The following information covers items that are specific to Solar PV Projects. For a detailed, general overview of the Standard Offer Program for Renewable Energy projects please follow this link.

Capital costs: ‘Utility grade’ solar PV installations are the most expensive renewable energy projects in terms of capital costs. High-voltage capabilities of all components (panels and inverters) mean higher initial investments than those for small off-grid systems – although these prices are steadily falling with technological advances and a growing market.

Lead time: Typical lead times for solar PV projects are six months, meaning that systems can be ‘up and running’ very quickly when compared to the start-up phases of other renewable energy sources, which can take several years.

However demand for solar-powered systems is steadily increasing. You should check with your supplier to determine the availability and delivery date for your equipment.

Solar energy assessment: Solar energy is ‘free’. The average daily solar resource will depend on your site’s orientation and location.

Two sources for calculating peak sunlight hours are:

Environment Canada: Canadian Climate Normals 1971-2000: Climate normals or averages are used to summarize or describe the average climatic conditions of a particular location.

Canadian Solar Industries Association Peak Solar Maps: Average daily number of peak sunlight hours shown on a monthly basis.

Environmental assessment: Solar PV installations do not require an environmental assessment.

Ongoing operation and maintenance: Solar systems are relatively maintenance-free. The most important task is to keep the panels clean and clear from obstruction such as dirt, leaves and snow.

Depending on your installation, you may wish to re-orient your panels periodically as the sun’s altitude varies from season to season.