As it relates to
the homeowner, Ontario's micro Feed-in Tariff (microFIT), is the first
legislation of its kind in North America to provide the opportunity to develop
a small or 'micro' renewable-electricity generation project of 10 KWh or less
in size on your property, . There is a program available for power generation
greater than 10 Kw. Types of renewable energy that can be utilized includes:
Solar photovoltaic (PV)
On-shore and off-shore wind
Biomass
Biogas
Landfill gas
Waterpower
We are going to focus on Solar photovoltaic (PV) power in this blog. This program is managed by the Ontario Power Authority
(OPA).
microFIT is for smaller projects — less than 10 kW
Under the
microFIT program, you will be paid a guaranteed, premium price for all the
electricity your project produces for at least 20 years.
Once you've
selected a renewable energy technology and developed a project plan, signing up
for the microFIT program is straightforward. You apply online, there's
minimal paperwork, and there's no application fee.
The rules for
this program have changed as of July 12, 2012. It is best to go to the
website noted below to read about the specific changes for Version
2.0. I was fortunate to have my contract completed with the
original tariff of .802 cents per Kw/hr which makes my particular project
viable. As of July 12 the tariff is now 54.9 cents per Kw/hr
The steps to a complete install under microFIT
( this list is not definitive – please go to the OPA.com website and read
all the documents-remember this contract is for 20 years!)
- Register with the Ontario Power Authority OPA.com
- Submit an applicatIon for a MicroFIT installation
- Receive approval of the application from the OPA with your MicroFIT number
- Find an installer –and make your deal-but don’t pay them yet and don’t start installation or order materials yet.
- Apply to the local LDC for capacity confirmation- you have 30 days to apply for an Offer to Connect from the OPA approval date
- They will notify the OPA that there is/isn’t capacity. If there is, you will receive an Application Approval Notice -check your mailbox on the MicorFit website
- Once you receive a confirmation of connection (now you can pay your installer an installment and start the process of installatio
- With the Application Approval Notice from the OPA you can fill out a MicroFIT Generation Connection Application and supply a SLD (single line drawing
- The LDC will supply back a service layout with necessary design requirements and an invoice for the construction costs (services provided by the LDC)
You are now ready to install your system.
• After the installation-the ESA (Electrical Safety Authority) must
approve the installation and provide a number/certificate. You have 180
days to provide the Connection Authorization from the ESA to the OPA.
There are
also a number of steps your LDC may ask you to follow after you commission your
system. In my case (Powerstream) it is as follows:
- Customer completes the Commissioning Verification Form and submits to PowerStream
- PowerStream issues a Connection Agreement to the customer.
- Customer signs and returns the Connection Agreement to PowerStream.
- PowerStream updates the OPA with the project’s connected status.
- OPA issues a Contract to the customer.
- Customer accepts the OPA Contract.
- OPA informs PowerStream of a new OPA Contract.
- PowerStream starts payments as per PowerStream billing cycle.
The process is
not as onerous as it seems and your installer will help you through the
process. Make sure that this is part of your installer agreement that all
forms where applicable are filled out by them. As well, though do not
provide your installer with your OPA microsite web password. They are
there to help with the technical details but you are still responsible for the
project.
The Rest
of the World
Other countries have had success with MicroFIT. Germany in May 2012, generated 22 gigawatts of power at mid-day, which was 50% of Germanys power requirements, a world record. It has had a FIT program in place for a number of years.Utilities and consumer groups have complained the FIT for solar power adds about 2 cents per kilowatt/hour on top of electricity prices in Germany that are already among the highest in the world with consumers paying about 23 cents per kw/h.German consumers pay about 4 billion euros ($5 billion) per year on top of their electricity bills for solar power, according to a 2012 report by the Environment Ministry.
As well, since PV generation is not consistent it has produced greater stress on the electrical distribution system. Merkel's centre-right government has tried to accelerate cuts in the FIT, which has fallen by between 15 and 30 percent per year, to nearly 40 percent this year to levels below 20 cents per kw/h. But the upper house of parliament, the Bundesrat, has blocked it.
As of May 2012 the U.K version of Fit was paying 21p generation tariff for installations up to and including 4kWp solar PV. But for some reason PV installations have fallen off the cliff.
PV Magazine
constantly updates and runs a website that provides a rundown on FIT programs
and incentives around the world.
This is a link
to a website that a blogger has put together about FIT projects around the
world:
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