Howdy,
With my recent traverse of Highway #11 across Northern Ontario, I must say I am very, very impressed with what I observed. Solar arrays. Not single panels, whole arrays. Many were mounted on single post, sun tracking setups. Each array had about 48 panels + a smaller panel - I assume is for powering the sun tracking system. Some locations had 5 or 6 of these arrays on one property. It even looked like some of the provincial facilities had an array, like water pumping stations.
I now forget the name of the solar company that was prominent up there. But it looks like business is going well.
Anyone from the region want to chime in and provide some first hand knowledge?? My knowledge was gathered at highway speed. Sorry, I did not snap any pics. In hindsight, that would have been a good idea.
Solar power is looking more and more attainable for "normal" people, not just power companies.
Just some observations,
Mountainman.
I am just in proses of trying my system.I leave just outside of Huntsville.purchased 9 panels from a guy on HWY 11 just south of Grawenhurst great deal ,purchased the batteries fro COSTCO ,made my own support frame .I am running my house on it now just during the day. Mind you we cook on a wood stove ,heat water and house with wood.Just in case i still have generator.I will see how it goes if I need more panels and batteries before calling hydro to rake their meeter and shaw it . Henry
Howdy Henry,
Keep us posted on your progress. Please advise of any pitfalls to avoid or components that are a must have. Many on here are interested in a solar option but are not in position to make the jump yet. The big word there is yet.
Anyone else seen the solar arrays along Hwy#11??
Cheers,
Mountainman.
My parents live in NW Ontario and yes, those arrays are everywhere. I believe that Ontario Hydro had a buy-back deal for power and assisted with the financing of all these arrays.
I think the project is over by what my parents were telling me in June.
http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/ontario-buys-solar-electricity-from-homeowners/
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2011/02/14/17264921.html
The program is offered by the Ontario Power Authority and is called the MicroFIT program. It is an ongoing project with the new version of the program being released last month. Check out: http://microfit.powerauthority.on.ca/
Basically it is a 20 year contract to sell green energy to the Province. Green energy includes solar photovoltaic, wind, waterpower and bioenergy. For solar they are offering 54.9 cents per kilowatt for roof mounted arrays and 44.5 cents per kilowatt for none rooftop. It is a good deal.
Application is a multi step process. The first step is to ensure that your local connecting station/feeder has the capacity to accept the power. You can do this on line through Hydro One. If there is no capacity on your line you are out of luck.
I am in the process of making the applications. I am looking at a 6.5KW system on my garage roof. If I can get it is a good deal it will pay out about $500 per month for twenty years. The total cost in my case is about $35,000.
Henry, what is the watt size of each of your nine solar panels?
Don't forget that these systems DO NOT PROVIDE ELECTRICITY WHEN THE GRID IS DOWN....
Just so you know.
If you want to use it as an income generating vehicle, then it is fine.
When the grid is up the arrays are generating income. If the grid goes down for an extended period a little rewiring and Bob's your uncle. It's a win, win situation.
Wont a CME or EMP fry the array? We have only an 85 watt set of panels in the seacan collecting dust currently.
The consensus is that the panels will survive an EMP but the control units would be fried. A CME would bring down the grid but the control units might survive.
IRCC - You're not talking about a little rewiring. You're talking about a complete rebuild. The only re-usable equipment would be the solar panels themselves. Everything else would be different.
Thank you Greenguy, I know. I have everything I need too. I also have a separate solar system for the house although my house is not off grid. This system has been up and running for over ten years. I just keep expanding, this Microfit system is on a separate building and a separate meter.
Folks remember that the FIT & MICRO FIT programs are designed to FEED THE GRID and are NOT intended to be used in an OFF Grid senario, in fact your 20 year contract will be null & void if OPG catches you playing with the system.
That being said with some modifications in a SHTF senario the system can certainly be used as an OFF Grid System, you will need to modify the wiring and purchase a bank of batteries and charge controlers which REALLY adds the $ up quickly...
theres lots of solid state charge controllers out there, that would be well-protected by a faraday box. even if the big bertha controller gets cooked, solid states will provide reliability for as long as the panels will....
(still tryin to figure out how to get in que with these msgs)
Git'r'dun or You'r'dun
BabylonDone.....and honestly if your home to monitor things you don't even need the charge controller... I have 1000 watts tied direct, and 1500 through a MPPT.
Chimo...
When All else fails--BIP--