The renewable energy industry across Canada has seem some big steps in the last couple years. Check out the programs below to learn what energy programs and incentives are available federally, provincially, and municipally when planning your next solar install.
There are several Canada-wide solar power incentives including:
- Clean Energy Investment Tax Credit: A refundable tax credit of 30% on the capital costs of investments until 2034.
- The Federal tax provision for clean energy (extended until 2025): under this provision, businesses (including farms) can depreciate the cost of their solar power system at an accelerated capital cost allowance rate of 100% in the first year, exempt of the half-year rule.
- Agriculture Clean Technology Program: the Adoption Stream will provide non-repayable contributions (up to 50% of $2M) to support the adoption of clean technology by Canadian farmers and processors, to reduce carbon emissions. Find out more
- Canada Greener Homes Grant: the federal government’s Greener homes grant encourages home owners to make energy efficient updates, creates new job and grows Canada’s domestic green supply chain. Find out more
- Grants available of up to $5,000 for upgrading heaters, installing solar panels, and replacing windows and doors. EnerG
- EnerGuide Evualuations (up to $600) and expert advice
- Recruitment and training of EnerGuide Energy Advisors
- Canada Greener Homes Loan: offering interest-free financing in additional to the Canada Greener Homes Grant to help you complete some of the more major retrofits recommended by your energy advisor. Find out more
- Up to $40,000 loan, with a repayment term of 10 years interest-free
- Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Program: Find out more
- Provide direct financial support to eligible renewable energy and grid modernization projects during the construction phase.
- Green and Inclusive Community Buildings Program: Find out more
- Small and medium retrofits: Eligible applicants with small and medium-sized projects to retrofit existing community buildings ranging in total eligible cost from $100,000 to $2,999,999 can apply from August 1, 2024 until October 16, 2024, 15:00 ET
- Large retrofits and new builds: Eligible applicants with large projects to retrofit existing community buildings or projects to build new community buildings with total eligible costs ranging from $3 million to $25 million can apply from September 4, 2024 until October 16, 2024, 15:00 ET.
Provincial and municipal solar programs help Canadians to affordably find the means to go solar and reduce their energy bills. While not all provinces offer cost savings programs, check with your municipality to ensure you are not missing out on a local solar rebate program.
- British Columbia
Although BC does not currently have a solar rebate at the provincial level, it is the only province with a TAX exemption for all solar panels. The Alternative Energy Sources PST Exemption also covers any necessary equipment needed for installation including wiring, controllers, and inverters. The innovative clean energy fund is designed to support BC’s energy, economic and environmental priorities and to advance their clean energy sector.
Energy, Energy Conservation and the ICE Fund Tax
Summerland Net Metering Program
Residential customers are able to offset their own electricity needs each calendar year, after which the District of Summerland will purchase any excess energy that is put back onto the grid at the wholesale rate.
BC Hydro Net-Metering
Apply for this net metering program, for homeowners who over-generate power on their home. This program allows homeowners to either sell back their power to the grid or purchase power should they not be able to generate enough power for their homes.
Renewable Energy Systems Rebate
Homeowners in the RDN Electoral Areas can apply to receive a rebate on upgrading to energy-efficient technology in their homes. Homes that to not qualify for RDN Electoral Areas are the following
- Nanaimo
- Lantzville
- Parksville
- Qualicum Beach
FORTIS BC Net-Metering
The Net Metering Program allows commercial and residential users to produce renewable energy to help save on electricity costs. If you generate more electricity than you can use in one billing period, the excess is banked and can be used in a future billing period.
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Alberta
Banff Solar PV Rebates
Eligible participants install a solar PV system on their home or business, and then receive a financial rebate from the Town, based on the size of the solar system installed. The Town provides eligible participants with a rebate of $750/kilowatt (kW) of solar capacity installed, to a maximum of 20 kW
Light Up Alberta - Solar Club Loyalty Program
Residential, farm, and small commercial customers can sign up for the Solar Club Loyalty Program, which produces an abundance of power through their micro-generators. Members can sign up for High Export Rate and Low Export Rate.
Change Homes for Climate Solar Rebate Program:
- The $1.3 million in rebates will be available to applicants who meet all eligibility criteria on a first-come, first-serve basis, with applications for Part I conditional approval opening on July 2, 2024. Installations must be completed and Part II documentation submitted by December 16, 2024 to claim the incentive.
- This multi-unit offering is for eligible properties that have four or more units or dwellings, with permits in compliance with the City’s Zoning Bylaw 20001. Applicants may need to submit evidence to the program administrator of the number of dwellings located at the property, to demonstrate eligibility.
- The program offers eligible Edmonton multi-unit properties $0.50/watt towards the cost of the system for both new and existing residential properties, up to $4,000 per permitted dwelling, and up to $100,000 per property owner or business (all projects combined, per calendar year, based on the date of Part I application submission).
Clean Energy For Rural & Remote Communities Program
The Clean Energy for Rural and Remote Communities (CERRC) program provides funding for renewable energy and capacity-building projects to reduce the reliance on fossil fuels for heating and electricity in Indigenous, rural and remote communities across Canada.
Rural community is defined as a community with a population of fewer than 5,000 people and a population density of fewer than 400 persons per square kilometer and not connected to the North American piped natural gas network.
Click below, to learn more if you qualify for this funding.
Community Efficiency Financing (GMF)
The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Green Municipal Fund’s (GMF) Community Efficiency Financing (CEF) initiative supports municipalities and partner organizations throughout the life cycle of planning, implementing, and expanding local programs for home energy upgrades.
Learn more and see if you qualify for this program.
Green and Inclusive Community Buildings
The Green and Inclusive Community Buildings (GICB) program supports retrofits, repairs or upgrades of existing publicly-accessible community buildings and the construction of new publicly-accessible community buildings that serve underserved and high-needs communities across Canada.
CIGB program will fund two types of projects: Retrofits, repairs, and upgrades to existing community buildings, and the construction of new community buildings.
Federation of Canadian Municipalities
The Federation of Canadian Municipalities offers grants for municipal environmental projects. Loans are also available to municipalities at competitive rates, and most recipients receive an additional grant of up to 15 percent of their loan amount.
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Manitoba
Manitoba Hydo energy for life
Net billing allows you to generate electricity for your own use and sell your excess electricity to us to receive a monetary credit on your Manitoba Hydro account. Net metering creates an energy credit to draw on at a later date.
Click below to learn how to return your excess electricity to the Manitoba grid.
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Ontario
Ontario Net Metering Program
Net metering is a program that allows you to send your excess energy to the grid for a credit. This gives you the flexibility to receive credit towards your power bill and still use grid power whenever you need it. These credits are valid for subsequent bills for 12 months after receiving them.
b). Hydro Ottawa
c). Hydro One
d). Toronto Hydro
Home Energy Loan Program
Making your home more energy efficient is one of the most substantial actions homeowners can take to reduce the emissions contributing to climate change. Through the Home Energy Loan Program (HELP), Toronto homeowners can borrow up to $125,000 to cover the cost of home energy improvements, such as:
- Solar hot water systems
- Rooftop solar PV panels
- Battery storage
Guelph Greener Homes
The city of Guelph is offering homeowners an interest-free loan to help offset GHG emissions. These loans can reach as high as $50,000, with a 10-year payback, added to the property tax bill.
Durham Deep Retrofit Rebate | Durham Region Ontario
Durham residents may receive an incentive for reducing their Energy Use (Gigajoules/year) by at least 50 percent between pre- and post-retrofit EnerGuide evaluations.
Incentives increase by $50 for every 1% of energy use reduced by over 50 percent.
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Quebec
Net Metering
This program allows customers to remain connected to the grid. They can sell back their electricity to the grid and remain on the grid whenever they require power from the grid as well.
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New Brunswick
Net Metering
The NB Power's net metering program allows customers to connect the renewable energy system to the grid. Customers are allowed to keep connected to the grid while either giving their surplus electricity back for credit or use power whenever they require it.
Total Home Energy Savings Program
If you own a home, our Total Home Energy Savings Program is for you. The program offers incentives for reducing your energy use throughout your home, from the basement to the attic. It all starts with your initial Home Energy Evaluation by a Certified Energy Advisor.
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Nova Scotia
Net Metering
Nova Scotia Power, Self-Generating Option
Customers using Nova Scotia Power, now have the option to use their Self-Generating program. All excess power production is banked for the next bill until year-end.
Commercial Net Metering Program
The Commercial Net Metering Program allows homeowners and businesses alike that are looking to produce their power fully. Customers can then offset excess power back into the grid, for credit or use power from the grid whenever needed.
Rebates & Incentives
Nova Scotia is offering customers renovating renewable their property to be more renewable energy fiendly with rebates. These rebates apply to different homes, non-profits, and SolarHomes Program, that install a full solar PV system and with a registered installer.
- Solar for Non-Profits Pilot
- Home Battery Pilot
- SolarHomes Program
Municipal Incentives
The Solar City program, offers property owners solar energy options such as support and guidance to choose the correct technology and system, financing options, and meeting the municipal Community Energy Plan.
Homeowners, in selected municipalities, programs with low-interest financing for solar upgrades to your home. This program provides:
- Help getting provincial and federal rebates
- Energy savings that pay for retrofits
- Simple enrollment
- And more
PACE Atlantic SwitchPACE Program
The SwitchPACE program allows for property-based financing in participating municipalities. They offer 10-year term, up to $40,000 or 25% property financing, and a 5% fee.
Participating Municipalities:
- West Hants
- Colchester
- Municipality of Pictou County
- Wolfville
Commercial Solar PV Rebate Guide
The participating business must have a business utility account and the utility must allow net metering, and be installing a grid-tie OR a grid-tie plus batteries system. Off-grid systems are not eligible.The participating business must own the equipment (financed and lease-to-own systems are eligible). “Top up” solar projects are eligible if the total system (existing + new) does not exceed 100kW AC total inverter capacity. Participating businesses are only eligible for rebates up to a maximum of 100kW installed AC per civic address per lifetime. The participating business agrees to share system performance data with Efficiency Nova Scotia and/or third-party representatives
The rebate is calculated at $0.25/kWh of annual energy production. The rebate is capped at a maximum of $30,000 per project (or up to 50% of the material costs, whichever is less)
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PEI
Net Metering
This allows customers to supply a portion of their solar PV-generated power, and supply it back to the grid. When you sign up with Maritime Electric a second meter is installed, to measure out how much power is being fed back into the grid. You receive a credit depending on what your grid reads.
Rebates & Incentives
PEI Solar Electric Rebate Program
Applicants must be legal property owners, business owners and/or farmers, to be eligible for the program.
Homes - $1,000/kilowatt DC installed, up to 40% of installed costs, to a maximum of $10,000
Businesses - $350/kilowatt DC installed, up to 40% installed costs, to a maximum of $10,000
Farm Buildings - $1250/kilowatt DC, up to 40% of installed costs, to a maximum of $35,000
Municipal Incentives
PACE Atlantic SwitchPACE Program
The SwitchPACE Program allows for affordable financing for renewable energy upgrades to your property.
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Saskatchewan
Net Metering
Generate your own power for your home or business.
- reduce your environmental impact and emissions
- give you more control over the power you generate
- help lower your bills
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Northwest Territories
Net Metering
Northland Utilities Limited (NUL)
This program allows homeowners to pay back into the grid with the overabundance of power their solar PV system produces. This is then turned into credit for later use and allows you to still be plugged into the grid, in case you need power.
The Northwest Territories Power Corporation (NTPC)
Residential and businesses alike can accumulate energy credits, whenever an excess of electricity is produced by their solar PV system.
Rebates & Incentives
Residents are eligible for up to $20,000 in rebate funding.
Businesses, community governments, Indigenous governments, and non-profit organizations are eligible for up to $50,000
Electricity-generating systems that use renewable energy are eligible for up to a $5,000 rebate.
