Client Name: Undisclosed
Location: London, Ontario
Size: 250kW
Date: Fall 2011
Module: Siliken 245 watt poly crystalline w/ Kaco inverters

Solsmart Energy Solutions Inc, one of Ontario’s most experienced EPC solar developers is proud to announce the installation of a 250kW solar PV system at 3508 Wonderland Rd in London, ON. This green energy project qualifies for a Feed-In Tariff (FIT) contract and the electricity generated will feed into London Hydro’s distribution grid for use by local energy consumers. The solar system will generate approximately 265,000 kilo-watt-hours per year which is enough to power over 20 homes in the area. Solsmart’s in-house team of installers and electricians completed the rooftop installation on time and on budget in just 6 weeks.

“Congratulations on your work. It is the most ‘German’ looking PV installation I’ve seen up to now in Ontario, and this is meant as a compliment!” Paco Caudet, General Manager Siliken Canada

In accordance with the Green Energy Act Domestic Content guideline, the solar system was designed and built in Ontario with high quality components from Siliken Canada (Solar Modules), Schetter Canada (Racking) and Kaco New Energy (Electrical Inverters).

About Solsmart Energy Solutions Inc.

Based in Toronto, SolSmart Energy Solutions Inc.(ECRA/ESA  # 7008348) is a full service EPC provider of Solar Photovoltaic (Feed-In Tariff) and Solar Thermal systems for the residential, commercial and industrial rooftop markets.  In business since 2004, SolSmart in-house team of designers, installers and electricians offer proven experience, quality workmanship and professional services to all of its clients. www.solsmart.com

About Siliken Canada

Siliken Canada was incorporated as a manufacturing and sales subsidiary, with a production plant in Windsor and headquarters in Toronto. This new production has joined partners in the Siliken group in Spain, Romania and Mexico, offering high quality UL-certified modules to Canadian developers and installers, as required in order to fulfill the Domestic Content Requirements stipulated in the FIT program. Siliken’s module came in 1st place 7 out of 12 times last year in the monthly performance comparison published by the prestigious Photon magazine. http://www.siliken.com

About Schletter Canada Inc.

Schletter Canada Inc. began manufacturing in Windsor, Ontario April of 2010 in order to provide high quality solar mounting systems and services to Canada’s growing solar market with more than 18 years of solar mounting experience from its parent company, Schletter GmbH. The company meets Ontario’s high local-content with solar mounting products for roof and ground mount applications, as well as solar carports. Schletter GmbH operates subsidiaries in more than 11 countries and employees more than 1,800 people worldwide. http://www.schletter.ca.

About KACO new energy

KACO new energy is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of grid-tie inverters for solar energy. KACO’s London Ontario factory offers a comprehensive range of inverters for PV systems for everything from single-family homes to multi-megawatt solar farms. Headquartered in Neckarsulm, Germany, the company has been producing inverters since 1999 and has achieved a cumulative capacity of more than three gigawatts. KACO new energy was the first company in the photovoltaic industry to produce their inverters in a completely CO2-neutral way. http://www.kaco-newenergy.com/

Client Name: Commercial Building
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Size: 168 kW
Date: Fall 2010/Winter 2011
Module: Suntech poly crystalline

This FIT system was installed in stages during the fall of 2010 and winter of 2011. These 14 single axis trackers are located atop the Tippet Richardson building and are visible for the 401 at Warden.  This is a truly unique system designed by RESCO Energy and installed by Solsmart Energy and Bernie Electric. This complex install process involved pre-assembly of the tracking units in the parking area. The trackers where lifted onto the roof by Ontario’s largest crane!

Client Name: Private Residence
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Size: 1.4kW
Date: Summer 2010
Module: Solar World 235 watt mono crystalline w/ Enphase micro-inverters

This small ballast mounted residential system in Toronto will generate approximately $1,500/year in revenue for the homeowner. Even a small MicroFIT solar system can be a good investment and the additional cash flow adds value to the home.

Performance Data: LIVE DATA

Client Name: Private Residence
Location: Etobicoke, Ontario
Size: 3.3kW
Date: Fall 2010
Module: Schuco 225 watt poly crystalline w/ Enphase micro-inverters

This residential system was installed in 2010 and will generate approximately $3,500/year for the homeowners. Solsmart installers have seen it all, including these aluminium roofing shingles!

Performance Data: LIVE DATA

Artist Sketch of 250kW LTC solar project

For more informations, please see:

• London Transit Commission
• Solsmart Energy Solutions Inc.

Client Name: Private Residence
Location: Lawrence Heights, Toronto
Size: 7.38kW
Date: May 2010
Module: Sungen SGM-180D watt

This large 41 module system has modules on the south, east and west to maximize microFIT revenue. The system was installed in early May 2010. The black frame mono-crystalline panels look amazing and the Enphase M190 micro-inverters enable maximum performance.

Performance Data: Pending grid connection

Client: Air Miles/Loyalty One, RESCO

Location: 6696 financial drive, Mississauga
Size: 150kW flat roof, 16kW Carport, 4 Solar Thermal Collectors
Date: November 2009
Module: Sanyo

The recently completed Air Miles / Loyalty One solar systems are a shining example of the future. The LEED certified building includes 150 kW of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels on the flat roof and another 16 kW of PV along with a small four collector demonstration solar thermal system mounted on a parking lot carport visible from the 401 in Mississauga, Ontario.

In a collaborative industry effort, Solsmartís experienced and respected installation and project management team worked with RESCO to successfully install 68 kW on the flat roof portion of the project and the entire PV and thermal systems on the carport.

The Lanark County team can be reached at:

josh@solsmart.com

416-229-2200 ext. 7

Hello World!

Welcome to the first blog post at solsmart.com! This blog is an informal way to for us to discuss all things solar. We are passionate about solar energy, and are eager to share our thoughts, experience and ideas. We look forward to your feedback and comments, so don’t be shy!

As you may (or may not) know, the Feed-In Tariff was launched on October 1^st and people are starting to take notice! This program represents a tectonic shift in Ontario’s energy policy by encouraging the decentralization of power generation. Homeowners and businesses can now install rooftop solar and make profits by selling green electricity back to the grid. Small scale solar is now a lucrative and low-risk investment! Your 20-year fixed price contract allows you to sell every kilowatt-hour of solar energy at seven times the retail price! While this is a first for North America, similar policies have been around for years in countries like Germany, Spain, Denmark. There are, at last count, over 40 nations that have adopted advanced feed-in tariff systems!

Why Feed-In Tariffs? So What? Who Cares?

Well, I can’t help you if you asked the last question, but assuming you do care about renewable energy, about making money and saving the planet, then read on! We are going to take a closer look at Germany to see why this whole thing is so exciting for Ontario!  Not only do they have a very similar climate to us, but the Ontario Feed-In Tariff is essentially a carbon copy (pardon the pun) of the German EEG.

The numbers say it all!

German Solar PV statistic in 2008

• 600,000+ Solar PV installations  (rooftop & ground mount)
• 5,000 MW of Total Capacity
• 1,500 MW of New Capacity/year
• 300,000+ installations  on Home Rooftops
• 800 MW of solar on Home Rooftops every year!
• $3.1 Billion (CDN) in revenue for owners and investors!

Renewable Energy in Germany  – A Brief History

In response to the 70’s oil crisis, Germany invested heavily in coal and nuclear power. The meltdown at Chernobyl in 1986 however had a profound impact on German society and inspired the nation to seek alternative sources of power.  By 1991, the first Feed-In Tariff (Stromeinspeisungsgesetz – say that three times fast!) was launched and after years of tinkering, and since then they have perfected the formula!  The current program the Erneuerbare Energien Gesetz (EEG) was re-launched in 2001 and has officially put Germany at the top of the class. Renewable energy sources now supply over 15% of energy demands. The EEG has allowed Germany EXCEED their Kyoto greenhouse gas reduction target (19% reduction), create over 50,000 solar industry jobs and take advantage of opportunities on a global scale.  All this for a cost of around $50 a year per household!

Freiburg (Solar City) – An image is worth 1000 words

Freiburg Solar Settlement

Freiburg has several solar settlement neighborhoods that produce more energy than they consume! The PlusEnergy homes make Freiburg one shining example of what is possible with today’s solar technology.

Long story short, despite their famously dreary climate, the Feed-In Tariff has allowed Germans to truly embrace renewable energy. Ontario has a long way to go, but there is absolutely nothing preventing us from this type of success. We’ve got it all, the Feed-in Tariff, the sun, the wind, the rain and the snow!

A special thanks to Paul Gipe at www.wind-works.org for the reference material.