What is the SolarBC Institutional Incentive?

The SolarBC Institutional Incentive provides an incentive to British Columbia organizations in the institutional sector which install a qualifying solar water system.

Who funds the SolarBC Institutional Incentive?

The SolarBC Institutional Incentive is part of the SolarBC Program which is funded by the Government of British Columbia, and is delivered in cooperation with Natural Resources Canada's (NRCan) federal ecoENERGY for Renewable Heat program. This collaboration provides a one-stop service to B.C. applicants who plan to install a qualifying solar water system at an eligible property. The SolarBC Program is delivered by the B.C. Sustainable Energy Association (BCSEA).

When did the SolarBC Program start and when does it end?

The SolarBC Program is planned to operate from April 1, 2008 to March 31, 2011.

How much is the SolarBC incentive?

• The SolarBC incentive complements the ecoENERGY for Renewable Heat incentive with a maximum of $40,000 per project.
  
  The incentive is calculated as follows:
  
  Performance Factor x Incentive Rate x collector area = anticipated incentive amount
  • Performance Factor is the predetermined factor for the collector installed. This factor can be found on the List of Accepted Collectors. The performance factor attributed to the collector that you have selected will be valid as of the date of reception of your CDI-2008 application.
  • Incentive Rate is the incentive per m² for each collector type. Find the collector rate on the Incentive Rate table.
  • Area is the total installed collector area in square meters
• In the case of municipalities and not-for-profit applicants, the total project funding from all levels of government is limited to 100 per cent of eligible project costs.

Who qualifies for the SolarBC incentive?

A local government, a social or affordable housing provider or a First Nations institution located in B.C., which qualifies for a financial incentive for the installation of a solar water system under the federal ecoENERGY for Renewable Heat program is eligible for the SolarBC program.

To qualify for the SolarBC program, an applicant must first be approved for a Contribution Agreement under the ecoENERGY for Renewable Heat program.

How do I apply to the SolarBC program?

• An applicant must submit to NRCan:
  • A signed ecoENERGY for Renewable Heat Application Form for solar water heating PDF (110 KB)
    
  • A signed BCSEA Consent and Release Form.
• Both federal and provincial forms must be submitted together to ecoENERGY for Renewable Heat.

N.B.: An applicant does not have to submit any information to SolarBC.

NRCan will review these forms and will inform SolarBC of its decision as to whether or not to fund the project. Once it receives confirmation that the project will be funded by NRCan, SolarBC will then issue a program acceptance letter to the applicant.

When do I receive my SolarBC incentive?

Once the project is commissioned and the amount payable under the ecoENERGY for Renewable Heat is approved by NRCan, NRCan will inform SolarBC program administrators that it is initiating payment of the rebate to the applicant under the terms of the NRCan Contribution Agreement. The SolarBC program administrators will initiate the SolarBC incentive payment to the applicant.

Will information from my application be kept private?

• Yes. Signed BCSEA Consent Forms authorize NRCan and BCSEA to share information. It will be managed in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act in British Columbia and the federal Access to Information Act and Privacy Act.
• As public funds are used to support the ecoENERGY for Renewable Heat and SolarBC programs, projects that have Contribution Agreements may be posted on NRCan's and/or SolarBC web sites. The information posted may include the name of the recipient, type of system installed, location of installation, projected system output, government contribution amounts and expected or actual date of commissioning of the system.

Whom can I contact with my questions?

For BCSEA:

Attention: Nitya Harris
Executive Director, SolarBC
5-4217 Glanford Avenue
Victoria, B.C. V8Z 4B9
Phone: 250-590-6370
E-Mail: nharris@solarbc.ca
Web Site: http://www.solarbc.ca

For Program Eligibility and Qualifying Products:

ecoENERGY for Renewable Heat
Renewable and Electrical Energy Division
Natural Resources Canada
615 Booth Street, Room 150
Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0E9
Fax: 1-613-943-6517
E-Mail: ecoenergyrhp@nrcan.gc.ca