Quebec Government launches incentive program for Off Grid Solar Power
Montreal QC - April 18, 2012
On March 27th, the Ministére des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune announced a new incentive program that provides financial support for solar thermal and photovoltaic (PV) installations that offset fossil fuel use.
Although jurisdictions around the world such as Germany, France, Italy and Ontario have adopted popular feed in tariff (FIT) incentive programs for grid connected solar systems, the Government of Quebec has chosen a different type of program. The Programme d'aide à l'installation d'équipements solaires opérationnels (PAIESO) covers up to 50% of the installed cost of solar thermal systems, which utilize solar energy to pre-heat air or water, or up to 75% of solar PV installations for clean electricity generation.
The program specifically targets commercial, industrial, institutional, municipal and agricultural installations that are currently burning fossil fuels for power generation in off grid and mini-grid applications. Eligible fossil fuels include heavy and light oil, diesel, gasoline, natural gas, propane and butane.
The increased awareness and adoption of solar air heating systems eligible under PAIESO will go along way to reducing fossil fuel based emissions. With operational efficiencies near 70%, solar air heating is one of the most effective uses of solar technology in the industrial, and commercial sectors, particularly agriculture and mining, where large volumes of air heating is required.
Solar PV / generator power systems with storage (i.e. batteries) have been in use for decades in remote areas where grid service is unavailable. However in recent years, with tumbling prices of PV modules (aka panels) and increasing fossil fuel prices, battery-based Solar PV / generator hybrid power systems have become increasingly popular for both financial and sustainability reasons. Integrating Solar PV into a generator power system has numerous advantages, including increased system redundancy and reliability, reduction of generator runtimes which reduce maintenance, repair and fuel costs, as well as reduction of noise and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
The quantity of fossil fuels burned by generator systems in remote areas across Quebec annually is unknown, but with increasing development due to Le Plan Nord, consumption of such fuels for power generation and non-residential air heating challenges sustainability objectives. Quality, reliable and certified solar PV and energy storage equipment are available to assist in meeting increasing remote power needs, while helping to achieve Quebec's GHG emission reduction targets.
For more information on this program, as well as publications and forms, please visit the following link : http://www.efficaciteenergetique.mrnf.gouv.qc.ca/solaire
The information contained herein is subject to change without notice.
