why solar energy

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