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Free solar panels from the government... is there a catch?

Red Squirrel

Red Squirrel

No Lifer
Lot of people have been posting this over Facebook saying they want to do it:

http://freesolarprogram.ca/

Is this a scam or is there a catch? It seems too good to be true, and you know what they say about that. The domain whois does not show much info either.

I suppose I could email a government official to find out...

Solar panels arn't cheap, the charge controllers arn't cheap, and the batteries arn't either. So either 1: there's some kind of weird contractual catch such as they own my house, or 2: I don't actually get to use the electricity and it's just for show. Or am I missing something? Do they just take a cut from what I generate? I imagine I'd be responsible for taking snow off of them and such as well as other obligations.
 
lulz

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It's part of Ontario's Micro FIT program. Basically they are leasing your roof for free. The system is yours after 20 years, but that is basically end of life for them anyway.

You get some dividend and your shingles last longer. It is most definitely not from the government.


here is another.
http://pure-energies.com/free-solar/
 
I've seen reports that electric companies are starting to charge users for having solar panels. It kinda makes sense because the electric company does have to maintain the infrastructure going to your house. However, I've seen a few cases where it actually makes solar electricity more expensive.
 
Leros said:
I've seen reports that electric companies are starting to charge users for having solar panels. It kinda makes sense because the electric company does have to maintain the infrastructure going to your house. However, I've seen a few cases where it actually makes solar electricity more expensive.
Click to expand...

they do it to protect their profits
 
Yeah, that's probably not a good deal, but it might be a good deal. I would go for it, just because it might be a good deal, even though there is a good chance that I'm going to get screwed. Yeah, that's the ticket. :colbert:
 
Red Squirrel said:
Solar panels arn't cheap, the charge controllers arn't cheap, and the batteries arn't either. So either 1: there's some kind of weird contractual catch such as they own my house, or 2: I don't actually get to use the electricity and it's just for show. Or am I missing something? Do they just take a cut from what I generate? I imagine I'd be responsible for taking snow off of them and such as well as other obligations.
Click to expand...
I doubt that's a battery system, probably grid-tied.

Some companies offer "free" solar systems in the US. As sdifox mentioned above, it's a long-term lease, with you paying the solar company a certain amount per avoided kWh (probably cheaper than buying from the utility, but not "free electricity" either), and the company getting a big tax break from the government.
 
jagec said:
I doubt that's a battery system, probably grid-tied.

Some companies offer "free" solar systems in the US. As sdifox mentioned above, it's a long-term lease, with you paying the solar company a certain amount per avoided kWh (probably cheaper than buying from the utility, but not "free electricity" either), and the company getting a big tax break from the government.
Click to expand...

Actually, there is no money outlay from homeowner. Solar Producer sign contract with government to produce x watt of solar energy at y price. They borrow your roof, install panels, pay you a dividend and after 20 years they walk away.

You could buy the system yourself and become a Micro FIT and sell the electricity generated to the government at a handsome premium, but that is probably too risky.
 
sdifox said:
Actually, there is no money outlay from homeowner. Solar Producer sign contract with government to produce x watt of solar energy at y price. They borrow your roof, install panels, pay you a dividend and after 20 years they walk away.
Click to expand...
wow, that's a much better deal than you can get in the US.

Don't you guys have tons of hydro power? Why the sudden push for solar in an area with long, cold winters and not much summer?
 
norseamd said:
toronto?
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That would be one of my concerns too, this is probably targeted to the south where they barely get any snow. I wonder if there are any ice dam issues with solar panels here in the north. The only systems I really see is systems that arn't on a roof, but stand alone on a pole. I'm thinking mostly about spring when snow melts, the water would drip under them and freeze because it's colder under the panels due to being in the shade and being a narrow channel. This would eventually cause an accumulation of ice till it starts to force the water up the shingles. This is just a theory though, I'd have to find out if it actually is an issue. I imagine these companies would not be responsible for fixing damages either.

Though the more I think about it, if I was to do it I'd probably want it to be fully mine.
 
jagec said:
wow, that's a much better deal than you can get in the US.

Don't you guys have tons of hydro power? Why the sudden push for solar in an area with long, cold winters and not much summer?
Click to expand...

We do have lot of hydro power, in fact I think most of the north relies solely on it. (speaking more for Ontario, I don't know about rest of Canada but I'd imagine it's the same) But the hydro company has been screwing us over with constant raising of prices, so people are fed up. I'm sure if solar panels really do take off they'll just start charging more like mentioned in this thread. Only choice would be to not pay your bill anymore and let them disconnect it but you better have lot of battery capacity. I don't think they can force you to pay if you don't use it. I could be wrong though.
 
jagec said:
wow, that's a much better deal than you can get in the US.

Don't you guys have tons of hydro power? Why the sudden push for solar in an area with long, cold winters and not much summer?
Click to expand...


Because the left wing government thought it will jump start generation of power and green energy industry here. Didn't play out. They got taken for a ride by Samsung and now Harper signs free trade with South Korea...
 
Red Squirrel said:
That would be one of my concerns too, this is probably targeted to the south where they barely get any snow. I wonder if there are any ice dam issues with solar panels here in the north. The only systems I really see is systems that arn't on a roof, but stand alone on a pole. I'm thinking mostly about spring when snow melts, the water would drip under them and freeze because it's colder under the panels due to being in the shade and being a narrow channel. This would eventually cause an accumulation of ice till it starts to force the water up the shingles. This is just a theory though, I'd have to find out if it actually is an issue. I imagine these companies would not be responsible for fixing damages either.

Though the more I think about it, if I was to do it I'd probably want it to be fully mine.
Click to expand...

Nope, I would have them take the liability... I would not commit to buying a solar system to feed into the grid hoping the next government will not cancel the program.
 
sdifox said:
Nope, I would have them take the liability... I would not commit to buying a solar system to feed into the grid hoping the next government will not cancel the program.
Click to expand...

Hmm true, that's another way to look at it. Spend all that money and next government changes their mind and you can't sell back anymore. That could suck. Mind you I would probably get it mostly for myself anyway. Would run my server equipment, and depending on how big of a system I could add more equipment without worrying much about cost to run. I'd have to try to get some telco batteries through work at their cost. :awe:

There's tons of these solar programs going on, guess my best bet would contacting the government directly to see which ones they know about and can certify as being legit.
 
Red Squirrel said:
Hmm true, that's another way to look at it. Spend all that money and next government changes their mind and you can't sell back anymore. That could suck. Mind you I would probably get it mostly for myself anyway. Would run my server equipment, and depending on how big of a system I could add more equipment without worrying much about cost to run. I'd have to try to get some telco batteries through work at their cost. :awe:

There's tons of these solar programs going on, guess my best bet would contacting the government directly to see which ones they know about and can certify as being legit.
Click to expand...

OPG is the agency in charge of it. I have dealt with them before. Not the sharpest hammer in the drawer. Yes, I do mean hammer and not pencil.

http://microfit.powerauthority.on.ca/


Solar makes sense in California? In Igloo Nation??? Doubtful.


Current schedule

http://microfit.powerauthority.on.ca/sites/default/files/page/2014%20FIT%20Price%20Schedule_Final_20131107.pdf

For installation under 10MW is 39.6 cent per mwh.


Say you have 10 MW installation, that is 3.96 for 1 hour of peak generation. Panels degrade and amount of sunlight you get a day also sucks in Canada.

This says Toronto gets 2066 hr of sunlight a year

http://www.currentresults.com/Weather/Canada/Cities/sunshine-annual-average.php

3.96*2066 ~=8181.36 a year.


These guys are offering a 10MW system for 30k.

Assuming it is 30k + tax=34k
34000/8181, break even in 4.1 year. Tag on 20% for corp tax and you are looking at 5 year return. Not too bad.
 
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Yeah that's the other thing we don't really get much sun here. Wind is probably better, but even then we don't get much wind here either, we get windy days but no constant wind.
 
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