Solar Tariffs Spurring PV Growth in North America

July 21, 2006

New PV in Ontario 20 Times Average Installation Rate Says CanSIA

by Paul Gipe

Solar photovoltaic tariffs in Washington State and Ontario, Canada have spurred new sales and installations since the programs were announced, say participants.

In both jurisdictions, installations have proceeded before final regulations and contracts have been finalized, indicating strong pent-up demand.

The Northwest Solar Center's Mike Nelson, architect of the Washington State tariffs, reports that 250-300 kW of new PV systems have been installed since the program was announced. Regulations implementing the program were recently finalized.

The Canadian Solar Industries Association's Rob McMonagle says that in Ontario there are 500 kW of PV systems in the pipeline since the province announced its Standard Offer Program March 21. McMonagle notes that the capacity is evenly split between commercial and residential applications and comprises 100-200 systems.

Ontario has long been a backwater of on-grid PV. The current amount of new capacity booked is twenty times the average installation rate in the province and five times the total Canada-wide installation rate.

As in Washington State, customers in Ontario are not waiting for implementing regulations and contracts before placing their orders.

CanSIA estimates that Ontario's Standard Offer program will result in 15,000 PV systems with a combined capacity of 40 MW by 2011.

For more information on developments in Washington State, contact Mike Nelson, Northwest Solar Center, mike.nelson@northwestsolarcenter.org, 206 396 8446, www.northwestsolarcenter.org.

For more information on developments in Ontario, Canada, contact Rob McMonagle, CanSIA, rmcmonagle@cansia.ca, 613 736 9077, www.cansia.ca.

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