Solar Photovoltaic (PV) incentives

List of incentives
Incentives Benefits Eligibility How to apply Resources

What is a solar photovoltaic (PV), behind-the-meter, and load displacement

Solar PV systems convert sunlight into electrical energy that can offset the electricity consumption for your commercial building.

Behind-the-meter generation refers to technologies that generate energy that are located on the customer’s end of the utility meter, and include solar PV systems.

Load displacement occurs when the electricity generated from a solar PV system is used exclusively to meet the commercial building’s electricity consumption needs.

Available incentives for solar PV

  • Incentives are available for small and large commercial, industrial and institutional participants who are interested in behind-the-meter solar installations to displace their load and reduce their demand on the grid under Prescriptive Retrofit stream
  • Two categories of Solar PVs are available, with incentives for microgeneration and small-medium generation projects capped at up to 50% of the eligible project costs
    1. Microgeneration projects ≤10 kW of direct current (DC) capacity eligible for $1,000/kW-DC
    2. Small-medium generation projects >10 kW up to 1 MW of alternating current (AC) capacity eligible for $860/kW-AC
      • Small-medium projects > 1MW-AC are eligible to apply, however, the incentive will be capped at 1 MW-AC

Key benefits

Receive Retrofit incentive for up to 50% of eligible project costs for solar PV system.

Reduce costs by lowering metered energy consumption.

Generate clean, renewable energy year-round.

Decrease greenhouse gas emissions.1

1Any references to energy savings, cost savings or greenhouse gas reductions are based on the assumption that participants are reducing their energy use through the Retrofit program.

Who can apply

Building owners or lessees of commercial spaces including but not limited to below are eligible (lessees must have owner’s consent or authorization to participate):

  • large offices, malls and shopping centres
  • commercial spaces with parking lot canopies
  • municipal buildings, universities, colleges, schools, hospitals
  • hotels, multi-residential buildings
  • industrial facilities

Solar PV must be mounted on new or existing building rooftop(s) or walls.

How it works

General process

  1. Contact your local distribution company (LDC) to discuss the connection process and the allowable maximum capacity of the solar PV system
  2. Sign up for a Retrofit Portal account, if you do not already have an account, as an account is required to submit a Retrofit application to apply for any incentives under the program
  3. Complete worksheet and submit a Retrofit application for review through the Save on Energy Retrofit portal and receive an application pre-approval
    • A Retrofit application must be submitted before entering into a binding commitment for the solar PV project to be eligible for a Retrofit incentive (e.g., purchase order for solar PV must not be issued before a Retrofit application is submitted)
  4. Receive approval to connect from your LDC and install your project
  5. Receive approval from Save on Energy for your post-project Retrofit application and Retrofit incentive invoice

Deadline

To qualify for a Retrofit incentive, you must complete the steps above no later than 24 months after your Retrofit application is pre-approved.

Infographic

Customer journey for solar PV application process with swim lanes.

When to apply for funding steps for Ottawa Solar DER

LDCs: grid connection authority to approve solar PV connection to grid

SOE Representative/Vendor: Retrofit application review and approval

Applicant: building owner/lessee implementing solar PV, receives incentive

Resources

Contact

For Retrofit inquiries and application support:
Retrofit Support Services

For grid connection inquiries:
LDC contacts

  • Contacts for Ontario LDCs