We hear so much about go green, solar, wind….. Well I’m Alberta, which climate wise can be mild, hot, to even extreme deep freeze. Where we are one of the coldest places on earth and -55! We also get insane amounts of snow fall, with winters being the dominant season some years.
Each year the government solar grant program changes, when I did my solar system it was a $10,000 grant at the time for a $30,000 system of 35 panels feeding into the grid. Installed on my roof of my house and garage, supplying a 1,450 sq ft bungalow. My monthly finance cost for the solar system is roughly $100 per month / $1,200 a year (so roughly 16.5 years of payment give or take). My property itself is very power intensive with need for the family home, but also animals, exterior buildings, lights, and water features. Winter my power bills are normal and late spring to early fall often my power bill is mainly paid for by the solar system.
1) Installation of panels, we live in Siberia at times with how extreme winter can be. Install your panels with the best incline for snow to run off & the easiest for you to manually clear if needed. Trust me, clearing snow from the driveway sucks! But clearing snow from your solar panels on your icy roof sucks even more. At the time my installer advised they place the panels flat for the best full day sun exposure for our climate. So the panels are getting as much light from sunrise to sunset. However, from experience now I would say definitely position your panels so snow will easily slide off. Or it’s easy for you to clean them off for optimal efficiency. You also want the panels accessible, so you can clean them annually. Which a clean after winter is important, think of it like a window. Can still see out but just not as good.
2) Grid or Off Grid? Grid 110%!!! Unless maybe its a seasonal property with minimal consumption, or a cabin in the back of your quarter! Aside from my personal experiences, I’ve had numerous clients hate it and say doesn’t work in Alberta! I’ve yet to encounter anyone off grid, who stayed off grid in Alberta. It’s just to harsh of a climate and to large of a risk if you run out. Easily can have multiple dark days of snow with no solar production.
3) Over do it with solar panels, in the end you will be happy you did! Honestly if they recommend 30 do 34 if the space permits. I wish I had of added a couple more, because even though in summer it covers over my usage and more. If you’re filling the space why leave 10% without panels when they are generating $.
4) Distribution fees, I’m rural so unfortunately I’m subject to the extremely inflated distribution / regulatory fees. Yes we all have them but when you are rural you are hit with them in an extreme manner. To give an example, I live pretty much attached to the city within 5 minutes to city limits, so not rural really at all. Often Dec, Jan, February my power bills will be $800-$1,000! My usage is roughly only for $400-$500 monthly, with distribution being always higher than my use. 55/60% of my bill is the additional fees. In winter for solar production I might see a couple dollars here and there fed into that amount. But winter months expect for 0% production and bills like normal. However in the summer my bill is $50 - $150 and thats just what is left over on fees after my system pays all my usage + majority of the fees. So summer time I’m generating over my use and still have some sort of bill from fees.
5) What would I do different? I would install more panels then suggested. I would think and plan to place them in the best spot possible for snow run off and easy access to clean them for my property type. I’ve seen panels installed on walls with all day sun and would expect consistency of this in the end for annual generation, would be a bit better. As I feel the loss due to winter months due to snow coverage to be a con. However this also would depend on the pitch of your roof!
#YEG #SOLAR #YEGREALTOR
