now advanced beyond the Golden Rows as the racking team has progressed across the site.

Medium Voltage (MV) Trenching

All major cables will be placed in underground trenches along the rows of the solar panels. MV cable trenches provide a protected pathway for cables that carry electricity from the inverters to the substation. Proper trenching helps ensure the safe, reliable, and efficient delivery of solar energy to the grid.

Inverter Installation

Inverters convert the electricity generated by the solar panels from direct current (DC) into usable alternating current (AC). Additionally, inverters support monitoring and management of the flow of electricity, ensuring solar energy is safely and efficiently delivered to the substation.

A total of 27 inverters will be utilized across the Project site, of which 17 have been successfully placed and welded.

Medium Voltage (MV) Transformers

MV Transformers will be installed adjacent to the inverters to step-up the voltage (electricity) to 34.5kV to deliver the renewable energy to the Project substation.

Project Development Phase

The Development Phase of the Turning Sun Solar Project involved the successful completion and approval of all necessary federal, provincial, and municipal permits, ensuring the Project meets all regulatory requirements. Throughout this phase, the Project team actively engaged with communities, stakeholders, and local partners by hosting events, providing updates, and sharing opportunities to learn more about the Project.

Reports

Turning Sun Solar engaged independent experienced consultants to conduct the necessary environmental and technical assessments. Please see below for completed and downloadable reports:

 

Engagement and Consultation

Community connection and strong stakeholder relationships are at the forefront of the Turning Sun Project Team’s values and core beliefs. We aspire to build strong and lasting relationships with all local stakeholders involved in this Project.

Quarterly Newsletter Updates

Turning Sun Solar is committed to providing quarterly newsletter updates during the construction phase to highlight Project progress, key milestones, employment opportunities and details on upcoming community sessions and workshops.

Please see below for downloadable Newsletters. These newsletters will continue to be posted on the Turning Sun Solar Project website and can be emailed and paper mailed out to stakeholders upon request.

If you would like to receive Project updates via email or paper mail, please submit your contact information via this form.

Turning Sun Solar is committed to protecting your privacy. The contact information collected will not be publicly shared.

Community Open House Process

The Turning Sun Project Team hosted two Community Open Houses on September 5, 2024, and April 9, 2025, at Southeast College Estevan Campus. These drop-in events provided an opportunity for the public to learn about the Project and engage directly with the team. We sincerely thank all attendees for their time and valuable feedback.

Job Fairs

Turning Sun Solar is committed to hosting at least two job fairs in the RM of Estevan to connect community members with our Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) team and highlight employment opportunities. In partnership with Barton Malow, two job fairs were held in Estevan on September 24, 2025, at the Royal Canadian Legion, and March 11, 2026, at Southeast College Estevan Campus. We appreciate the strong community interest and engagement.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Please see below for downloadable FAQ document, updated as of January 20th, 2026.

 

Media Release

  • GSI’s Media Release about the Project: click here or download PDF here.
  • SaskPower’s Media Release about the Project: download PDF here.
  • GSI’s announcement regarding our partnership with Southeast College: click here or download PDF here.
  • GSI’s Media Release about the Project’s rebranding: click here.
  • GSI’s Media Release about the financing of the Project: click here or download PDF here.
  • GSI’s groundbreaking event press release: click here.
  • Natural Resources Canada’s official groundbreaking event press release: click here.
  • SaskPower’s official groundbreaking event press release: click here.

To connect with Turning Sun Solar on social media, follow the links below:

 

Contact Us

GSI has experience building and operating projects throughout North America, having developed approximately 388 MW DC of renewable energy projects. To learn more about GSI and our capabilities click here.

Turning Sun Solar Project Team

The Turning Sun Solar Project Team welcomes any questions or feedback related to the Turning Sun Solar Project. Please contact us via the following email: turningsunsolar@greenwoodinfra.com

SaskPower

To learn more about the SaskPower projects including the interconnection of the Turning Sun Solar Facility, visit Planning and Construction Projects (saskpower.com).  If you have inquiries, Contact Us (saskpower.com).