The Solar Conference 2008 in Toronto, Canada, at the beginning of December was a great success. The organizers, the Canadian Solar Industry Association (Cansia) counted 650 participants – 63% more than last year. The number of exhibitors also increased from 43 in 2007 to 87 this year. “I was deeply concerned that the present economic situation would be problematic - but - in fact - it was sold out and there was a real air of optimism - practical - but optimistic,” says Elizabeth McDonald. According to the Cansia executive director, numbers showed a 60/40 balance between photovoltaic and solar thermal energy. “PV companies tend to be larger and may have made more of the visual impact,” explains McDonald.
Canada is, indeed, committed to solar thermal energy. The federal government runs three incentive programs for different target groups, such as private individuals, commercial and public customers and multipliers. The most successful is the EcoEnergy for Renewable Heat Programme which subsidized 116 solar air installations and 43 solar water heating systems in the industrial, commercial and institutional sector. The program provided the basis for installing almost 30,000 m2 and investing a total of CAD$15 million dollars in all projects between the 1st April 2007 and the 4th December 2008. An addition CAD$36 million dollars can be spent until the 31st March 2011. The program has been especially well received in Ottawa and Saskatchewan because the two state governments double the amount of subsidies, without requiring a second application process. You will find details about the subsidy program within the database of incentive program at: www.solarthermalworld.org/node/378
Furthermore, the federal government set aside CAD$9 million dollars to support utilities and developers in testing large-scale, long-term sustainable methods of utilizing residential solar water heaters. The Residential Pilot Initiative (RPI) estimates shipping 8,000 solar domestic water-heating systems to private households until October 2010. The Canadian energy ministry, Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), selected 13 innovative and inexpensive distribution ideas. Among them are “systems by rental” or “lease-to-own” as well as a lottery and a solar district heating system for new homes. The systems are subsidized from CAD$750 to $1,436 per unit. For more information: www.regie-energie.qc.ca
The third support program of the Canadian government has been created for the benefit of end customers. The EcoEnergy Retrofit Programme grants a certain number of construction incentives. The list includes solar domestic hot water heaters – with a lump sum grant of CAD$500. According to sector representatives, this is too little to provide a true purchase incentive. Thus, it came as no surprise to many that the number of applications fell short of original expectations. The Retrofit Programme only subsidized 112 solar thermal installations between April 2007 and the end of November 2008, although the energy ministry approved 57,000 applications for grants totaling CAD$61.2 million dollars within the same period. This means that not even 0.1 % of the granted funds benefited solar installations. The situation looks different in the provinces, which combine their rebate with the CAD$500 rebate from the federal government – such as Ontario with an extra rebate of CAD$500, Saskatchewan with CAD$1,000 and British Columbia with CAD$625. For more information: www.solarthermalworld.org/node/379
Industry insiders estimate the solar thermal market to grow around 30% throughout 2008. How are estimations for 2009? There are too many unknowns - especially the impact of the global financial crisis is difficult to assess, says McDonald. “Some believe that there will be an 'Obama effect' in Canada which will encourage federal government to do more in the area of renewable energy. We will know more when the government tables its budget at the end of January."
This article was previously published at Solar Thermal World: http://www.solarthermalworld.org
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