On Friday the 13th the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) finalized its Feed-In-Tariff (FIT) rate for small Photovoltaic (PV) solar ground-mount systems at 64.2 ¢/kWh, down from the original 80.2 ¢/kWh. In so doing, the OPA conceded ground on its original proposal to cut rates to 58.8 ¢/kWh.  Perhaps more significantly, the OPA reversed itself and will not force this rate change retroactively on the roughly 11,000 pending ground-mount...

Time to stop digging With the input deadline now a full week behind us, there has been little news from the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) on their proposed changes to the Feed-in-Tariff for residential PV ground-mount systems. Resubmit deadline extended The only notice provided by the OPA thus far has been: “The deadline to resubmit microFIT applications has been extended to September 7, 2010, at 5 p.m.” This decision to...

With its extensive history and successful implementation, the German solar PV Feed-in-Tariff (FIT) program has become the reference for all others. Shortly after the launch of the Ontario FIT program, Deutsche Bank praised the Ontario program by noting, “Two of the most advanced FiTs in our view at present are Germany and Ontario.” Recent proposed changes within the Ontario MicroFIT program (sub 10 kW projects) to distinguish between...

By Adrienne Baker, Director of Canadian Clean Energy Conferences With the Green Energy and Economy Act (GEEA) last May, the Ontario government launched the most ambitious feed-in tariff (FIT) program for renewable energy development in North America. The combination of stable prices under 20-year contracts for renewable sources is resulting in a groundswell of green energy development in the region. Around 600 renewable energy developers...

Marketing Ontario Content at Intersolar San Francisco, 15 July 2010 – There has been considerable controversy generated in the aftermath of the recently proposed changes to the Ontario Solar PV Feed-in-Tariff (FIT), just as support for its novel and controversial Domestic Content provisions is growing. The Ontario Power Authority (OPA) held two Public Consultations last week – on July 6 and July 8 – to summarize and discuss its...

On 2 July 2010 the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) announced proposed changes to its MicroFIT program to separate and provide a reduced tariff rate for PV MicroFIT ground mount projects. In parallel, the OPA introduced a new definition for Rooftop Facility for all FIT projects: Rooftop Facility means a solar (PV) Renewable Generating Facility that is integrated into or forms part of the wall facing, roof, cover, or other architectural...