According to climate data, Edmonton is one of the sunniest cities in Canada. It receives around 2,300 hours of sunshine every year. As a result, solar panels have the potential to meet a significant portion of the city’s electricity needs.
Despite electricity consumption only accounting for 16% of total energy usage in Edmonton, it contributes to approximately 40% of greenhouse gas emissions. This makes the electricity sector a key focus of decarbonization efforts.
The Change Homes for Climate: Edmonton Solar Program
By adopting rooftop solar systems, homeowners can not only protect themselves from fluctuating energy prices but also actively contribute to reducing their own carbon footprint and that of the wider community. The good news is that the Change Homes for Climate: Edmonton Solar Program has allocated an additional $1.96 million in rebates this year, which means more homes can embrace solar energy.
If you’ve been considering reducing your energy bills and environmental impact, this home solar incentive program might be worth considering.
The Change Homes for Climate Solar Program, administered by the City of Edmonton, operates on a first-come, first-served basis. The program offers a rate of $0.40 per watt for existing residential properties and $0.30 per watt for new residential properties to assist residents in transitioning to greener homes.
The rebate can be combined with the Canada Greener Homes Grant, allowing property or business owners to potentially receive up to 100% return on their initial investment.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible, residential properties must be connected to the grid. It’s also crucial that a Qualified Installer designs and installs the system. The Qualified Installer ensures that all components comply with the electrical safety standards established by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) or possess an equivalent certification aligned with Canadian standards.
Additionally, participants must own the house and be open to having their home listed on Edmonton’s Home Energy Map.
According to Solar X, eligible buildings include duplex housing, garden suites, mobile homes, multi-unit housing, row housing, secondary suites, semi-detached housing, single detached housing, and stacked row housing.
Which Expenses Qualify?
The expenses covered by the rebate include:
1. The purchase of solar PV equipment for the project.
2. The tasks of designing, developing, energy modeling, engineering, specifying, procuring, and construction.
3. Obtaining necessary permits for electrical connections and grid connectivity, as well as permits for building and development.
4. Conducting mandatory inspections for electrical and building compliance.
5. Upgrading the transmission and distribution system to meet the requirements for interconnection approval.
The Application Procedure
Applying for the Edmonton Solar Program involves a two-part process that requires the assistance of a qualified energy advisor. The energy advisor will provide you with information on the financial feasibility of solar power, the technical aspects of the solar system, and the latest details on rebates and eligibility criteria.
The energy advisor will also assist with obtaining approvals, permits, and rebate claims, as well as completing the application.
Once applicants are approved for part one and have completed the necessary retrofits within the given timeframe, they can proceed to fill out part two of the application.
