Moving to solar power in Alberta is not only a step toward sustainability but also a wise financial decision. Thanks to the province's Microgeneration Regulation and Net Metering Program, it's easier than ever for homeowners and businesses to generate their own renewable energy. In this article, we'll look at how these two programs work, what you stand to gain from them, and why making the conversion to solar power now is more advantageous than ever.
What Is the Microgeneration Program?
Individuals in Alberta can generate their own electricity from renewable energy systems, such as solar, wind, or hydro power, and remain connected to the electric grid. To be certified as a "microgenerator," your system must be largely self-sufficient; that is, it must supply your property's annual electrical needs without creating a significant surplus. This is to ensure that the grid isn't inundated with more electricity than it can handle.
The program's primary advantage is that it allows you to counterbalance your energy consumption and depend less on conventional utility companies. When you generate electricity, you can scale back on and even eliminate your utility bills. You can be the captain of your power ship, and you can do it in a way that results in practically no emissions.
How Does Net Metering Work in Alberta?
Alberta's Microgeneration Program has net metering as its cornerstone. It is a system that enables individuals with solar panels to earn credits for any surplus electricity their panels generate and return to the electrical grid. Here's how it operates:
Produce Your Own Energy: Your solar panels create power for your residence or office during the daylight hours.
Send Excess Power to the Grid: When your solar energy system generates more electricity than you require, like on the bright, sunny days of summer, the excess is sent directly to the electric grid.
Earn Credits: You receive bill credits from your electric utility for every kilowatt-hour (kWh) of energy you send back to the grid.
Use Credits Later: You can use these credits to offset your electricity bill during the winter when your solar panels aren't producing as much energy.
This setup allows you to perfectly align and balance the amount of energy you use with the amount of energy you produce over the year. In plain English, that means you get a lot of value from your solar investment.
Financial Benefits of Alberta's Net Metering Program
Alberta's Net Metering Program can save you money. Here are the details on how to achieve those savings:
Lower Utility Bills: Using solar energy to balance your power consumption can substantially shrink or completely do away with your electric bills.
Earn Energy Credits: You can use any excess energy you create for a credit during the months when the sun doesn't shine quite as much, which is a nice little bonus in terms of energy savings.
Protection Against Rising Costs: As energy costs increase, generating your own electricity means you're less vulnerable to future price hikes.
Quick Payback Period: The majority of solar energy systems in Alberta return on investment in 5 to 8 years. After that, you could use the system for 30 years or more. And if you've read the materials, or watched the videos, that come along with the Solar Alberta tour, you probably have a good sense of why using solar in Alberta is advantageous.
For an average solar system, the savings achieved over a span of 25 years can total in the range of tens of thousands of dollars. And when it comes to selling your home, a solar array can significantly boost the resale value of your property.
Environmental Impact of Microgeneration
Besides saving money, the move to microgeneration has real environmental benefits. Not only is solar energy completely renewable, clean, and benign, it is also right at hand here in sunny Alberta. Using it to replace fossil fuels reduces not just a tranche of nasty byproducts, such as heavy metals and sulfur compounds, but also cuts back the key climate-change villain: carbon dioxide.
When you take part in the Microgeneration Program, you aren't just saving money—you're also helping the province make the change to a sustainable energy future.
How to Become a Microgenerator in Alberta
Initiating participation in Alberta's Microgeneration Program is not as complicated as it might first appear. There are straightforward steps to take:
Consult a Solar Expert: Contact a reliable solar installer, such as Solaris, to evaluate your property's energy requirements and to create a unique solar power system that meets those needs.
System Design and Permitting: A system custom-made for your energy consumption will be designed by your installer. He will see to it that all the needed permits and approvals are obtained.
Installation: After obtaining approval, we will install your solar energy system and connect it to the grid.
Bidirectional Metering: A bidirectional meter will be set up by your utility company to monitor the energy you use and return to the grid.
Start Saving: As soon as your system becomes operational, you'll produce clean electrical energy and receive payment for any excess you generate.
Why Choose Solaris?
At Solaris, we focus on making the move to solar power uncomplicated and worry-free. We see to every detail and every step of the process, handling the transition for you. We design the system to meet your specific needs and maximize your energy savings, and the efficiency of your system is our custom solar solution.
Final Thoughts: Why Now Is the Time to Go Solar
Alberta's Microgeneration Program and Net Metering streamline investments in solar energy. By using photovoltaic cells to generate that power, you can recoup some of your upfront investment and cut your electricity bill—but you're not truly independent; you need the grid. Still, with hydrocarbons' rising prices, the net benefits of "going solar" in Alberta have never been better.
Prepared to start your journey into solar energy? Reach out to Solaris for a complimentary solar savings assessment. In this no-cost report, we will detail how much you can save by choosing to power your residence with solar energy. Solaris is ready to help you take this important step toward a future powered by clean, renewable energy.
