Yes! Alberta is one of the best places in Canada for solar power. Not only is there more sunshine here than in most other provinces, but there are also attractive government programs that help with the costs. Also, electricity prices are going up, which makes using solar energy a good financial and eco-friendly choice for everyone in Alberta. Let's see why solar power is a smart investment for people in this province.
1. Alberta’s Sunshine Advantage
Did you know that almost no other Canadian province gets as much sun as Alberta? Calgary, no matter which way you look at it, is in a very sunny place. This city, and the area around it, get an average of 333 sunny or partly sunny days each year. Because of this, solar energy efficiency and effectiveness are really fast becoming the talk of the town.
City | Average Hours of Sunlight/Year |
Calgary | 2,396 hours |
Edmonton | 2,299 hours |
Lethbridge | 2,398 hours |
Red Deer | 2,150 hours |
2. Solar Panels in Winter?
Yes, solar power works even in Alberta's cold winters! In fact, it works better when it's cooler. Snow on the ground reflects sunlight to the solar panels. If your solar panels are on the roof, you might get even more energy if they are tilted. Alberta has a dry climate. So, there is less chance of solar panels getting blocked from generating energy by snow.
3. Alberta's Solar Incentives
Alberta homeowners can benefit from both municipal programs and federal incentives:
Change Homes for Climate – Solar Program (Edmonton): Rebates of $0.50/watt, up to $4,000 per dwelling or $100,000 per property owner per year.
Canada Greener Homes Loan: Interest-free loans of up to $40,000 to help cover the cost of solar installations and other energy-efficient upgrades.
Program | Benefit |
Edmonton Solar Program | $0.50/watt rebate (up to $4,000) |
Canada Greener Homes Loan | Interest-free loans up to $40,000 |
By lowering the high initial costs of solar power, these programs are helping more homeowners shift to renewable energy.
4. Long-Term Savings
Installing solar panels in Alberta can lower your carbon footprint and save you money. How much can you save? A lot, depending on the size of your system. Here are some numbers.
System Size | Average Cost | Annual Savings | Payback Period | Lifetime Savings (25+ years) |
5 kW | $12,500 | $1,200 | 8-10 years | $30,000+ |
7 kW | $16,500 | $1,680 | 8-10 years | $42,000+ |
10 kW | $23,000 | $2,400 | 8-10 years | $60,000+ |
15 kW | $33,000 | $3,600 | 8-10 years | $90,000+ |
20 kW | $44,000 | $4,800 | 8-10 years | $120,000+ |
25 kW | $55,000 | $6,000 | 8-10 years | $150,000+ |
Big solar power systems are best for large houses, businesses, or places that use a lot of energy. As electricity prices go up, these systems save even more money. They'll keep saving money for at least 25 years, which is how long most solar panels are expected to last.
5. Increase Your Home’s Value
"Installing solar panels not only saves you money but also increases the resale value of your home. Studies have shown that homes with solar-energy systems sold for 4.1% more on average than comparable homes without solar power." - The Weather Network
If you have a house worth $400,000, putting solar panels on it could make it worth about $16,400 more, the same as the value increase for most houses. This is a pretty good bonus since it happens right when you install the solar panels. And there's more: houses with solar panels sell faster, so they're even more attractive to home buyers.
6. Is Solar Right for You?
If you’re wondering whether solar works for your home, here are some factors to consider:
Roof Space: Do you have enough unshaded roof space for solar panels?
Energy Usage: Higher energy usage makes solar even more beneficial.
Budget: Take advantage of municipal programs and the Greener Homes Loan to reduce upfront costs.
Solar Works In Alberta!
Switching to solar power offers many benefits. These include good sunlight exposure, helpful incentives from local and federal governments, and some really attractive savings that add up over time. Actually, we're so convinced that you should use solar energy that we'd love chat with you about solar, and give you a free personalized report for your home to see how much you'd save.
