Why Solar Energy More Solar Energy falls upon the earth in one minute than humans use in an entire...

Why Solar Energy• More Solar Energy falls upon the earth in one minute than humans use in an entire year

• It’s clean

• It’s renewable

• It’s the future

• If it pays, why not start today?

Ontario Feed in Tariff Program

http://fit.powerauthority.on.ca/

Solar Pays… How much? Is it worth it?

Mar-2012 New rates ~ 54 cents/kwh

Several Financial Models• Buy it outright

• Buy it on a loan — Most banks in Ontario now understand the transaction and will give loans for same

• Rent your roof— Watch out … read the fine print

Fixed Mount Economics• Fixed panels facing south 20-30° incline

• 1280 kWh/kW

• Install 10 kW DC get 12,800 kWh/year

• OPA pays .54 x 12,800= $6,912/year

• Fixed Systems installed $5-7/WDC say $60k

• Simple return = 60,000/$6,912= 8.7 years

• 20 year contract’s gross return= 11.3 yrs x 6,912 = $78,105

Roof Mount Solar Tracking Mount Economics

• Tracked panels follow the sun

• 1600 kWh/kW

• Install 10 kW DC get 16,000 kWh/year

• OPA pays .54x $16,000=$8,640/year

• Tracked systems installed $6-7/WDC say $65k

• Simple return = 65,000/8,640= 7.5 years

• 20 year contract’s gross return= 12.5 yrs x $8,640 = $108,000

Tax Implications

http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/bsnss/thrtpcs/nt-ft/q1-eng.html#a1

Fixed Mount Solar Panels

Inverters

Tracking Roof Mount

Tracking Roof Mount

Sea Freight Container Concept

Building Integrated Solar Tracker Concept gives 26% more energy than fixed solar panels

Solar Garage 16x20’ 13 kWDC

50 kW Building Integrated Concept

30x40’ Building 50 kW - Ashton

2 Axis Tracker

Shopping Centre250 kW 2 Axis Tracking Roof Top

Solar Check List• Check with LDC to insure room on grid

• Contractor references… that you call

• Professional Engineer to check the roof and supply stamped engineering drawings and validate cash flow and check cost assumptions

• Apply for FiT or MicroFit contract with OPA

• Get building permit

• Install and commission system

• Collect monthly cheques from the OPA