 Photovoltaic Systems
Imagine
living in a home where you provide all your own electricity, from the sun that
shines on your roof...
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it cost?
Ballpark cost for a modest sized home system, installed, starts at $20,000.
Cost and energy payback information is available here.
How will it work for my building?
The first step is to book a
Renewable Energy Assessment with VREC, which is a consulting service that
will provide you with a report on your building's suitability for solar and what
the costs and output would be for your specific conditions. Cost of this
assessment is credited against your purchase of a system and installation from
us. Call VREC at 778-869-8333 to book your
assessment or email
assessments@vanrenewable.org .
Is there enough sun here?
Yes, there is enough sun in rainy Metro Vancouver to generate
electricity. The system pictured above provides 100% of the electricity needed
for this small, energy conserving household and at last check was producing
slightly more electricity than originally estimated. . The systems are carefully
sized using weather data for the location, shading at the site and other
factors. .
Will it pay for itself?
A
photovoltaic system will save enough money to recover the cost of the system in
Washington State and Ontario (and Japan, and Germany and....). BC is not yet
there, as the utility has not yet chosen not to offer a preferential rate for
green electricity sold to the grid.
Currently, a PV system is more like a hybrid vehicle; it saves energy,
but is generally installed more for environmental or energy security benefits.
It is a cost-effective and silent alternative to generators for a building not yet on or
near the grid, or in some cases as a building-integrated application in
substitution for wall sheathing.
Background info on solar energy from the David Suzuki Foundation
Can I see one you've installed?
 You can see and touch one of our installations at the
Society Promoting Environmental Conservation,
which will happily give you a tour of their system. The system shown at lower right is the first grid-tied PV system in Vancouver,
designed and installed by VREC. (See our
photo gallery for more pictures of
installations. Or click here to view live
production data from this system.) The one above it is the first
ever grid-tied photovoltaic system in North Vancouver, a system which provides
all the electrical power for a single family home.
Can I sell excess power to BC Hydro? Are there any grants or incentives?
Widely used in parts of the US, Germany and
Japan, and in remote regions of BC, photovoltaic systems are just breaking
the surface in BC cities. BC Hydro recently (2004) has allowed renewable
energy systems to connect directly to the grid, allowing you to use the grid
as a rechargeable battery -- selling surplus power to the grid to be
used by others and taking it back when you need a little extra.
Because grid tie systems haven't been possible till recently, the first
systems in many municipalities are yet to be installed. VREC has installed
the first such systems in Vancouver and North Vancouver and has experience
arranging for permits and grid interconnection in municipalities that are
unfamiliar with photovoltaics.
The only provincial incentive currently for photovoltaics is that the
equipment is PST-exempt. Prime plus one financing from CCEC Credit
Union is available on purchases up to $10,000 for VREC
customers buying renewable energy systems.
Can I be completely independent in case the power goes out?
If you want to be completely off-grid or to have fuel and noise free backup
power in an emergency, you can add a battery bank to store the power on-site for
later use.
How do I get started on making my home solar electric?
Call VREC at 778-869-8333or email
assessments@vanrenewable.org to arrange
for us to
assess your building for it's suitability for this system and provide a
quote, shade analysis and report. Cost for this consulting service (currently
$200 for a residential photovoltaic system, $300 for multiple systems (e.g.
photovoltaic and solar hot water) and $400 for commercial systems) is credited against the price of a system
purchased from and
installed by VREC. More
information about the assessment report and what it contains is available here.
What do VREC clients think of their systems?
"I would like
to thank you guys for all your help in getting the Solar system installed. It
has been a few years since I started this project and it was awesome to see it
actually happen and in just a few days. Your guys help certainly made the
process easier, faster, and I feel much more confident that by going this route,
as opposed to DIY, that the electrical work was done professionally and will
pass inspection with flying colours. Darren did a great job of managing the
project, getting everyone involved, and his attention to detail would make any
Virgo happy."
- Doug Horn, VREC client, proud owner of the first
grid-tied PV system in North Vancouver, whose system was featured on the cover
of
Home Power
magazine summer 2007.
VREC clients Laura Iwan and Brian Gulayets talk about why they chose to
install photovoltaics in a
recent
Georgia Straight Article, in the
video linked here, and in a Recent
BurnabyNow article
Video - VREC Clients
VREC client Wally Martin talks about the
photovoltaic system installed on his bed and breakfast hotel
in the LangleyAdvance newspaper.
Customer Doug Horn helping install the photovoltaic
system on his roof in North Vancouver. With building owner's consent,
owner and volunteer help where appropriate helps keep costs down and
builds skills. |
VREC electrician Darren Anderson an customer Doug Horn
in front of the wiring and inverter. |
Call us at
778.869.8333 in Vancouver or email us at
assessments@vanrenewable.org
| 
