#Ottawa friends, any recommendations/experiences with Solar+Battery installs? Helping my folks out with deciding between a natural gas type system as opposed to a Solar+battery backup system (Which can use the federal Credit)
Also not sure from the website if you can do the 1k/kWh up to 5k rebate/grant and also do the up to 1k in batteries grant
(I think no, but unsure, meaning up to 4K for solar, 1k for battery/inverter etc. )
Eligible retrofits and grant amounts
Eligible retrofits and grant amounts As part of the Canada Greener Homes Initiative, you have access to:natural-resources.canada.ca
Andrew Dunham
in reply to FCLC • • •My understanding of the grant for batteries is that:
1) it must be connected to a solar system, so batteries by themselves don’t count
2) you can get up to $1000 per kW of solar, plus up to $1000 for batteries, but the total amount is still capped at $5000 for all items in the grant (batteries, solar, other stuff like water heaters or insulation, etc.)
So in your case, $4k for solar + $1k for batteries, not $5k for solar + $1k for batteries (unfortunately)
Alan Sill
in reply to Andrew Dunham • • •FCLC
in reply to Alan Sill • • •Slight problem is that it's Canadian monopoly money, so lop ~25% off the top for USD equivalent. 😅
They have a 100A panel as things stand, but either way it's going to need some sort of retrofit, be it generator or solar
Alan Sill
in reply to FCLC • • •Alan Sill
in reply to Alan Sill • • •Andrew Dunham
in reply to FCLC • • •Alan Sill
in reply to Andrew Dunham • • •FCLC
in reply to Alan Sill • • •Yeah, here the problem that I'm helping them solve is the question of "when we get a tornado in July, hail/ice storm in August or blizzard in January, how do we still power the home?"
So all in one NG generator is appealing as all weather "always works" solution.
Alternative is a battery backup system, but that's not self sufficient unless you add Solar generation of some sort.
Andrew Dunham
in reply to FCLC • • •So, here's my view on things: if you're primarily interested in backing up the house, solar + batteries will unfortunately be substantially more expensive than a NG generator, much as I'd prefer it wasn't. The two options I'd throw out there, instead of just a generator, would be:
1. The newer Enphase units have something called "Sunlight Backup", where they can power the house as long as there's enough sun shining without needing a battery. It's still not super cheap, but cheaper than batteries and you can always add those later. Unfortunately, our climate has too many clouds for this to be super reliable, but it's an option.
2. My actual recommendation for many people is to install an "inlet" and a transfer switch that you can plug arbitrary things into; you wire your critical circuits into the transfer switch, and then when the power goes out, plug in something that provides power and flip over to that. Something like this:
... show moreSo, here's my view on things: if you're primarily interested in backing up the house, solar + batteries will unfortunately be substantially more expensive than a NG generator, much as I'd prefer it wasn't. The two options I'd throw out there, instead of just a generator, would be:
1. The newer Enphase units have something called "Sunlight Backup", where they can power the house as long as there's enough sun shining without needing a battery. It's still not super cheap, but cheaper than batteries and you can always add those later. Unfortunately, our climate has too many clouds for this to be super reliable, but it's an option.
2. My actual recommendation for many people is to install an "inlet" and a transfer switch that you can plug arbitrary things into; you wire your critical circuits into the transfer switch, and then when the power goes out, plug in something that provides power and flip over to that. Something like this:
https://www.homedepot.ca/product/reliance-controls-30-amp-7500-watt-6-circuit-indoor-transfer-switch-kit/1001061740
The nice property of having an inlet is that you can plug in a gas/natural gas/propane generator, but also the newer "solar generator" products that are solar + batteries + inverter as a portable unit. An Ecoflow is my usual recommendation here.
Alan Sill
in reply to Andrew Dunham • • •Alan Sill
in reply to Alan Sill • • •BESS costs could fall 47% by 2030, says NREL
Cameron Murray (Energy-Storage.News)FCLC
in reply to Andrew Dunham • • •1/2 Whilst I'm continuing to dig, something I noticed is that Enbridge has a program that works in tandem with the federal Greener Homes Grant up to 10K.
They retain the 5K max on solar, 1K per kW limit, but it looks like it decouples the "up to 1K" on batteries.
main page: https://www.enbridgegas.com/residential/rebates-energy-conservation/home-efficiency-rebate-plus#section_2
T&Cs: https://www.enbridgegas.com/residential/rebates-energy-conservation/~/link.aspx?_id=38C3A680BDCC430585711C147EDBBBF5&_z=z
I think you could feasibly do 5k grants in solar, 1k in battery infra, then be on the hook for: [continues in next toot]
Home Efficiency Rebate Plus | Enbridge Gas
www.enbridgegas.comFCLC
in reply to FCLC • • •2/2
The cost difference in 5kW of solar and the 5kW grant (Any rough idea on what the real world cost/kW of solar installed is including labour and infrastructure?)
From there, out of pocket for a few grant worth of batteries?
"direct comparables" AKA the NG generator they're looking at is a Honeywell 22KW NG unit
generator + transfer switch is ~7k (costco honeywell 22kW model, unit here: https://www.honeywellstore.com/store/products/wifi-22kw-home-stand-by-generator-70652.htm) + labour and other fees
Honeywell 7065 22kW Air Cooled Home Standby Generator | Honeywell
www.honeywellstore.comAlan Sill
in reply to FCLC • • •Alan Sill
in reply to Alan Sill • • •