Is it worth installing solar panels in BC?
The cost of not going solar vastly outweighs the cost of installing solar panels. Without solar, one will continue to pay BC Hydro year after year. Investing in your electricity up front allows you to own your outcome and save tens of thousands of dollars over the next 20+ years.
What is an insolation map?
Above is a worldwide insolation map showing the estimated daily and yearly solar energy available for energy applications, including solar PV. Insolation (also known as sun-hours) is the measurement of cumulative solar energy that reaches an area (in this case kWh per square meter) over a period of time.
Does solar make sense in BC?
Solar energy may be more practical in certain parts of the province than others, but saving money on electricity bills, building energy independence, and contributing to community health are benefits that can be realized by any homeowner in British Columbia.
Is BC good for solar energy?
In B.C., a 1 kW solar PV system, south facing and tilted with no shading, will generate about 1,200 kWh per year or about 30,000 kWh over its 25 year lifetime. This is taking into account an industry average solar panel efficiency degradation rate of 0.5% per year.
How much does BC Hydro pay for solar power?
Under the current program, those who produce more energy than they use receive 9.99 cents per kilowatt hour of electricity. BC Hydro says nearly 1,400 customers are part of a program where excess power generated privately is sold back to the utility.
How much does BC Hydro pay for power?
When you generate more electricity than you use, you receive a credit to your account that is applied against your future electricity use. At your annual anniversary date, if you have an excess generation credit remaining on your account, we will pay you at a rate of 9.99 cents per kWh.
How many hours a day do solar panels work?
So, even though the average day is exactly 12 hours, the power you actually get on your panels is equal to about 5 to 6 hours of full sun per day.
How many hours of sun do solar panels need?
In the best-case scenario, you’ll want your solar panels to receive about four or five hours of direct sunlight. Specifically, that sunlight should reach your panels between 10 am and 3 pm. This is when the sun is in its highest position and the rays are the most direct.
Why is Canadian Solar falling?
Canadian Solar (NASDAQ:CSIQ) slashed its third-quarter margins forecast Monday, citing lower demand at the beginning of the period, but re-affirmed its shipping guidance. Shares of the solar module maker fell 39 cents, or 10.37 percent, falling to $3.40 Monday afternoon on the Nasdaq market.
Can you sell electricity back to the grid in BC?
Solar panels the top choice in selling electricity back to BC Hydro. Installing solar panels is only one way you can generate your own electricity. And we’ll buy any of that energy you don’t use.
Can you sell power back to the grid in BC?
There are many advantages to installing solar panels in your home or business, one of the more lucrative reasons to do it is BC Hydro’s Net Metering program. The program allows you to sell any excess energy you produce back into the grid, offsetting the cost of your energy use.
What is the average BC Hydro bill for a house?
The average BC Hydro bill of someone living an apartment or condo is approximately $43 per month, compared to a single- family home with an average monthly bill of $103.
Where do you put solar panels in British Columbia?
Most residential homeowners in British Columbia put solar panels on their roof. Rural property owners put systems on the roof of their house or shop – or on the ground in their yard. 3. System Costs The last piece of basic information that you’ll want to know is an approximation of how much your system will cost.
Are there any provincial incentives for solar energy in BC?
British Columbia is only province that has a provincial tax exemption for clean energy equipment. However, there are no large provincial solar incentives currently in place. These factors are important because they reduce the upfront system costs.
Why choose British Columbia for solar energy?
Solar Irradiance British Columbia has the 11th highest potential to produce solar energy in all of Canada, receiving less solar irradiation than most other provinces and territories except for the Yukon Territories and Newfoundland and Labrador.
How much does it cost to install a solar system in BC?
Just take the size of your system and multiply it by the $2.56/watt – the average cost of installing a solar system in British Columbia. Continuing with our previous example, we can see that a 9.96kW system would cost approximately $25,498 to install.