As an Ontario resident, you may wonder if installing a solar power system is worth it. Solar power is undoubtedly worth every penny because it will provide you with reliable backup power and more affordable electricity costs in the long run. Furthermore, they will help you save money and lessen your environmental carbon footprint. To fully appreciate how a solar panels Ontario system may benefit you, you must understand the installation process. This includes the number of panels you can fit on your roof and the required spacing. Also necessary are net metering, the advantages of installing solar panels on your roof, and the cost of installing solar in Ontario.
What kind of solar system do I need?
If you’re new to solar installations or the solar panel system, this will be the most likely question on your mind. Which solar systems power the home, and which will be the most suitable for your energy usage?
Monocrystalline Solar Panels
This solar panel is viral, and when it comes to more power and durability, it has the edge over other solar panels. Its average efficiency rate is 24%, while its lifespan ranges from 25 to 40 years. Its upfront cost is more expensive than the other panels, but the value it offers for most homeowners makes it worth it.
The production of monocrystalline solar panels involves utilizing a nontoxic, stable, and pure silicon ingot. Solar system manufacturers derive the wafers from this ingot to make a solar photovoltaic panel. At the end of the production process, you have mono panels that are not just eco-friendly but very efficient in generating electricity by tapping from the sun’s renewable energy.
This solar panel is typically dark in color, making it easy to blend with the color and design of the average household. These mono panels are the recommended choice if you want to install solar on your entire roof surface.
Thin-film Panels
This is the least popular solar panel, but it’s also an option if you want to generate your electricity. It has an average efficiency rate of 19% and is also relatively durable, with a lifespan that could last a decade or two. This solar panel is named “thin film” because of the slimness of the semiconductor materials used to make it. They are typically laid out as a film on any surface, most likely a roof. Solar panel system manufacturers produce thin-film panels in varieties such as 60-cell, 72-cell, and 96-cell panels.
Thin-film panels also come in types; amorphous silicon panels, cadmium telluride panels, and copper indium gallium selenide. If you’re worried about your budget, this is the best solar panel system for your yearly energy use because it’s the cheapest form. Its slim shape makes it the sleekest, flattest, and most flexible panel. However, to meet the solar power needs of an average house, you will need to get more solar panels than will be required for other types of meetings.
Polycrystalline Panels
This panel can also be named a hybrid panel because it’s made from various silicon crystals, unlike other types made from just one. To manufacture polycrystalline solar cells, silicon fragments will need to melt and then be transferred into a mold. Polycrystalline panels have less solar energy efficiency than mono panels because they contain less pure silicon than the latter.
Regarding polycrystalline panels, the average solar panel has a solar energy efficiency rating of 20%. Its durability is better than thin-film panels because it ranges between 25 and 35 years. However, this solar investment has a particular disadvantage – it has less tolerance to heat, which means it can’t take total sunlight hours. The uniqueness of this panel is its blue color and the physical space it requires because of its system size. This panel is recommended for homeowners with extensive roofs.
How much space do I need to install solar panels?
With more Ontario homeowners looking to clean energy and renewable energy projects to reduce carbon emissions and lower utility bills, you must know how much space is required for solar panels installation. A small home in Ontario may need about 200 square feet of roof space to install a solar system, while a large home may need up to a thousand square feet or more.
How many solar panels do I need?
The number of solar panels you need for the average home in Ontario for off-grid energy depends on two primary factors; the number of solar cells and the type of solar panel you want to use.
The number of solar cells per panel determines how much energy a panel can tap from the sun. So, the more cells a panel have, the more electricity it’s capable of generating per square foot and the less space you’ll need for its installation. For instance, five 72-cell panels will generate the same solar power as six 60-cell panels, but the latter will take up more space on your roof.
As we mentioned earlier, monocrystalline panels are the most efficient type of solar panels because they produce more watts per square meter. Hence, they naturally require less space than other panels. On the other hand, polycrystalline panels are less efficient than mono panels, requiring more space to generate more solar power. Thin-film panels are the least effective and require much more space than mono and poly panels. One possibility is to add more solar panels later if you do not have the budget for a full installation from the start.
Benefits of Installing Rooftop Solar Panels On My Ontario House
There are several benefits to enjoy from installing a solar power system in your house. They include;
- Less Hydro Bills: Installing a new solar system in your home can reduce your hydro bill by 50-100%, depending on whether you installed it as a backup source of electricity or a main source.
- Carbon Reduction: You can play your part in reducing the emission of greenhouse gases by generating sets that use fossil fuels. Solar energy is eco-friendly.
- Affordable Energy: Solar-powered electricity may cost you a lot initially, but it’s cost-effective in the long run because it means you may not have to pay an energy bill again. The cost of purchasing and installing the system is the only amount you’ll spend.
- Low-maintenance: There’s very little to do for your panels in terms of maintenance after purchase and installation. The panels may need cleaning, but that’s about once every six months.
- Solar power increases property value.
How much does it cost to install solar panels in Ontario?
The average panel cost in Ontario is about C$3 per watt. This cost can vary based on the solar company you’re hiring, the size of the solar system needed, and the energy your home consumes. Let’s stick to the average cost and assume you’re purchasing a 7.5 KW system. The total cost of the panel installation with the battery system in your home will cost C$22,500. This should be enough for a home with an annual equivalent of 9 KW electricity.
Benefits of Net Metering
To fully grasp the benefits of net metering, you have to understand the concept. Net metering is an electric billing/metering tool that utilizes the electric grid to store excess energy generated by the panels. Its benefits include:
- Offers value for the excess electricity generated without needing an expensive battery system to store the energy.
- Through net metering, homeowners in Southern Ontario and other parts of Canada can contribute energy to the electric grid, relieving some of its pressure. This is a likely occurrence during peak periods such as the summer solstice.
- Net metering allows a homeowner to provide electricity for other homes in the neighborhood.
- It helps to avoid or reduce energy wastage.
Where do I buy panels?
You can buy panels for installation from any reputable solar company in Ontario. Purchase doesn’t necessarily come with installation if you can do it yourself. The other option could be to lease solar panels instead of buying them. Top solar installers in Ontario include Bluewater Energy, Fowler Solar, SunPower, Tesla Energy, etc.
What happens to the solar power produced by my panels?
Panels are equipped with photovoltaic cells. This traps sunlight from the sun and converts this solar energy to electricity through its inverter. The amount of sunlight it can trap depends on the weather conditions. It also depends on if you installed the panels at an optimal angle. This electricity produced by the panels can be stored in a battery or used to power the home directly.
System Financing for Ontario Homeowners
If you’re interested in using solar power soon to electrify your home and don’t have the cash to make it happen, you can opt for loan programs that incur a very low-interest rate. The PACE program funds the entire cost of purchasing and installing solar power in your home. This loan program can be repaid on the property tax bill across a payback period of 3 decades.
There is also alternative financing for solar power, such as the HELP (Home Energy Loan Program). Homeowners can receive up to C$125,000, with a payback period of up to 20 years.
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