Frequently asked questions - Solar
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Question:
Wind power is becoming more and more common in Canada, with wind farms in nine provinces and one territory. Is interest in solar power growing as well?
Answer:
Until recently, solar power was considered too costly, compared to other sources of electricity, for large-scale implementation. However, this September saw the launching of two important solar heating systems in Canada.
The largest, most powerful solar heating system in Ontario, installed at Woodgreen Community Housing’s social housing site on Queen Street in Toronto, was officially opened September 12. The system consists of 108 glazed flat plate collectors and will provide 34 per cent of the 170-unit building’s hot water requirements, saving approximately 32,360 cubic metres of natural gas annually.
The Drake Landing Solar Community in Okotoks, Alberta opened September 13. Located just south of Calgary, a solar-heated district heating system supplies up to 90 per cent of the space heating requirements of the 59 homes in the neighbourhood. It is the first large-scale seasonal storage solar system in North America, and the first in the world to derive such a high percentage of space heating from solar energy. The system will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by as much as four to five tonnes per home per year.
The Ontario government has also approved construction of the largest solar farm in North America, to be built near Sarnia, Ontario. The farm will consist of more than one million ground-mounted solar panels with an installed capacity of 40 megawatts – enough electricity for 6,000 homes.
Another solar installation is planned for Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. This project will consist of two solar farms with a total installed capacity of 20 megawatts.
The city of North Vancouver has obtained funding to install 120 solar panels on the roof of the new municipal library. The energy generated will supplement the existing district water heating system that is currently fuelled by natural gas.
The largest, most powerful solar heating system in Ontario, installed at Woodgreen Community Housing’s social housing site on Queen Street in Toronto, was officially opened September 12. The system consists of 108 glazed flat plate collectors and will provide 34 per cent of the 170-unit building’s hot water requirements, saving approximately 32,360 cubic metres of natural gas annually.
The Drake Landing Solar Community in Okotoks, Alberta opened September 13. Located just south of Calgary, a solar-heated district heating system supplies up to 90 per cent of the space heating requirements of the 59 homes in the neighbourhood. It is the first large-scale seasonal storage solar system in North America, and the first in the world to derive such a high percentage of space heating from solar energy. The system will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by as much as four to five tonnes per home per year.
The Ontario government has also approved construction of the largest solar farm in North America, to be built near Sarnia, Ontario. The farm will consist of more than one million ground-mounted solar panels with an installed capacity of 40 megawatts – enough electricity for 6,000 homes.
Another solar installation is planned for Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. This project will consist of two solar farms with a total installed capacity of 20 megawatts.
The city of North Vancouver has obtained funding to install 120 solar panels on the roof of the new municipal library. The energy generated will supplement the existing district water heating system that is currently fuelled by natural gas.
Question:
I'm interested in solar power for my home - where can I find information about government incentive programs?
Answer:
Government policies and incentives can play an important role in encouraging the adoption of renewables, such as solar energy. These can take the form of:
- research programs to develop the potential of solar energy technologies
- investment subsidies (such as grants and loans) to developers to support the capital cost of solar energy technology
- renewable portfolio standards that require utilities and retailers to provide a certain portion of their power and energy sales from renewable sources such as solar
- procurement of new generation from renewable energy sources for government facilities.