Great news – The Alberta government has just announced that they will be investing more than $5 million in new solar energy incentive programs for municipalities and farmers!
Alberta Municipal Solar Program
The Alberta Municipal Solar Program will provide rebates of up to $0.75 per watt, to a maximum of $300,000 per project, to municipalities for installing solar on municipal buildings, such as offices, fire halls, community centres and more. The Alberta Municipal Solar Program opens for applications on March 1.
These are some of the municipal solar projects that we’ve completed over the years.
Clockwise from top left to centre: Banff Town Hall, Calgary City Hall, AUMA, South Calgary Fire Hall, Airdrie Fire Hall, West LRT Station, Mountain View County and Ralph Klein Legacy Park.
Growing Forward 2 (On-Farm Solar Photovoltaics – On-Farm Energy Management Sub-Program)
The Growing Forward solar program for agricultural producers has now reopened and is accepting applications again! The program provides funding towards solar PV systems on Alberta farms, enabling producers to generate their own electricity and save on energy costs while reducing their carbon emissions. The Growing Forward 2 Solar Photovoltaics Program application window reopened on July 5, 2016.
Who can apply?
Producers in Alberta with a minimum of $10,000 farm commodity or livestock production income.
What kinds of PV Systems are eligible?
To be eligible for funding, your solar PV system must be:
- Grid-tied, not off-grid,
- Approved under Alberta’s Micro-Generation Legislation,
- Positioned to optimize sunshine and minimize shading,
- Have manufacturer-warranties on: Solar modules, Racking, Inverters and/or Micro-inverters,
- Producing power that is used in the production of a primary commodity, and
- Purchased during the period from April 1, 2013 to March 31, 2018, including already-installed systems
How much funding can I get?
The grant is calculated based on an eligible system’s nominal wattage, up to a maximum percentage of system cost. Third-party contractor-installed systems are funded at a higher rate than self-installed systems. A maximum of 100 kW of solar PV capacity or $50,000 per applicant is available through the program.
Without having had an Energy Assessment
Solar PV Contractor-Installed: $0.45/W to maximum 20% of project costs
Self-Installed: $0.15/W to maximum 10% of project costs
Grant Maximum: $50,000
Having had an Energy Assessment
Solar PV Contractor-Installed: $0.60/W to maximum 25% of project costs
Self-Installed: $0.30/W to maximum 20% of project costs
Grant Maximum: $50,000
What do I need to do to apply for this grant?
You will first need to obtain a finalized quote for your solar PV system before you can submit an application form for the On-Farm Solar Management Program.
A finalized quote will need to include the following information:
- All eligible project costs
- Make & Model for Modules, Racking, and Inverters
- An approved application to connect to the grid as a Micro-Generator
You will also need to include an energy bill from the same electrical service and an energy assessment report (if applicable) with your application.
Do you qualify for this grant and would like to apply for it?
Please contact us at 403 251 0668 or 780 474 8992 for a free estimate and quote. We will also help you with the submission of your Micro-Generation application which is required for the grant. If we’ve installed a farm PV system for you prior to the launch of this program, please contact us and we’ll let you know if you’re eligible for the retroactive grant and help you out with the application.
These are some of the solar PV systems we’ve installed over the last few months for agricultural producers all over Alberta:
