Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Incentive Program. Shannon Ripley, Environmental Services

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1 Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Incentive Program Shannon Ripley, Environmental Services Information Session April 6, 2017

2 Overview Town of Banff municipal solar installations Why did the Town create the Solar PV Incentive Program? What are the outcomes of the program? How does the program work? Steps to install a solar PV system FAQs Learning from current participants

3 Town of Banff Municipal Solar Installations Town Hall: 18 kw (2013) Wolf Street Washroom: 3 kw (2011) Central Park Washroom: 2 kw (2015)

4 Fenlands Solar PV Installation 280 kw grid-tied solar PV system Anticipated installation: May % of Fenlands electricity costs $15,000 / year electricity savings Funding Canada 150 Western Economic Diversification (50%) Alberta Municipal Solar Program (~27%) Town of Banff Environmental Reserve (~23%) System one third larger than originally anticipated, due to declining solar costs.

5 Fenlands Solar PV Installation 950 solar modules; largest solar installation in the Bow Valley

6 Background Solar PV Incentive Program Solar PV Incentive Program created in 2015 as a three-year pilot 1 st municipal solar feed-in tariff program in Canada Program funded from the environmental reserve Why this program? Town of Banff as an environmental role model Alberta In 2015, 90% of electricity was generated by burning fossil fuels (51% coal) Alberta has an excellent solar resource Support for residents and businesses to invest in renewable energy Buffer against increasing electricity costs Active role in renewable energy generation

7 Alberta s Solar Resource Potential

8 Solar PV Production Incentive Program to Date 2015 Participants Number of Installations System Size Residential Commercial Size of Installed System (kw) 2-5 kw kw kw Totals Participants Number of Installations System Size Residential Commercial Size of Installed System (kw) 2-5 kw kw kw Totals

9 2017 Solar PV Production Incentive Program Deadline for applications: April 28 th Program details and application form: banff.ca/solar Who is eligible? Residential and commercial properties One application per property Condominiums and people living in condos are eligible

10 How Does the Program Work? 1. Have a solar assessment completed for your property by a solar installer (free) Solar resource & proposed panel layout Cost 2. Complete application form and submit to the Town by April 28 th Application forms: banff.ca/solar 3. Town selects participants Lottery, if necessary 4. Installation of solar PV system Includes e-guage 5. Top-up incentive agreement with the Town 6. Receive production-based top-up payments

11 Installation Steps 1. Have a solar assessment completed for your property (free) 2. Choose a solar installer 3. Installer assists with permitting: a) Town development permit fees waived see Solar Panel Design Guidelines title, legal land address b) Town building permit fees waived may need a structural assessment building drawings c) Micro-generation application & agreement d) Electrical permit

12 Installation Steps - Continued 4. Installation of Solar PV System Includes an e-guage 5. Inspections & Grid Connection Electrical inspections Bi-directional meter installed Congratulations, you re now generating renewable electricity! 6. Submit system documentation to the Town: Top-up incentive agreement Micro-generation agreement Interconnection agreement with wire service provider Certificate of inspection wire service provider 7. You receive quarterly production-based top-up payments from the Town for 7 years.

13 Eguage Data

14 Eguage Data

15 How does the Town Calculate Top-up Rates? Formula developed at start of the program Solar Top-up Incentive Agreement Goal: 7-year simple payback for participants Avoided electricity costs Top-up payments from Town System Size Rate 11: Residential Rate 41: Small General Service Rate 61/63: General Service/ Large General Service 2-5kW $0.46 $0.48 $ kW $0.37 $0.39 $ kW $0.34 $0.37 $0.38

16 Solar PV Incentive Program Review Goal: 7-year simple payback for participants Are any adjustments to top-up payment rates required? Provincial solar rebate program recently announced - $36 million: o 30% in costs for residents o 25% in costs for businesses & non-profits Top-up rates will be adjusted accordingly Lower municipal top-up rates = potential support for more participants with the same budget.

17 Provincial Solar Rebate Program Provincial solar rebate program recently announced $0.75/installed watt For a 5 kw system = $3,750 Details re. qualifying systems, installation and eligibility requirements in coming months It will likely be possible to combine ( stack ) municipal and provincial funding.

18 Deciphering Your Electricity Bill! Total electricity bill is a combination of fixed and variable charges Fixed: distribution, transmission, local access fee, delivery, etc. Variable: cost/kwh of delivered electricity No clear description of renewable solar energy generated on electricity bill. Biggest savings through a solar PV installation is avoided variable costs how much electricity you generate yourself and use, that you don t need to purchase Best way to see your electricity savings compare: One full year of electricity bill costs before solar install to one full year of electricity bill costs after solar install Ensure your consumption pattern hasn t changed!

19 Deciphering Your Electricity Bill! Cont d Measure solar energy generation by: Eguage website: Inverter data ask solar installer Town will start reporting solar production data with top-up cheques Animation reading your electricity bill:

20 Learning from Current Program Participants What tips would you give to prospective participants? What have been your main learnings through participating in the program? What recommendations do you have for improving the program?

21 Questions?

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