FAQ

Up to now, most of the solar systems have been installed in fields outside urban areas, often on agricultural land or fields where forests could grow. This is attracting increasing criticism from environmental groups. Yet roof tops and parking lots, which rarely bring revenue and instead compound the problem of urban warming due to their heat absorption, can instead provide excellent opportunities for the production of solar electricity and revenue generation.

Solar power is also ideally suited for urban and industrial environments for several reasons. It can be deployed with minimum or no visual impact, it has no moving parts to make noise or cause safety issues, and it offers reliable production well beyond its warranty period of 25 years. Also, because solar panels are designed to absorb the sun rays, they do not produce the invasive reflections of windows and shiny materials and often extend the life of rooftops by significantly reducing the direct exposure from sun rays.

Clearly, solar power is the ideal non-intrusive and long lasting solution for roof top deployment.

A solar PV system is a major investment, which will have payback typically within 8-10 years under the Ontario FIT program. Factoring normal risks associated with the uncertainty of the revenues and with other factors which can affect the performance over a 20+ year life expectancy, this represents a financial decision to make with caution.

This is why SolPowered believes such investments may be better suited for professional companies who are dedicated to this field. To this end, SolPowered offers to finance this investment allowing building owners to obtain a risk-free lease revenue and play their part in our collective environmental responsibility towards the planet.

Many people associate solar energy with the south. Many northern regions offer excellent solar production potential because of their longer summer days and clear spring and fall days. Also, because of the colder climate and cleaner environment, solar panels will operate at a higher efficiency level than most hot and dusty southern locations.

All photovoltaic technologies can qualify provided that the local content requirements of the Green Energy Act of Ontario are met. Crystalline panels have been deployed for decades and deliver higher efficiency. This means that they produce more electricity for the same panel area. Alternatively, various thin film technologies have emerged in recent years offering lower cost per watt. Since they have different attributes and manufacturing techniques, these technologies can be offered in a higher variability of sizes and shapes, but can require as much as twice the area of crystalline panels to produce the same amount of electricity.

In general, it will take approximately one year from the initial sign off of the lease agreement to the final project completion. This is because several contractual and legal steps must be undertaken, including the application for a FIT contract, a connection agreement and a renewable energy authorization. In addition, financing must be completed and properly attached to the project before procurement of the components can proceed and installation scheduled.

Absolutely! A solar PV system provides energy and technology/innovation points under the LEED certification program.

Not under the Ontario FIT program as the tariff supplied for the electricity sold by the generator considers the purchase of any environmental benefits such as carbon credits.

Where possible, SolPowered prefers to work with the original roof manufacturer in order to maintain the original roof warranty. When this is not be possible or desired, SolPowered will subcontract the work to one of its partner roofing and waterproofing companies and provide a standard leak-free warranty. In addition, SolPowered insures every project against potential damages which could originate from its installation. Notwithstanding the above, the objective of every project remains to avoid or reduce penetrations to an absolute minimum.

Panels weigh on average 2.3 lb/ft² (11.5 kg/m²) and the racking is made of lightweight aluminum. Depending on the tilt used and space left in between rows, the equipment weight load will remain between xx and yy lb/ft². Typically, since the tilt of the panels is kept low, the downward forces will be kept at a fraction of the snow load of 50 lb/ft² which roofs in the northern cities like Ottawa must comply with. In addition, upward forces can be eliminated or drastically reduced with the addition of back panels as needed.

Nevertheless, wind loads and snow loads are key design criteria of every system and are handled case by case by our qualified structural design engineers to ensure that the installation complies with the local building design code.