Incentives

Canadian Solar Solutions Inc.

The Ontario Fit Program

“Ontario's Green Energy Act represents North America's most ambitious and far reaching enabling legislation and will place Ontario as a world leader in renewable energy development, industrial innovation and climate protection.”
Dr. Hermann Scheer, General Chairman of the World Council for Renewable Energy, member of the German Bundestag. (Father of the German Feed-in Tariff)

On February 23, 2009, the government of Ontario, through the Ontario Power Authority (OPA), introduced the Green Energy Act to promote investment in renewable energy projects, increase conservation and create green jobs and economic growth in Ontario.

As part of the Act, the OPA introduced a Feed-in Tariff (FIT) program for renewable energy technologies on March 12, 2009. Photovoltaic technology — commonly called “solar power” — is included in the program.

On North America's First Feed-in Tariff Launched

On September 24, 2009, the Government of Ontario officially launched Canada's first feed-in tariff, a new renewable energy program established under the landmark Green Energy Act.

How the FIT and microFIT Programs Work

Home and business owners will have the opportunity to install solar panels on their rooftops, or on the ground with ground-mounted systems, to generate electricity. That electricity will be used mainly in their own premises. Any unused electricity will be fed into their local power grid.

Interested homeowners and businesses can formalize a 20-year contract with the OPA. The OPA then purchases all the electricity generated by the individual or business at a fixed monthly rate, regardless of whether the owner used it or not.

In the residential sector (or in small commercial installations), the OPA has established a FIT payment of 54.9 cents/kWh for solar power systems that are 10 kW in size or less installed on rooftops. In the commercial rooftop sector, system sizes range from greater than 10 kW to less than 500 kW. FIT payments range from 48.7-54.8 cents per kWh. In addition, the OPA has established FIT payments for ground mounted solar PV systems; system sizes 10 kW or less have a payment of 44.5 cents/kWh, and system sizes equal or greater than (with a range between)10 kW- 500 kW have a payment of 38.8 cents/kWh. If the ground mounted system is greater than 500 kW and less than 5 MW have a payment of 35.0 cents/kWh. Any ground mounted systems over 5 MW have a payment of 34.7 cents/kWh.

Feed-in Tariffs for Ontario

 
Solar PV Roof Top Feed-In Tariffs      
       
Rooftop Solar PV   ≤ 10 kW 54.9
Rooftop Solar PV >10 kW ≤ 250 kW 54.8
Rooftop Solar PV >250 kW ≤ 500 kW 53.9
Rooftop Solar PV > 500 kW   48.7
Ground Mounted Solar PV   ≤ 10 kW 64.2
Ground Mounted Solar PV > 10 kW ≤ 500 kW 44.3
       
All rates are in Canadian cents per kWh.

A Great Opportunity

The FIT program offers Ontario home and business owners a great opportunity not only to help reduce global warming and pollution, but to increase the value of their properties and make money at the same time.

For more information about the OPA, visit www.powerauthority.on.ca/FIT

To learn more about how the Feed-in-Tariff program applies to the commercial rooftop market, visit the Commercial section of this site.

To learn more about how the Feed-in-Tariff (microFIT) program applies to the small commercial and residential market, visit the Residential section of this site.