Why have solar electric power in Ontario?
The Observer/Why have solar electric power in Ontario?
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Under Ontario's Green Energy Act, the Micro Feed-In-Tariff ( MicroFIT) program for solar electricity will make renewable energy an economic reality for Ontario residents. Under the MicroFIT program, The Ontario Power Authority (OPA) will pay independent solar electricity producers up to $0.80 per kilowatt for power delivered back to the grid. This shows great promise for the future of renewable energy in Canada
Canada's need for energy grows 2%, or more, annually. Most of this energy is drawn from fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas. These fossil fuels are available now but will eventually run out; they are non-renewable. As we know, fossil fuels also contribute to greenhouse gases. With the reality of climate change, we need to eliminate harmful fossil fuel emissions at all costs. Lastly, with Canada's abundance of non-renewable resources we have become energy hogs. Our per capita electrical consumption is among the highest in the world.
Solar electricity, along with wind, tidal, geothermal and small hydro, provide solutions for our changing power requirements. All these resources are greenhouse gas-free and have an inexhaustible fuel supply. Together, they generate considerable renewable energy instead of using fossil fuels. But there is one significant deterrent; conversion cost. Initially, solar electric technology is more expensive than using fossil fuels.
However, putting initial costs aside, the long term benefits of solar power are highly considerable. As an early adopter of solar electricity, Germany embarked on a program to green its own power grid and reduce its dependence on imported fuels. With a model very similar to Ontario's MicroFIT, Germany created a financial incentive for citizens to install solar electricity on their buildings to sell energy back to the grid. People invested in solar projects and received a nice return. In reaction to the incentive program, the solar industry exploded internationally.
With lar industry growth, more efficiency is being achieved at lower costs. The price of solar power has fallen 5% per year for the past 20 years while technology steadily improves. Panel efficiencies have increased from 10%, a decade ago, to the 15% range with modern advances. Some commercial solar products offer more than 20% efficiency, making commercial roof space ideal for harvesting energy.
For Ontario commercial land and homeowners, the MicroFIT program is attractive. Investing $20,000 to $100,000 in solar equipment can yield 8% to 12% for a period of 20 years. The equipment can be configured to a variety of structures, offering installations for south facing shingle roofs, garages, or ground mounted systems. Plus, the panels last decades, require very little maintenance, and have minimal ecological impact. Immediately after installation, solar electricity feeds through a meter at the point of use and the owner receives a cheque every two months based on the energy produced. Meanwhile, the energy grid uses direct solar electricity instead of a power-plant hundreds of kilometers away.
Investing in solar electricity makes sense. Higher efficiency and lower costs are leading solar electric power to 'grid-parity' (meaning, it costs the same or less to produce solar electricity based on conventional energy production cost). However, solar electricity has its limits. While we have an excellent solar regime, sunlight varies seasonally, and of course, it gets dark at night. But by adding solar into the mix with other renewable energy technologies, like hydro-electric, it substantially helps offset fossil fuel consumption.
Renewable resource technology, like solar electric power, is the future for energy production and Ontario's MicroFIT program is catalyzing the transition, affordably. In 10 years, the Canadian solar industry will have grown with several companies and installers, the air will be cleaner, and the nation will prosper with economical renewable energy. That is the future for solar electric power in Canada.
The solar era has arrived, be part of the solution.
Dave Egles is former president of the board of directors for the Canadian Solar Industries Association (CanSIA), founder and president of Home Energy Solutions, and an industry expert with over 20 years' experience developing solar power across Canada.
Copyright © 2010 The Sarnia Observer
