- Nova Scotia has launched its new Community Solar Program for the year 2024-25
- It is open to non-profits, cooperatives, First Nations communities, municipalities, businesses, universities and colleges
- With a CAD 5.2 million budget, it will provide solar energy credit of CAD 0.02/kWh to the subscribers on their power bill for energy generated by their subscription
The Provincial Government of Nova Scotia in Canada has announced its new community solar scheme to support the installation of community solar gardens of up to 10 MW AC capacity. It has allocated CAD 5.2 million ($3.86 million) budget for the year 2024-25 for the scheme.
According to the administration, this program will make renewable energy accessible and affordable, even for those who don’t have the space to install solar panels like renters, condos and people with shaded roofs. The scheme will help the province reach its 80% renewable energy target by 2030.
A 1 MW community solar garden can end up taking about 4 to 6 acres of land to power about 131 homes/year. A single project’s installed capacity can range from 0.5 MW AC to up to 10 MW AC.
The program encourages locals to build solar gardens on their properties and sell subscriptions to the electricity they produce. Electricity generated is fed into the local grid to power buildings, homes and appliances of the participating subscribers.
A single subscriber can select the amount to be offset on the subscriber application from ranging from 10% to 100%. Nova Scotia Power will continue to send the regular power bill, including a solar energy credit in the miscellaneous charges and credits section.
Subscribers will get a solar energy credit of CAD 0.02/kWh on their power bill for energy generated by their subscription.
The scheme is open to non-profits, cooperatives, First Nations communities, municipalities, businesses, universities and colleges. Eligible projects are expected to be operational by spring 2026 post which people can subscribe to them at a slightly lower power rate.
“This program will lead to strong growth in the solar industry and contribute to the ambitious shared goal of transitioning away from coal-based electricity in Nova Scotia by 2030,” said Chair of Solar Nova Scotia, David Brushett.
Nova Scotia targets to bring online at least 500 MW of new, locally produced renewable energy by 2026, and an additional 50 MW of new community solar commitments as part of Nova Scotia’s Climate Change Plan for Clean Growth.
The detailed Community Solar Program is available on the website of the Department of Natural Resources and Renewables.
Earlier in 2021, the province had unveiled amendments to its Electricity Plan to support the growth of solar industry via the Shared Solar Program. This enabled participants to create community solar gardens (see New Shared Solar Program In Canada’s Nova Scotia).
In December 2023, Nova Scotia launched its Green Choice Program to support large energy users to source 100% renewable energy (see Nova Scotia Launches Green Choice Program).
