Solar Series: Ask the Experts

As you’ve probably already heard, the solar business is buzzing in Alberta. With green initiatives being all the rage, consumers are considering Solar energy options. This, coupled with the fact that Alberta is home to Edmonton and Calgary, two of the sunniest cities in the country, it is no mystery why the Solar market is growing.

This is the second entry in our Solar Series of blogs where we will guide YOU, the consumer, through the world of solar, helping you learn where you fit, and about the benefits of adopting a Solar photovoltaic (PV) micro-generation system on your home.

In our previous entry in the Solar Series, we outlined the different types of consumers, to educate people who are potentially interested in adding a Solar system to their home on what category they might fall into. As we do with all of our blogs, we posted it on our Facebook page, and our inquisitive readers followed up with a slew of questions, indicating their desire to learn even more about Solar. In this blog entry, we will tackle some of the most frequently asked questions we receive and also address some of the most common skepticisms that come along with Solar. To help pass along the knowledge, we have brought in three experts in the field that reside right here in Alberta that were gracious enough to take time out of their busy schedules to share their insider knowledge. Those experts are;

Kai Fahrion, Co-CEO, Virtuoso Energy

An energy and electrical company operating in Calgary, Virtuoso enables its customers in Western Canada to live greener by providing alternative energy solutions like residential and commercial solar panels, EV charging stations and more.

Jake Kubiski, founder and CEO, Kuby Renewable Energy

Based in Edmonton, Kuby is a 100% locally owned and operated professional Solar installer and electrical contractor specializing in residential and commercial renewable energy systems.

Gordon Howell, Owner, Howell-Mayhew Engineering

Howell-Mayhew Engineering specializes in the development of Solar PV systems, designing and developing Solar systems for commercial and residential buildings, as well as monitoring the system’s performance. Gordon has been working in Solar energy since 1977 and has become one of the foremost experts on Solar in Canada. He is a Solar pioneer who installed the first grid-connected Solar system in Western Canada on his home in Edmonton in 1995. In addition, Gordon has taught courses on Solar at NAIT.

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*Parts of these interviews have been edited for brevity*

Spot Power: We often get asked how Solar panels will be recycled/disposed of once they “expire” in Alberta? What materials can be reclaimed and reused? What is the environmental impact of Solar PV systems?

Kai: The environmental impact of producing a Tier 1 Solar module is offset within two years. Solar modules are warrantied for up to 25 years and have a life that can last up to 40 years. Once the Solar panels are ready to retire, approximately 94.7% of a Solar module’s parts are recyclable. Old Solar module parts are valuable and can be reused. There are currently no active disposal sites in Alberta yet which is an issue that must be seriously addressed (especially as Alberta’s Solar energy industry is growing). The Solar energy industry in Canada is relatively new compared to other countries such as Australia. I suspect Canada will follow suit with what other countries are doing and will one day open its own state-of-the-art recycling plants that will manage Solar modules appropriately. Dualsun is a great example of a company addressing this issue and breaks down the process of recycling Solar panels. More information about this process can be found on their website.

Jake: I am currently part of a working group that has been tasked with finding a solution for the recycling (2nd life) of the current Solar modules being installed in Alberta. This group has been given a budget from the Alberta Government with the end goal to come up with a process to break down and recycle the components of the current Solar modules to create 2nd generation modules manufactured within Canada. Solar PV systems on average have a four-year environmental payback when compared to coal-fired electricity. With a life cycle of 25+ years, Solar PV is the obvious choice for electricity generation. If recycling can be perfected, this can be a great greenhouse gas reducer and job creator. David Doge with Green Energy Futures just did a series on Solar recycling.

Gordon: [When modules are no longer desired] working PV modules will be sold for a cheaper price. Damaged or non-functioning PV modules will be sent to a PV module recycling facility. These facilities are presently being set up in many parts of the world. 90% of the materials used in [Solar PV modules] (glass, rubber, copper, aluminum) [can be reclaimed and reused]. People need to remember that any ore body has very tiny amounts of ore in it and this ore is processed in a way that releases the metals that are being sought after (gold, copper, tin, lead, zinc, etc).

SP: A major concern that readers seem to have is the unknown of what happens if they install a solar system and repairs to their roof are needed down the road. Does having Solar panels have any side benefits like shading the roof and reducing radiant heat, or do they make the roof hotter by trapping heat?

KF: The Solar system can be temporarily removed if the roof needs repairs. Depending on the gravity of the roof repairs, the roofing company can also work around the Solar PV system as the roof underneath will have a much longer lifespan due to seeing almost zero weather impacts after the installation of Solar.

JK: Part of the due diligence of a pre-install site visit is to assess the roof and ensure that no obvious fixes are needed. If repairs are required, it is strongly recommended having these completed prior to the Solar PV systems being installed. Once the Solar PV system is installed, it is unlikely the roof under the Solar modules would need repair as the Solar modules do protect the roof by taking the brunt of the elements. Solar PV installations sit roughly four inches above the existing roof line, which would prevent direct sunlight from hitting the roofing material. As for heat reduction, it may create a shading effect which would lower the roof temperature slightly. If in the unlikely event a repair is needed, a single module can be removed or the entire array. The removal of the Solar module must be completed by a Solar electrician.

GH: It is a reality that shingles need to be replaced every 20 to 40 years. I myself am facing this on my own house roof as it has been 35 years since the house was constructed. With that said, there is the potential for the shingles to last longer under the PV array because they are not as severely exposed to rain, snow and ice. If the repairs are needed on a part of the roof that is covered with a PV module then that particular PV module along with one or two nearby needs to be lifted up so that the repair can be completed.

SP: What is the average size of a Solar system in Alberta? What is the cost? And what is the average generation?

KF: The average size of a Solar system is about 8kW and the rough cost of that system after the $5,000.00 government rebate is approximately $12,500. This system would have an average generation of about 9,000 kWh depending on a variety of factors (azimuth, angle, location, etc.).

JK: The average size of a Solar PV system installed in Alberta is between 7.5 - 10.0kW (DC) for residential applications. Turn-key installations can range from $2.00 - $2.50 per watt prior to any applicable incentives in the area of installation. Price varies based on roofline/pitch, type of roofing material, number of roof faces, the difficulty of installation, type of existing electrical infrastructure in the home and locations to name a few. On average you can expect 1,100 kWh of production per 1000 watts (DC) of solar panels installed on an ideal roof surface per year.

GH: On a house it could range from 5 to 10 kW DC, I've seen them as low as 1 kW DC and as high as 25 kW DC. $2 to $3 per watt DC. Higher capacity gives a lower watt-price. Depending on the location in the province, tilt angle, orientation angle, the yield can be 1000 to 1300 hours per year.

Editor’s Note: Solar PV systems are rated in kW DC (kilowatts of Direct Current). Your inverter converts the input in DC into output in AC (Alternating Current; homes receive electricity in AC, i.e. wall sockets). The AC energy used by your home is measured in kWh/year (kilowatt-hours per year) - the consumed energy listed on your electricity invoice is measured in kWh. This is why the “nameplate capacity” referenced by our experts is measured in kW not kWh.

SP: Given the average size, how much can the average Solar user expect to save by switching to Solar?

KF: There are many factors that affect how much someone will save from switching to Solar energy. These variables include your system size, your system design, and how one manages their energy usage. When our clients switch to Solar energy, they share how their energy consumption habits have changed. For example, our clients will maximize the use of Solar energy by running high energy consuming projects during the day when their system collects the most Solar energy. We have also found that many of our clients with ideal systems for Solar utility rates have net positive bills in the hundreds during many of the summer months.

JK: This is truly dependent on the amount of kWh (electrical energy) the home consumes on a yearly average in comparison to the size of the Solar array installed on the property. It is not uncommon to offset 100% of your electricity usage on a yearly average. With available programs like the Solar Club offered by UTILITYnet providers, you can generate a significant credit on your bill through the summer months if your Solar array is sized accordingly.

GH: Depends on how well it is set up. One of my client's bills went from $2100 per year to a $100 credit per year.

SP: What is the typical ROI for a Solar system in Alberta and how can it be increased?

KF: The average ROI is around 7-10 years, and the payback can be increased if you have an EV or if you take advantage of Solar utility rates available in the market which are currently set at $0.2585/kWh for Solar energy sold back to the grid.

JK: This is a difficult question to answer for all of Alberta as there are incentive programs offered by municipalities within Alberta that assist with a more favourable ROI. Using Edmonton as an example, a homeowner with assistance from Kuby Energy can access the Change Homes for Climate Solar incentive and the Federally administered Greener Homes Program. If both programs are received, it is not unreasonable to expect an ROI of 9 - 10 years for true investment payback on the property’s Solar system.

GH: 7% to 10% per year depending on a number of factors re: system complexity (not including incentives). The new Federal government no-interest loan program, $5000 grant, and the new provincial CEIP programme will be a phenomenal boost.

SP: What are the steps that someone interested in Solar would need to take to get started?

KF: Anyone interested in Solar can contact their local Solar energy provider by phone or online. At Virtuoso Energy, we will build a custom Solar assessment and walk you through what your system would look like, the environmental benefits, and the return on their investment on your system.

JK: Contact Kuby Energy via our website intake form. Within one business day a Kuby Energy Solar PV expert will contact you by phone/email to have a chat about your goals, timelines, type of property (residential/commercial), and request a recent energy bill from the property. If all goes well and the initial information given is still within the expectations of the property owner, a proposal is generated that is custom-tailored to your property/energy requirements. Upon customer review and acceptance a site visit is scheduled where a Solar PV expert will come to the property and walk through the next steps with the property owner. Kuby Energy will assist with receiving any grants applicable for the region on the property owner’s behalf. Permits and Micro-generation documents that are applied for are received. Installation is scheduled and completed. Full system walk-through and confirmation on online monitoring is completed.

GH: Get a year's worth of electricity bills together, add up the monthly number of kWh consumed for a year, look at the Solar Alberta website for their Solar providers.

SP: Are there any types of homes/consumers you would advise against getting Solar?

KF: Heavily shaded and homes that do not have East, West or South-facing roofs are not typically ideal for Solar. Other than that, pretty much any home in Alberta is perfect for Solar!

JK: There are very few properties that wouldn't benefit from a grid-connected Solar PV installation. Some limiting factors may include: North-facing roofline, shading from adjacent structures or vegetation, high-rise condo/apartment owners, architectural restrictions in certain building developments.

GH: I hadn't thought of that, but I don't see why. There is usually a way to achieve their goals. There are so many combinations of wealth and goals, that I cannot see making any blanket statement. Solar is so cheap these days that the point is to get Solar installed.

Want to increase your ROI? Join the Solar Club!

The experts agree; to maximize your ROI on Solar, it is important to take advantage of electricity retail programs that allow you to sell your excess electricity back to the grid at higher prices. Spot Power’s Solar Club is a program that allows micro-generators in Alberta to do just that. Members of the Club have access to exclusive electricity rates and receive 2% cash-back on all electricity imported from the grid, annually. Additionally, Members will have 50% of the electricity they import from the grid offset by Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), free.

The key to this program’s popularity has been the ability to switch between a high export rate of 25.85 ¢/kWh and a low export rate of 8.10 ¢/kWh, with no penalties, depending on the time of year and how much electricity they are importing and exporting. Simply put, when Solar generation is highest, and a micro-generator is exporting more electricity than it is importing, they can choose to be on the 25.85 ¢/kWh rate. When the seasons begin to change, and they begin importing more electricity than they export, they can switch to the 8.10 ¢/kWh rate.

Click here to learn more about the Solar Club

Stay Tuned for Part 3

Next in the Solar Series, you’ll hear from actual Solar Club members on how the program has benefitted them directly.