‘Exciting time in the energy world,’

CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — P.E.I. has one of many fastest-growing photo voltaic markets in Canada, and the demand is simply rising. 

The worth of solar energy in Canada is about 90 per cent cheaper than it was in 2010. In consequence, in P.E.I., requests for photo voltaic panel installations have elevated exponentially, stated Julian Boyle, president of Swap Charlottetown throughout an interview with SaltWire Community on Aug. 5. 

“Photo voltaic is now the most affordable type of vitality in 90 per cent of the world,” stated Boyle. “It’s phenomenal simply what number of photo voltaic incentives there are throughout the nation and now regionally, too.

In June, the federal authorities introduced a photo voltaic vitality rebate program providing as much as $5,000 to Prince Edward Island residents trying to set up photo voltaic panels. This, mixed with the provincial rebate applications supplied, can present householders with as much as $10,000 in monetary assist.

Up to now, solar energy was seen as an costly luxurious. However with the rising value of oil during the last yr, it now makes extra sense to put money into photo voltaic vitality, stated Boyle. 

“It’s cheaper now to construct new photo voltaic (grids) than run existing-coal vegetation,” he stated.

It’s not simply that the value is dropping, the expertise is enhancing as properly. 

Photo voltaic panels additionally enable for the choice to retailer unused energy. Relying on the kind of system, that is helpful to householders throughout the winter months, when extra electrical energy is mostly used and when energy outages are extra widespread. 

Storing energy can even significantly cut back the value of warmth, as many householders within the province have invested in electrical heating methods lately. 

“This winter goes to be a giant deal for lots of people once they begin to replenish their oil tanks and it goes from $700 to $15,000, perhaps extra,” stated Boyle. 

Typically individuals suppose the answer is shopping for back-up mills from {hardware} shops, that are very costly and sometimes sit idle, he added. 

“You probably have the photo voltaic system and vitality storage, it’s saving you cash day-after-day.” 

Panels put in

Romeo Gallant from Hunter River started trying into photo voltaic vitality nearly 40 years in the past. He lastly had panels put in final October after authorities incentives started to be introduced. 

“I waited till the time was proper to leap on the bandwagon,” stated Gallant. 

The method took about eight months from begin to end. Gallant needed to pay for inspections to his dwelling and now pays a month-to-month lease of $140 for the panels. 

Since having the panels put in, he has saved over $1,400 in electrical energy payments. 

“If you get your electrical invoice and it’s about $36, it’s a reasonably good feeling, and that’s with a sizzling tub, too.” 

-Romeo Gallant

Though the method was prolonged, it was comprehensible contemplating the elevated demand within the final yr significantly. 

“The demand is so excessive they simply can’t get sufficient guys to put in, which is definitely a very good factor if you concentrate on it.” 

Electrical energy in P.E.I. 

• About $99 was the common month-to-month value for 500 kilowatts of electrical energy within the province in 2021, which means Islanders paid 17.4 cents per-kilowatt hour – the fifth costliest charge within the nation. 

• This is a rise of two.9 per cent from 2020 and a 14 per cent from 2014, in response to the annual provincial statistical assessment. 

• Final yr, 66.3 per cent of the Island’s vitality was bought via NB Energy. As well as, 13.7 per cent was nuclear vitality, web metering made up 0.4 per cent and diesel accounted for less than 0.1 per cent. 
 

The very best recommendation is to plan properly forward of time. If the purpose is to have panels put in by spring, begin in August and have the paperwork completed by October. Staying in communication with contractors is vital as properly, as with the excessive demand it may be straightforward to get ignored. 

“In case you begin now, by the point retirement comes your system will probably be paid off, you’ll be properly established, and to be retired and have a $20 electrical invoice is fairly good,” stated Gallant. 

Photo voltaic farms

The shift to photo voltaic vitality is not only occurring commercially. 

This yr, the town of Summerside invested $69 million in direction of the development of Sunbank photo voltaic farm, an 85-acre lot which is able to embrace greater than 48,000 panels by the top of the yr.

The panels will probably be able to producing 21-megawatts of vitality that may be saved in one of many 5 tractor trailers loaded with batteries on the farm. 

The batteries will have the ability to retailer vitality that can be utilized throughout energy outages, Greg Gaudet, director of municipal providers for the town of Summerside informed Saltwire Community on Aug. 8. 

“This places us because the lead (province) within the nation that doesn’t have entry to giant hydro or nuclear vegetation. That’s fairly important,” stated Gaudet. 

At present, 42 per cent of Summerside’s vitality comes from wind farms. When accomplished, the brand new farm will present 23 per cent of the town’s energy, making Summerside 65 per cent powered by wind and photo voltaic. 

The panels, which have a 35-year life span, are anticipated to be accomplished by October, stated Gaudet. 

“Issues are progressing properly, it’s an thrilling time within the vitality world.”