“Things have changed a huge amount in the last few months from the Green Energy Act. Before that, it was mostly remote cottages and buildings that didn’t have electricity. The Green Energy Act has opened lots of opportunities across the province,” says Milfred Hammerbacher, president of Canadian Solar Solutions, a Canadian Solar subsidiary that installs the company’s products.
High feed-in tariffs, intended to stimulate development of renewable energy and related industries in Ontario, may also be temporary.
“They’re still quite expensive, but the costs are coming down. In Germany and Spain they’re lowering their feed-in tariffs because the costs are coming down,” says Tim Weis, director of renewable energy policy for the Alberta-based Pembina Institute. “You slowly ratchet down the numbers as costs improve.”
Solar prices will come down even more as China begins investing heavily in solar power, he says, adding that the potential in Canada is unlikely to ever exceed 10 per cent of the market, which is roughly what oil and natural gas produce today.
Solar electricity is a good solution for places like Southern Ontario that use a lot of air conditioning, he says, because peak electricity consumption is on the hottest, sunniest days, when solar panels function best. It’s also comparatively easy to integrate into the grid because most energy is consumed where it’s generated. This also reduces the amount of energy lost through transmission, which is 10-15 per cent across the grid.
So far, other provinces have not followed Ontario’s lead. British Columbia is focusing on solar thermal systems that produce hot water. They’re less expensive and more efficient than solar photovoltaic systems and can displace a significant amount of electricity or natural gas used to heat water.
One company that’s playing both sides of the solar game is Wal-Mart. It’s building a new distribution centre near Calgary that will include 16 solar thermal panels.
“We hope that it will be one of the most sustainable distribution centres in North America, more than 60 per cent more energy efficient than an average Wal-Mart distribution centre,” says Andrew Pelletier, vice-president of corporate affairs for Wal-Mart Canada.
For Mr. Botscheller and the other tobacco farmers, solar is just the beginning. For them, the future of farming includes ginseng, fruits and vegetables, and a lot more renewable energy.
Solar was a starting point because the returns are now very good, it’s also more universal than wind, which depends largely on location. Solar requires very little land and a fairly small initial investment, he adds.
“It’s a concept of producing power right where it’s used. We have the land, but a project like mine could go on almost any farm.”
SOLAR GADGETS
Can’t afford rooftop panels yet? Here are some compact, inexpensive and downright handy solar gadgets to get you started.
Tiny solar-powered fan circulates air through a narrow crack in a side window, helping keep your car from overheating on summer days. $19.99 at Canadian Tire
Leave it by a window to stay charged and you’ll never find yourself fumbling about for batteries during a blackout. LEDs use little power, so are perfect for solar applications. $22.99 at Rona
A solar water bottle? Sure. Instead of carrying a solar flashlight and a water bottle, get both in one. A tiny lid panel charges LED lights under the lid for night use. Use as a reading lamp or let it shine through your Kool-Aid to create atmosphere when you’re camping. £9.99 from selectsolar.co.uk (ships worldwide)
SolarRolls won’t quite power your laptop on their own, but the larger 12-inch by 57-inch model will charge it up when not in use, or extend battery life. For a few hours, it could give you an off-grid home office on the patio. $655.20 from www.brunton.com
At 131g, it’s a lightweight, but this four-watt charger has a lithium ion battery and six adapter tips to charge cellphones, iPods and other small gadgets. The carabiner clip means you can attach it to your knapsack to charge on the go. $80.00 from Mountain Equipment Co-op
For the kid in you … or in your house. A kit of familiar-looking building blocks that can be made into a helicopter, it has a solar panel to move the main rotor. £17.50 from www.selectsolar.co.uk
