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If you're a resident of Waterloo region and are interested in exploring whether a solar project makes sense for you, here's our advice:
Download and complete a CREW membership form [PDF 150Kb] and let the CREW solar working group know you're interested. As community volunteers in a grassroots network, we're in the process of holding public information sessions and collecting expressions of interest for our community solar project. Read everything you can, ask a lot of questions and share your learning with other members of the group.
If you're interested in solar PV, determine your electricity consumption and identify conservation opportunities using the Power $aving Network toolkit [PDF 1.3MB]. This "load assessment" will tell you what fraction of your household electricity needs can be met by installing a solar PV system. If you're considering a solar hot water system, have a look at your household's total water consumption and estimate the fraction which is hot water. (See your utility bill for metered water usage; 1 cubic meter of water is equal to 1000 litres.)
You'll need a site with good southern exposure. Solar PV requires +/- 15 degrees from due south; solar-thermal works best when facing due south, but will offer some benefit on due east or due west surfaces as well. Either way, take a careful look at tall buildings or trees that might shade your exposure, and be sure to check the shading in both the morning and the afternoon/evening. Professional solar resource assessments complete with written reports are available from Waterloo Green Solutions (REEP). REEP is offering a $20 discount on the cost of the solar assessment to participants in CREW's solar project, so be sure to mention your connection to CREW when you sign up.
The Canadian Solar Resource Atlas will give you a good idea of how much solar energy is available at your site. You can use the number from the 'atlas' in programs like RETScreen to calculate a reasonable estimate of how much electricity you'll actually generate on your property, and how much money that could make for you. The expected revenue can then be used to verify important financial items like payback (in years) and return on investment ratios. Typically, for installed solar PV module efficiency of 13% (rated efficiency of 16-17%) and ideal orientation of your panels, you can expect to generate about 1400-1500 kWh per kW in Waterloo region. Solar thermal hot water systems are usually sized to provide about 50% of annual hot water needs (<10% in winter; 100% in summer). As an example of solar hot water system performance and cost, see the Globe Energy SDHW system offered to WISE customers and the performance claims for this system.
Learn all you can regarding costs and incentives for solar PV systems. Good sites to start with are our Costs and Incentives page, the Our Power website and the GoSolar site. Make sure you know what you're prepared to spend, then check with CREWsolar to get an idea of what the local prices are expected to be in the coming year. If you need financing options, then our Costs and Incentives page can help you with that too.
If you're serious about moving ahead, sign on to CREW's "bulk buy" expression of interest. Using the weight of the EOI's we've received so far from members, we crafted a Request for Proposal that was sent to all solar suppliers interested in bidding. From the responses we received, we selected preferred suppliers with whom to negotiate a package deal. The group package streamlines getting all necessary permits, including (as necessary) building permits, grid connection agreements, electrical safety inspections and feed-in tariff application submissions.
Solar suppliers local to Waterloo region include:
Have we missed your business in this list? If so, please contact solar@crewzone.ca.
As a member of CREWsolar, you can access turn-key solar energy systems, including financing, metering, and a contract that pays 80 cents/kWh for the electricity you generate. The applications for Ontario's new Feed-In Tariff will be handled on a first-come first-serve basis. So the sooner you sign up to CREW's SIDE, the sooner you'll receive the 80 ¢/kWh buy-back rate. CREW has negotiated with the bulk buy suppliers for a reasonable installation timeline, payment schedule, a set of manuals, warranties, and other quality assurances. We've also secured pricing that is 10-25% below competitive market rates. By joining in the bulk buy, your decision to invest in solar energy is supported by the strength of community members, including the project organizers and local solar experts, working together to make solar easy and profitable.
Tell your family, friends, neighbours, work-mates, and please tell us! We want to know about your project. We may even ask you if we can post a picture of it in our photo gallery. Please send submissions to solar@crewzone.ca.
