There is a program in Ontario run by the Ontario Power Authority called microFIT (micro feed-in-tariff) that is designed for homeowners, farmers, small business owners, schools, and religious institutions that allows them to develop a small (10 kW or less capacity) renewable electricity power generation project and get paid for the electricity generated at very favourable rates
for the next 20 years. Technologies include solar photovoltaic (PV) cells, wind, water power, biomass, bio gas, and landfill gas. Most of the 1,394 licenses approved since December have been for solar projects. At the end of 2009, Canadian solar installation capacity was about 100 MW. But primarily as a result of the Ontario program Canadian solar capacity is expected to increase to nearly 700 MW Within the next three years according to the Canadian Solar Industries Association.
The rate for electric power from solar PV is 80.2 cents per kWh, much higher than the current rates for electric power in Ontario. The Ontario Energy Board (OEB) has recently released new electricity commodity prices that will take effect May 1, 2010 under the Regulated Price Plan (RPP).
- Off-peak 5.3 cents per kWh
- Mid-peak 8.0 cents per kWh
- On-peak 9.9 cents per kWh
As an example, a group of farmers called Farmers for Economic Opportunity applied for and got licences from the OPA for small solar installations. These arrays are small, on the order of 10 m2 and cost in the range of $60,000-90,000 They are expected to generate an annual return of 15-20% on the initial investment.
Be the first to comment