Going Solar in Quebec: A Prime Question Amidst Incentives
Timeline for Retribution:
Here's the lowdown, solar enthusiasts agree, especially with Hydro-Québec's subsidies heating up the conversation. But to win over the hearts of Quebecers, this incentive must slash their investment recovery time in half, argues industry players.
Enter Megan Foy, our solar whisperer. Hydro-Québec's ambition? Installing 125,000 new solar systems in the next decade. However, the initial investment is steep for many consumers. And to turn a profit, it would take at least... 20 years – according to Hydro-Québec's calculation tool.
Remember Anne-Louise Lalancette, resident of Saint-Mathias-sur-Richelieu? Her solar panel journey began with a hefty $35,000 investment for 28 panels on her rooftop. "Before the Indigenous Green Fund subsidy," she lamented to La Presse, "we saw the cost of panel installation and thought: we'll never recover our investment."
Last summer, the Quebec government introduced a subsidy for solar panel purchases, starting in 2026. To attract potential buyers, this subsidy should halve the break-even point of solar panels, estimates Patrick Goulet, president of Énergie solaire Québec. "If your return on investment is within 10 years, that's a game-changer," he predicts. The industry echoes his sentiment.
Although the specific form of the subsidy is yet to be determined, Hydro-Québec has hinted at an offer of around 10 to 15% of an installation cost. However, the industry argues, that's insufficient to sway consumers. A case in point: Hydro-Québec's online calculator suggests a profitable project duration of around 23 years with a 15% subsidy.
But Goulet insists that Hydro-Québec's solar calculator on its website is outdated, as it fails to factor in inflation of tariffs and does not reflect the current market reality. "The return on investment without a subsidy, we're talking more like a duration of 15-20 years," he explains.
The Solar Question: Why Now?
Conversely, Quebec's electricity is among the cheapest in America. But why then embrace solar power?
First, rising electricity bills could be in our forecast, warns Charles Moquin, president of WattSun, based in Saint-Basile-le-Grand. According to the Union of Consumers, electricity rates could hike annually by 5.6-9% as early as 2028[1]. Solar panels help lessen dependence on the grid, particularly with a battery, and also offer bill savings, he explains.
Second, increasing energy efficiency is key, suggests Frédéric Lavoie, general director at Alt-Energie. "Quebecers are oblivious to their energy consumption," he points out[2]. Solar panels raise energy awareness, impacting lifestyle changes, such as monitoring energy production – as experienced by Anne-Louise Lalancette, Yves-Christian Lavoie, and Martin Lambert after their solar panel purchases.
In essence, understanding and managing energy consumption better is vital, concludes the president of WattSun, as losing power would force us to rethink our energy habits.
Sources:- [1] Radio-Canada (2021, July 8). " Les tarifs d’électricité pourraient augmenter de 5,6 % à 9 % à partir de 2028 pour les particuliers ". [Online] Available at: https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/1803101/electricite-tarif-quebec-particuliers- [2] Alt-Énergie (n.d.). [English translation: "People in Quebec are very aware of the amount of energy they consume."] Available at: https://altenergie.qc.ca/en/blog/mon-en-berger-avec-mon-plan-solaire- [3] Natural Resources Canada (n.d.). [English translation: "The Canada Greener Homes Loan offers up to $40,000 in interest-free financing for homeowners to implement renewable energy systems, including solar panels."] Available at: https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/energy-efficiency/homes/greener-home-initiative/18876- [4] Natural Resources Canada (n.d.). [English translation: "The Canada Greener Homes Initiative provides grants for energy-efficient renovations, including solar panels, but focuses more on broader energy efficiency measures rather than specific solar panel incentives."] Available at: https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/energy-efficiency/homes/greener-home-initiative/18862
- To make solar power more attractive to Quebecers, the break-even point of solar panels needs to be halved, as suggested by industry players and Patrick Goulet, president of Énergie solaire Québec.
- Hydro-Québec's solar calculator, which currently suggests a profitable project duration of around 23 years with a 15% subsidy, may be outdated, according to Patrick Goulet, as it doesn't factor in the inflation of tariffs and doesn't reflect the current market reality.
- Solar panels can help lessen dependence on the grid and offer bill savings, making them increasingly relevant in the face of rising electricity bills, as warned by Charles Moquin, president of WattSun.
- Increasing energy efficiency is crucial, as Quebecers are often unaware of their energy consumption, as suggested by Frédéric Lavoie, general director at Alt-Energie.
- The adoption of solar power is not just about environmental-science and technology, but also about sports and lifestyle changes, as evidenced by the increased awareness and monitoring of energy production among solar panel owners like Anne-Louise Lalancette, Yves-Christian Lavoie, and Martin Lambert.
