Banff’s plans to install a solar photovoltaic system on the roof of the Fenlands recreation centre – which will be the largest in the Bow Valley – will cost the municipality much less than initially thought.
The municipality will install a $489,000 grid-tied solar PV (photovoltaic) system, which is 280 kW in size, on the rec centre’s roof. The system is expected to be up and running by the end of June.
Town officials say federal funding will cover half of the costs up to $244,000, and recently announced provincial funding of $131,575 is based on the kW solar capacity installed.
“As a result, the proportion of the installation cost that will be paid for by the Town has declined, and we estimate the Town will pay for approximately 23 per cent of installation costs, rather than the 33 per cent initially estimated,” said Shannon Ripley, the Town’s environmental manager.
The PV system, which includes 950 modules on three of the Fenlands’ roof surfaces, will also be bigger than originally planned.
“The proposed system is one-third larger than originally planned based on early budget estimates, as sharp declines in the price of solar modules over the past year allowed the proponent to design a larger system for less cost,” said Ripley.
Meanwhile, the Town of Banff will review its municipal solar PV incentive program this year, which, when approved in 2015, was the first program of its kind in Canada.
Property owners eligible to participate install a solar system and then receive production-based top-up payments. The program aims to reduce the simple payback for installed solar systems to seven years.
The review will include analyzing what top-up amounts have been paid to program participants so far and whether adjustments to payment rates need to be made to meet the goal of the program.
In addition, the province has announced a rebate program worth $36 million for solar installations on residential and commercial buildings. It’s estimated the rebate will reduce residential solar installation costs by up to 30 per cent, and 25 per cent for businesses.
Once details on that rebate program are known, Ripley said, details will be used in the review of Banff’s incentive program, to determine what appropriate top-up rates should be available for 2017 participants.
Ripley said it’s expected the provincial solar rebate program may increase the number of applicants to the Banff municipal solar incentive program.
She said the program keeps the seven-year payback goal and the provincial rebate will decrease the amount the Town pays.
“Therefore, it may make it possible for the Town to support a larger number of applicants for the same program cost,” she said.
The 2017 deadline for Banff’s solar PV incentive program is April 28. An information session on the program will be held Thursday (April 6) from 7-8:30 p.m. at 101 Bear Street.
