Solar

Solar power is attracting growing interest in Canada, led by Ontario, which has introduced a feed-in tariff program as part of its Green Energy Act. Ontario is the first North American jurisdiction to adopt a feed-in-tariff model. Similar programs in Germany and Spain have helped propel those countries to world leadership in both solar power generation and component manufacturing.

Ontario’s available sunlight is comparable to that in northern Spain, where solar projects contribute impressively to electricity supply. It is also twice as intense as levels found in most of central and northern Germany, where solar farms and architecturally integrated solar panels provide large amounts of power to the electrical grid.

The Ontario FIT Program includes domestic content requirements that mandate a percentage of locally made equipment. This feature aims to boost the province’s manufacturing sector, to provide green jobs, to spur solar development efforts and to reduce component costs through economies of scale.

The most common solar power technology uses silicon-based solar cells to produce electricity by the photovoltaic (PV) effect. This technology is well proven and reliable, but costs remain high, mainly due to the cost of silicon used in the cells. New PV technologies, such as thin film photovoltaics, may emerge as commercially viable solar power options.

Northland has received more than 200 MW of FIT contracts. In addition, we are actively seeking joint-venture partners for new rooftop- and land-based projects.

Typically, we lease land or roof space from owners, providing stable long-term revenues with no upfront capital investment required.

To learn more about choosing a solar partner, see our Decision Tool.