Solar 101: Building Your On-farm Solar PV System Workshop
Monday, March 8, 2010
Hilton London Ontario
Hilton London Ontario
The changing renewable energy sector
The renewable energy sector and the technologies driving this will be an explosive and exciting frontier in the 21st century. Energy generation has for a long time been a major industry. Now it is set to undergo a fundamental change.
And that change will occur no more quickly than in Ontario, largely as a result of the Province’s Feed-In Tariff (”FIT”) program introduced under the recently enacted Green Energy Act. The FIT program provides incentive rates for power produced from various renewable energy sources, including solar photovoltaic, or Solar PV.
Why you should attend
The Solar 101 Workshop is designed to provide you with sufficient information so YOU can decide how YOU can take advantage of this opportunity.
Knowledgeable and experienced individuals will discuss Solar PV basics, the FIT program, how to incorporate Solar PV into your operations, how to assess a project’s financial feasibility, what to look for in equipment and warranties, how to access financing, and much more.
Preliminary Agenda
The renewable energy sector and the technologies driving this will be an explosive and exciting frontier in the 21st century. Energy generation has for a long time been a major industry. Now it is set to undergo a fundamental change.
And that change will occur no more quickly than in Ontario, largely as a result of the Province’s Feed-In Tariff (”FIT”) program introduced under the recently enacted Green Energy Act. The FIT program provides incentive rates for power produced from various renewable energy sources, including solar photovoltaic, or Solar PV.
Why you should attend
The Solar 101 Workshop is designed to provide you with sufficient information so YOU can decide how YOU can take advantage of this opportunity.
Knowledgeable and experienced individuals will discuss Solar PV basics, the FIT program, how to incorporate Solar PV into your operations, how to assess a project’s financial feasibility, what to look for in equipment and warranties, how to access financing, and much more.
Preliminary Agenda
| 8:00 - 9:00am | Registration |
| 9:00 - 9:10am | Welcome and Introduction to Session Ted Cowan, Ontario Federation of Agriculture |
| 9:10 - 9:50am | Solar PV Basics – Science and Systems Don Hilborn, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs How does Solar PV work? How is energy produced? |
| 9:50 - 10:10am | The Ontario Feed-in-Tariff Program Jim MacDougall, Ontario Power Authority (invited) What prices will the government pay? Why you should consider Solar PV now? Who is eligible for a FIT contract? What is domestic content and can you meet the requirements? |
| 10:10 - 10:30am | Assessing Financial Feasibility Bruce Fraser, Ag Energy Cooperative What are the costs for a project? What revenues can you expect? Can you make money with your investment? |
| 10:30 - 10:45am | Refreshment Break |
| 10:45 - 11:30am | On the Ground or on the Roof Steve Clarke, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs What are the options? What the issues to be faced? Can you put a project on farm land? |
| 11:30 - 12:00 | Is a Solar PV Project Right for You? Morning Panel Discussion |
| 12:00 - 1:00pm | Lunch |
| 1:00 - 1:20pm | The Process - Getting a FIT Contract Jim MacDougall, Ontario Power Authority (invited) How do you apply? What approvals do you need? How long will it take to get a project up and running? |
| 1:20 - 2:10pm | Selecting a Supplier - Making the Right Choice Steve Ray, Essex Energy What types of equipment are available? Where can you buy equipment? How do you decide what equipment is right for you? Who can install your project? What to look for in a supplier? |
| 2:10 - 2:30pm | Connecting to the Electricity Grid Mike Yamkimcuk, Hydro One Who do you call? What needs to be done? What are you responsible for? What will it cost you? |
| 2:30 - 2:45pm | Refreshment Break |
| 2:45 - 3:15pm | How to Pay for a Solar PV Project Jens Lohmueller, Community Partners Group, and Mike Bouk, Ag Energy Cooperative What are the financing options? Where can you get financing? Should you lease your land or rooftop? |
| 3:15 - 3:45pm | Monitoring and Maintenance Andy Symrnis, Essex Energy How do you know the equipment is producing what it should? Does the equipment require maintenance? Who will service the equipment and what will it cost? |
| 3:45 - 4:15pm | Ready to Proceed Afternoon Panel to answer your remaining questions |
| 4:15 - 4:30pm | Closing Remarks |
8:00 – 09:00 am Registration
9:00 – 9:10 am Welcome and Introduction to Session
Ted Cowan, Ontario Federation of Agriculture
9:10 – 9:30 am Solar PV Basics – Science and Systems
Don Hilborn, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and
Rural Affairs
How does Solar PV work?
How is energy produced?
9:30 – 9:50 am The Ontario Feed-in-Tariff Program Jim MacDougall, Ontario Power Authority (invited)
What prices will the government pay?
Why you should consider Solar PV now?
Who is eligible for a FIT contract?
What is domestic content and can you meet the requirements?
9:50 – 10:30 am Assessing Financial Feasibility Bruce Fraser, Ag Energy Cooperative
What are the costs for a project?
What revenues can you expect?
Can you make money with your investment?
10:30 – 10:45 Refreshment Break
10:45 – 11:30 am On the Ground or on the Roof Steve Clarke, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and
Rural Affairs
What are the options?
What the issues to be faced?
Can you put a project on farm land?
11:30 – 12:00 noon Is a Solar PV Project Right for You?
Morning Panel Discussion
12:00 – 1:00 pm Lunch
1
2
1:00 – 1:20 pm The Process - Getting a FIT Contract Jim MacDougall, Ontario Power Authority (invited)
How do you apply?
What approvals do you need?
How long will it take to get a project up and running?
1:20 – 2:10 pm Selecting a Supplier - Making the Right Choice Steve Ray, Essex Energy
What types of equipment are available?
Where can you buy equipment?
How do you decide what equipment is right for you?
Who can install your project?
What to look for in a supplier?
2:10 – 2:30 pm Connecting to the Electricity Grid Mike Yamkimcuk, Hydro One
Who do you call?
What needs to be done?
What are you responsible for?
What will it cost you?
2:30 – 2:45 pm Refreshment Break
2:45 – 3:15 pm How to Pay for a Solar PV Project
Jens Lohmueller, Community Partners Group, and Mike Bouk, Ag Energy Cooperative
What are the financing options?
Where can you get financing?
Should you lease your land or rooftop?
3:15 – 3:45 pm Monitoring and Maintenance
Andy Symrnis, Essex Energy
How do you know the equipment is producing what it should? Does the equipment require maintenance?
Who will service the equipment and what will it cost?
3:45 – 4:15 pm Ready to Proceed
Afternoon Panel to answer your remaining questions
4:15 – 4:30 pm Closing Remarks
9:00 – 9:10 am Welcome and Introduction to Session
Ted Cowan, Ontario Federation of Agriculture
9:10 – 9:30 am Solar PV Basics – Science and Systems
Don Hilborn, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and
Rural Affairs
How does Solar PV work?
How is energy produced?
9:30 – 9:50 am The Ontario Feed-in-Tariff Program Jim MacDougall, Ontario Power Authority (invited)
What prices will the government pay?
Why you should consider Solar PV now?
Who is eligible for a FIT contract?
What is domestic content and can you meet the requirements?
9:50 – 10:30 am Assessing Financial Feasibility Bruce Fraser, Ag Energy Cooperative
What are the costs for a project?
What revenues can you expect?
Can you make money with your investment?
10:30 – 10:45 Refreshment Break
10:45 – 11:30 am On the Ground or on the Roof Steve Clarke, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and
Rural Affairs
What are the options?
What the issues to be faced?
Can you put a project on farm land?
11:30 – 12:00 noon Is a Solar PV Project Right for You?
Morning Panel Discussion
12:00 – 1:00 pm Lunch
1
2
1:00 – 1:20 pm The Process - Getting a FIT Contract Jim MacDougall, Ontario Power Authority (invited)
How do you apply?
What approvals do you need?
How long will it take to get a project up and running?
1:20 – 2:10 pm Selecting a Supplier - Making the Right Choice Steve Ray, Essex Energy
What types of equipment are available?
Where can you buy equipment?
How do you decide what equipment is right for you?
Who can install your project?
What to look for in a supplier?
2:10 – 2:30 pm Connecting to the Electricity Grid Mike Yamkimcuk, Hydro One
Who do you call?
What needs to be done?
What are you responsible for?
What will it cost you?
2:30 – 2:45 pm Refreshment Break
2:45 – 3:15 pm How to Pay for a Solar PV Project
Jens Lohmueller, Community Partners Group, and Mike Bouk, Ag Energy Cooperative
What are the financing options?
Where can you get financing?
Should you lease your land or rooftop?
3:15 – 3:45 pm Monitoring and Maintenance
Andy Symrnis, Essex Energy
How do you know the equipment is producing what it should? Does the equipment require maintenance?
Who will service the equipment and what will it cost?
3:45 – 4:15 pm Ready to Proceed
Afternoon Panel to answer your remaining questions
4:15 – 4:30 pm Closing Remarks
