Green Power - A Consumer Guide to Green Power in Canada

WHAT TO DO

How to Generate Your Own Green Power

Small-scale renewable energy technologies are more efficient, accessible and affordable than ever before. Some of them, such as active solar heating systems and ground source heat pumps, don't actually generate electricity, but will significantly reduce household utility bills. As Canada moves towards electricity deregulation and net metering becomes more widely available, generating a portion of your power needs – and perhaps even going off the grid altogether – become more realistic and economically attractive options.

Solar

To generate significant amounts of electricity, photovoltaic (PV) cells are wired together into modules and then grouped in "solar arrays". These installations are silent, have no moving parts, generate no waste products while in use, and can last decades with minimal maintenance. They will work wherever there is an unobstructed view of the sun – the more direct the sunlight the better the result.

Most people install PV arrays either to reduce their reliance on and use of utility-supplied power or to ensure supply in the event of power outages. Connecting a solar system into a home to run loads independently of grid power is relatively easy. However, connecting the system to the grid for net metering, or "turning your meter backwards," is a more difficult proposition (see Net Metering).

For most users, cost is the biggest obstacle to becoming solar self-sufficient. In addition to the PV modules, a typical on-grid residential or small commercial installation will require other components, such as mounting hardware and supports, and an inverter that converts direct current (DC) to the alternating current (AC) that powers lights and appliances. (Off-grid installations may be configured to use DC only, storing power in heavy duty batteries that can supply DC-powered lights, tools and appliances.) When pricing solar modules, remember that the extra components needed to make a functioning system will comprise about half the total cost. Installing a PV system capable of meeting the electrical needs of a typical home (approximately 5kW) could cost $60,000. For many homeowners, the payback period – 25 years or more – makes this an investment with limited appeal.

Active solar heating (or solar thermal) systems are a more attractive financial proposition. Typically they use wall- or roof-mounted collectors to capture heat from the sun and transfer it to air or water that is circulated into the building. Solar systems that heat water for domestic use in conjunction with a traditional electric or gas-fired hot water heater pay off their cost in six to eight years.

Download RETScreen software to assess the feasibility of solar installations in any region of Canada.

The Canadian Solar Industry Association website contains detailed information and advice on domestic solar energy options.

Wind

Smaller, consumer-size wind turbines (generally less than 50 kW) are increasingly available and are one of the more cost-effective home-based renewable energy systems. These are designed to power battery chargers, water pumps and remote homes and farms. Some residential or farm systems are designed for off-grid installations, while others could be connected to the power grid, possibly allowing the operator to get credit from the utility for any excess electricity that is produced (see Net Metering).

The Canadian Wind Energy Association has produced a special website – www.smallwindenergy.ca – with a step-by-step planning guide, cost calculator and a directory of dealers and installers in Canada. You can also download RETScreen software to assess the feasibility of wind installations in any region of Canada.

Heat Pumps

As with an active solar heating system, a ground source heat pump will not actually generate electricity. However, as one of the most efficient technologies available in Canada for heating and cooling homes and commercial buildings, it will significantly reduce electricity use.

The system uses a buried pipe to circulate a fluid that absorbs solar heat from the ground and conducts it into the building where a compressor transfers the heat into warm air (or water), which is then distributed throughout the building. Reversing the system cools the building in summer.

The Earth Energy Society of Canada says that the cost of installing a complete system, including ground loop and heap pump, ranges from $10,000 to $20,000, depending on the site. For a residential system, the simple payback period averages four to seven years. The society's website www.earthenergy.ca provides comprehensive information, including detailed descriptions of the technology and a nationwide directory of contractors who install geothermal heat pump systems.