Why Solar Energy
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More Solar Energy falls upon the earth in one minute than humans use in an entire year
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It’s clean
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It’s renewable
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It’s the future
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If it pays, why not start today?
Ontario Feed in Tariff Program
http://fit.powerauthority.on.ca/
Solar Pays… How much? Is it worth it?
Mar-2012 New rates ~
54 cents/kwh
Several Financial Models
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Buy it outright
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Buy it on a loan — Most banks in Ontario now understand the transaction and will give loans
for same
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Rent your roof— Watch out … read the fine print
Fixed Mount Economics
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Fixed panels facing south 20-30° incline
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1280 kWh/kW
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Install 10 kW DC get 12,800 kWh/year
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OPA pays .54 x 12,800= $6,912/year
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Fixed Systems installed $5-7/WDC say $60k
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Simple return = 60,000/$6,912= 8.7 years
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20 year contract’s gross return= 11.3 yrs x 6,912 = $78,105 
Roof Mount Solar Tracking Mount
Economics
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Tracked panels follow the sun
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1600 kWh/kW
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Install 10 kW DC get 16,000 kWh/year
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OPA pays .54x $16,000=$8,640/year
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Tracked systems installed $6-7/WDC say $65k
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Simple return = 65,000/8,640= 7.5 years
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20 year contract’s gross return= 12.5 yrs x $8,640 = $108,000 
Tax Implications
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/bsnss/thrtpcs/nt-ft/q1-eng.html#a1
Fixed Mount Solar Panels
Inverters
Tracking Roof Mount
Tracking Roof Mount
Sea Freight Container Concept
Building
Integrated
Solar
Tracker
Concept
gives 26% more
energy than
fixed solar
panels
Solar Garage
16x20’ 13 kWDC
50 kW Building Integrated Concept
30x40’ Building 50 kW - Ashton
2 Axis Tracker
Shopping Centre
250 kW 2 Axis Tracking Roof Top
Solar Check List
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Check with LDC to insure room on grid
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Contractor references… that you call
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Professional Engineer to check the roof and supply stamped engineering drawings and
validate cash flow and check cost assumptions
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Apply for FiT or MicroFit contract with OPA
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Get building permit
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Install and commission system
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Collect monthly cheques from the OPA