Power to the people!

The Mcguinty government of Ontario recently unveiled long-term energy plans which focus on the nuclear option and threaten to double household hydro bills over the next 20 years.

Ontarians rejoice at the move away from coal burning power plants (the environmentally unfriendly behemoths will be gone by 2014) to ‘green’ energy sources, but environmentalists will be disappointed to hear that renewable energy (wind, solar, bioenergy and hydro) will increase a mere 10% (from 3 to 13%) by 2030. The lion’s share of energy will be created by nuclear stations. The current refurbishment of two reactors at the Bruce A plant and the proposed building of two more will culminate in a total investment of $33 billion which is said to fulfill the province’s energy needs until 2035.

What does this mean for the environment and for our carbon footprint as a province? Supporters of the bill explain that renewable energy has not developed to the point where there is enough infrastructure to sustain the province’s energy needs. Also that the nuclear plants are environmentally friendly and produce few emissions.

Critics argue that the waste produced by nuclear plants is hazardous. They warn that the price tag for energy investments will result in sharp increases in electricity bills. They counter that if government subsidized renewable energy and spent as much money in this sector as it does with other power suppliers, renewable energy would indeed be able to cook a chicken in every pot and charge an electric car in every garage.

Nuclear accounts for 55.2% of the province’s energy. Bruce power station, the MacDaddy of power stations in North America and second in the world only to Japan’s Kashiwazakwi-Kariwa, is located on Lake Huron, Toronto. It produces 20% of the province’s electricity; a whopping 6 232 MW of power. The plant is powered by Canada Deuterium Uranium (CANDU) generators – six of the original 8 are functional with the remaining two currently under refurbishment to the tune of an estimated $4.8 billion.

The Bruce has not always bathed itself in glory. In late November 2009, during refurbishments, 217 workers were exposed to radioactivity when they inhaled alpha contamination in amounts that were close to, or possibly exceeded, safety measures. The project is already 2 years behind schedule.

The plant again made headlines after a public outcry about the shipping of 16 decommissioned steam generators through the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway to Sweden for recycling. This sets a president for the transportation of more nuclear waste through the same waterway in the future. The plant claimed the radiation posed no threat to the area and said it would continue to use the route for future nuclear waste disposal. The Nuclear Safety Commission heard final arguments on Monday and will have a month to decide if they will allow the generators to travel.

For those who support the nuclear option, the investments come as welcome news. Opponents have been frustrated by the lack of influence their opinion holds with the government. They claim that the government “makes a show” of listening to their proposals and complaints, but follows its own agenda. Many members of environmental groups and organizations have decided to take responsibility for their own carbon footprint and install renewable energy in their homes. They opt for solar power systems and take advantage of the microFIT program that the government has set up as an incentive for home owners to switch to alternate energy sources.

Signing up for Ontario microFIT

Part three of our series on Ontario microFIT

The first step is to submit an application to the microFIT program through the OPA website. The OPA will send you a ‘Conditional Offer’ within 90 days if your project meets microFIT eligibility requirements. Use the reference number provided when contacting your local solar installers. Once your solar power system is installed, the OPA will offer you a microFIT contract.

You must work closely with your local electricity distributor. They will discuss connection options with you and connect your system to the grid. The solar installer will help with building permits and ensure that you pass safety inspections by using a licensed electrician. Once connected to the grid, OPA will send you a contract and you can start making money and clean, renewable energy.

The great returns offered by the microFIT program have led to an enormous number of applications (over 16,000 to date) which will culminate in between 100 and 200 MW in 2010. This puts Ontario in second place (behind California) for photovoltaic installations in North America this year. Local solar installers have benefitted enormously from this increase, which creates jobs and stimulates growth. Be part of this progressive, beneficial and environmentally responsible future; apply for your microFIT contract today!
See part one of this series
See part two of this series

How to benefit from the Ontario microFIT

Part two in our series on the Ontario microFIT

There are a number of ways to take advantage of Ontario microFIT. You can install solar power systems using a licensed local solar installer. You will have to obtain a microFIT contract and arrange to connect to the grid. Once the initial installation is complete, solar power systems require very little maintenance. Initial investment is recovered expeditiously through direct payments from your local distributor and guaranteed by the Ontario Power Authority.

If you do not have the capital to pay for the installation of solar panels, some companies lease equipment or can arrange purchase financing through the chartered banks like TD Bank. You will still be responsible for arrangements and approvals e.g. safety inspections and building permits. The leasing can be expensive and, although you may not turn a profit, you will be contributing to a greener Ontario.

MicroFIT is not confined to the homeowner; schools, churches, community centres, non-profits, farmers and small businesses can all share in the bounty. The community can fundraise to cover initial costs and the institute can benefit from payments for electricity in the years to come.
Read Part One
Read Part Three of our series

Ontario MicroFIT Made Easy

The first in our series on the Ontario microFIT program

The Ontario provincial government has made great thundering strides towards green energy with the advent of the FIT (feed in tariff) schemes. The microFIT program (intended for small businesses, organizations, farmers and homeowners) enables these eligible residents to recover their initial setup costs and make a sizable profit by providing clean energy to the Ontario power grid.

To encourage homeowners to invest in solar power systems, the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) ensures a guaranteed price per kilo-Watt-hour energy generated over a 20 year term. For a rooftop photovoltaic array rated under 10kW, the homeowner will earn $0.82/kWh while ground mounted units would net $0.58/kWh, keeping in mind the most you currently pay would be around $0.09/kWh. This not only helps the homeowner to recover costs quickly, but also ensures a significant return of 15% or more on their initial investment – annually! Each installation reduces carbon emissions and moves us closer to a green, renewable source of energy, which will eventually eliminate the need to spend taxpayer’s money on expensive power plants. Switching to solar also encourages the development of local business and creates jobs. Read part two…

How to Prepare Your Home for Solar Power

So you’ve been thinking about generating your own power and taking your home or cottage off “the grid”? Or taking advantage of the government incentives and making some money with the Ontario microFIT program? Either way, there are a few things to consider before you add a solar power system to your home.

Here’s a short guide to what you’ll need to get those solar panels from being just a good idea to an installed power-generating (and moneymaking) part of your home.

Panels are attached to a track, mounted on your roof

First you need to understand what solar panels (photovoltaic or PV panels) are – and aren’t. They aren’t simply plug-in play. There’s no extension cable where you can plug them directly into your house to power your appliances. They require installation, just like your other electrical equipment, or house plumbing. As well, they need other components to do their job, because by themselves they can’t work in a home. To understand this better we need to understand how solar cells, the pattern on the panels which are typically blue and sometimes black, work.

Obviously, a solar cell works from the sunlight hitting it, which causes electricity to flow. However, that electricity differs from your household current in three major ways. Firstly, solar panels are low voltage, typically 35-55 volt, and so solar cells have to be joined together to get that voltage higher. As well, the voltage is irregular. Whereas your house voltage is constantly around 120 volts, a solar cell generates more in the strong sun, and less in the shade (and of course nothing at night). Thirdly, a solar cell’s power is DC, or Direct Current. That means all the power flows in one direction in the wire, witch is different from a home’s AC, or Alternating Current.

Smart meters for on grid installations

So much of solar power installs will not be just the solar panels, but devices to solve these three problems. For example, you’ll use a battery to provide power in off times; of course, if you are connected to an electric utility through the Ontario MicroFIT or FIT programs, referred as “on the grid”, then you may not need batteries, since you can put your excess power “out there” for others to use, and end up making some money. However, if you’re on your own (such as a cottage), then you’ll need deep cycle batteries to keep your lights going at night.

Another device you’ll need with your batteries is a battery charge regulator, also known as a charge controller, which makes sure the batteries are charged and discharged properly to avoid problems, such as shortened battery life (and of course, if you don’t use batteries, you won’t need this device).

an inverter converts DC power to AC Power

Finally, the DC current, whether from the solar cells or from the storage batteries, needs to be converted to AC. If you’ve seen anything about electricity, you’ve seen what is called a sine wave, like the ripples in water when a pebble goes in. DC is like a quiet lake. So another device, the inverter, not only creates those waves, turning the DC into AC, but it can make those waves nice curved sine wave shapes, which is better for appliances using the power. It also makes sure the rate is 60 cycles a second, which we in North America expect from our power lines. Once that’s done, it’s good to go, whether into our home, or onto the grid.

So knowing the components, what else needs to be done? Specific installation will require specific things – for example, you’ll need the roof reinforced if you’re planning a lot of solar panels and your roof isn’t up to code. However, at about 50 pounds a panel, most normal roofs can handle the load. Different types of roofs will require different supports (a shingle roof versus a metal roof, for example). It’s also important to analyze your roof for the ideal place for the panels. If you have nearby trees or objects that might block the panels, consider another location or you might want to have a shade analysis, or move the obstruction. Aiming the cells properly can mean a big difference in power generation. For example, if you have a flat roof, you will have to use a solar panel rack that is designed to angle the panels in just the right position to better face the sun.

Battery bank and equipment for off-grid install

As well, you’ll also need a place for the support equipment your solar panels will need. A wall in the garage will likely do for the inverter, but not for the batteries if you use them. Depending on the battery type, you may require good ventilation, since some of them can give off hydrogen gas, which is dangerous in enclosed spaces. As well, batteries work poorly at too hot or too cold a temperature, so an unheated garage in Canadian winters is a definite no-no for them!

Eventually you’ll meet with a contractor or reputable solar installers and go over the details of your specific install. While each one will be different, the preliminary work you do beforehand will make their job easier – and could save you money. Additionally, by planning ahead of time, you’ll be aware of what you’ll need and what you won’t (like batteries if you are connected to a grid).

Solar energy is getting bigger, and it’s here to stay. It’s a great way to lower your energy costs, and it helps prevent further damage to our ecosystem. Adding solar panels to your home is not only ecologically sound, it’s also a boost to your resale value – and that’s yet one more reason to make the move to solar!