Rebates, Incentives & Grants for Installing Solar Power in Canada— Detailed Guide

While the province of Alberta has cancelled their centralized solar rebate program (Energy Efficiency Alberta Residential and Commercial Solar), Alberta's lighting conditions and various incentives make it a top place for solar panels. Here are the options available to Albertans looking to go green:

Offered in Edmonton, the Home Energy Retrofit Accelerator (HERA) benefits homeowners by offering $0.40/watt towards solar PV installations, covering approximately 15% of the upfront costs. Additionally, several municipalities such as Banff, Canmore, Medicine Hat, and others offer local solar incentives, improving the affordability of switching to solar energy.

The Solar Offset program facilitates a partnership between businesses and small-scale solar panel owners. It converts clean energy into carbon offsets, which businesses can purchase, providing homeowners with a financial return. This initiative supports the generation of excess electricity while promoting environmental sustainability.

The Solar Club Loyalty Program targets farm, residential, and small commercial customers by offering lucrative rates for excess energy sold back to the grid. With an annual 2.0% cash back on imported electricity and flexible rates, this program encourages members to get the most out of their net metering program. For example, members can switch between a high- and low-export rate depending on the amount of energy they are importing and exporting. This optimizes their return, even during the cloudy months.

Edmonton homeowners are eligible for a $0.40/watt rebate (max $4,000), which covers roughly 15% of solar installation costs. This rebate can be stacked with the Greener Homes Grant to add up to $9,000 in savings. Moreover, new construction and residential buildings qualify for an additional City of Edmonton rebate of $0.30/watt, further reducing the cost of installing solar PV panels and promoting the switch to renewable energy.

Currently, British Columbia doesn't offer a provincial rebate for solar installations; however, there is an exemption from provincial sales tax that provides some financial relief regarding the installation costs. In lieu of a centralized solar incentive, regional programs across BC are in place to support the upgrade to renewable energy.

In the Regional District of Nanaimo, residents can access rebates ranging from $250 to $400 for installing solar thermal, solar PV, geothermal, or wind systems. These rebates first became available on January 1, 2021, on a first-come, first-served basis and require documentation to prove residency within the RDN.

While BC doesn't have a centralized financing system in place, certain municipalities have introduced a unique financing solution. For example, Nelson, BC, offers the Bill Financing Program that allows homeowners to borrow up to $16,000 for home energy improvements. This includes solar installations, with the repayment made through their Nelson hydroelectric bill. This program aims to ease the financial burden of adopting solar by integrating loan repayment with regular utility expenses.

Similarly, Penticton offers a loan program for homeowners, allowing them to borrow up to $10,000 (rather than $16,000) for solar energy upgrades. These loans are also repayable through the homeowner's electric bill.

New Brunswick offers the Total Home Energy Savings Program (THESP) that provides homeowners with incentives to install solar energy systems, offering rebates between $0.20 to $0.30 per watt. Run by Energie NB Power, the rebate amount depends on the scope of the upgrades conducted and the property's initial energy consumption.

The bigger the upgrade, the larger the rebate. For example, a homeowner installing a 10KW solar system might see rebates from $2,000 to $3,000, reflecting the program's scale-based approach to rewards. Beyond solar installations, THESP extends its rebates to other green home improvements, including enhanced insulation, air sealing, and the installation of efficient heating and recovery systems.

While New Brunswick does not offer any PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) programs, alternative financing options are available. Major banks like RBC and TD offer energy-saving loans with varied terms to support green upgrades. Additionally, local credit unions such as NBTA offer competitive financing, with rates starting as low as prime +1%. This offers homeowners a range of financial avenues to improve their homes' energy efficiency.

In Nova Scotia, residents have access to a range of incentives and rebates designed to encourage the implementation of renewable energy sources, particularly solar power. The "Solar Homes" program allows homeowners to receive a rebate of $0.30 per watt for solar panels installed, with a cap of $3,000. This incentive aims to promote the expansion of solar capacity installed across the province. Additionally, the Solar for Non-Profit Pilot program supports eligible organizations by offering incentives for installing solar PV systems up to 25kW.

Furthering solar energy's appeal, Nova Scotia has introduced the Home Battery Initiative, which provides rebates for home battery storage systems that complement new or existing solar PV systems. Participants can receive $300 per kWh of total installed energy capacity, up to a $2,500 maximum.

Residents of Halifax, Amherst, Bridgewater, and other municipalities benefit from the PACE financing program, one of Canada's most beneficial solar financing options. This program allows homeowners to install solar systems with no initial payment, features long amortization periods, and low-interest rates. The repayment process is integrated with the property tax bill, streamlining the logistics.

While Ontario lacks a centralized solar incentive or financing program, there are several localized initiatives that provide financial support for switching to solar energy and making energy-efficient upgrades.

Ottawa has introduced a pilot loan program called the Better Homes Ottawa Loan Program. This program offers zero-interest, 20-year loans up to $125,000, or 10% of the home's current value assessment (whichever is less), for energy efficiency retrofits, such as installing solar panels. Designed to help homeowners reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, this initiative provides loans tied to the property rather than the individual. The minimum loan allotted to each individual is set at $15,000.

PACE Atlantic partnered with the city of Guelph and Our Energy Guelph to create a new PACE program that was set to launch by Spring 2022. While the program has received funding, locals are still waiting for the program to be put into action. This plan is said to offer up to $40,000 in interest-free loans and aims to significantly decrease the financial barriers to going solar. When in place, this plan positions Guelph as one of Ontario's most affordable cities for solar energy investments.

Durham's Deep Retrofit Rebate provides up to $10,000 in incentives to homeowners looking to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This program can be combined with the Canada Greener Homes Grant Program and Enbridge Gas incentives for a total rebate of up to $20,000. Additionally, this incentive includes expert training and guidance to ensure a seamless transition to solar energy.

Toronto offers the Home Energy Loan Program (HELP) and the High-Rise Retrofit Improvement Support Program (Hi-RIS) specifically for single-family homes and high-rise buildings, respectively. HELP assists with financing up to $75,000 with low interest rates for up to 20 years. This helps cover various energy efficiency upgrades, including the installation of solar PV panels.

Enbridge has joined forces with the Canada Greener Homes Grant to offer rebates for various energy-efficient upgrades, including up to $5,000 for solar panels or batteries. This further promotes sustainable home improvements in the area.

Managed by Efficiency PEI, the Solar Electric Rebate program encourages homeowners and small business owners to embrace solar energy by offering substantial cash rebates. PEI homeowners can receive up to $1.00 per watt, with savings up to $10,000, while small businesses can claim a $0.35 per watt rebate, also up to a maximum of $10,000. Eligibility depends on legal property or business ownership and meeting specific spatial requirements set by Efficiency PEI.

The program caters to residential properties of no more than three stories and less than 600m squared, including detached single-family homes, row housing, mobile homes with permanent utilities, and apartment complexes, with a prerequisite of occupancy for over six months.

A building may be disqualified if declared structurally unsound. Financing options for installing solar PV panels include cash, loans, or the province’s energy-efficient loan program, offering a 5% interest rate over a seven-year period.

A key benefit to embracing this clean energy improvement program in PEI is the ability for residents to stack both the EfficiencyPEI and Greener Homes rebates for up to $15,000 in savings. This significantly reduces the initial investment for renewable energy projects, lowering greenhouse gas emissions and saving homeowners money. Additionally, in Charlottetown and Stratford, PACE Atlantic offers an interest-free loan of up to $40,000 over 15 years, promoting investments in solar energy and efficiency improvements. This comprehensive support makes it an opportune time to install solar PV panels and harness excess energy, contributing to energy efficiency goals throughout this maritime province.