What is Solar All About?

The cost of energy is not getting any cheaper, and global concern for the environment is at an all-time high. Fortunately solar technology can help. To address rising energy costs and growing environmental concerns, proactive organizations are increasingly turning to solar grid-tie power.

Though relatively quick and easy to install, a solar grid-tie power system can make a big difference to the bottom line. As soon it's installed, the solar power system gets to work, automatically generating electricity from sunshine to help lower monthly power bills and reduce your overall dependency on the local electric utility. Whether installed on a new or existing building, this simple and reliable modification can help lower energy costs, while reducing the production of greenhouse gases.

How does it work?

A solar grid-tie system uses roof-mounted solar panels to collect energy from the sun and convert it into usable electricity. A solar power system installed on a grid-connected building can supply a portion of the power needed to run the site. During the day, electricity generated by the solar power system is fed into the building, offsetting the amount of power being drawn from the grid. Any excess power is fed back to the power utility to be used by someone else, resulting in a power credit. This concept is known as net metering.

Grid tie solar electric systems with some form of net metering program are the fastest growing segment of the solar market worldwide. With net metering programs now approved in most of the United States, and the popularity of installation programs in Germany and Japan, thousands of organizations are now experiencing the benefits of solar electricity.

Incentive Programs

In Ontario, the Renewable Energy Standard Offer Program (RESOP) allows owners of grid tie solar power systems to sell all of their renewable energy to the Ontario Power Authority over a 20-year term. For more information about RESOP, click here: www.powerauthority.on.ca/sop

For more information about grant and incentive programs available throughout Canada, click here: www.cansia.ca/government.asp.