Canadian Province Launches SolarHomes Program

• Canadian province Nova Scotia's government has launched its SolarHomes residential PV incentive program
• It is accepting applications for interested single family home owners, new residential construction, cooperative housing and First Nation Band-owned homes to apply for rebates under the program
• Rebates of $1 per watt will be doled out for pre-approved solar systems installed, capped at 40% of the total system cost or $10,000
• Efficiency Nova Scotia is conducting the program; it is funded by the provincial government as well as the federal government

The Nova Scotia government in Canada has officially launched its SolarHomes residential solar PV incentive program. Through SolarHomes, it expects savings of $1,300 a year on the user's electricity bill. Such homes will be eligible for rebates of $1.00 per watt for solar systems. The rebate is capped at 40% of overall system cost to a maximum value of $10,000. Average rebate is estimated to be about $7,000, and will depend on the size of the installation.

Installations deployed post June 25, 2018 will be accepted to be considered for rebates if they meet eligibility criteria and will be installed under the Halifax Solar City program.

Efficiency Nova Scotia, the first energy efficiency utility of Canada, is in charge of implementing the program. It is operated by an independent non-profit organization, EfficiencyOne.

All single-family home owners in the province are eligible to apply for this program that offers them rebates for installing pre-approved PV systems. They can either own the system themselves or opt for lease to own arrangements.

All new residential construction as well as cooperative housing and First Nation Band-owned homes are eligible to apply for the program. Residential seasonal properties also make the cut but with reduced rebate level.

According to Canadian Solar Association (CanSIA), both grid-tied and off-grid homes are eligible for this program, though grid-tied or net-metered systems are anticipated to make up the vast majority of participants.

Users will be allowed to expand the capacity of existing systems. Applications for this program are now being accepted.

More information about the program is available on the website of Efficiency Nova Scotia.

The SolarHomes program is funded by the Government of Canada's $56 million commitment to Nova Scotia from the Low Carbon Economy Leadership Fund. The provincial government itself is investing $3 million a year over the next four years to support the fund.

Nova Scotia also has another rooftop solar program called Solar Electricity for Community Buildings Pilot Program, which encourages community groups and organizations to generate solar power through rooftop PV systems or small scale ground mount installations for a period of 20 years (see Nova Scotia Community Solar Program).