Promoting solar energy

Government programs

Government policies and incentives can play an important role in encouraging the adoption of renewables, such as solar energy. These can take the form of:

• research programs to develop the potential of solar energy technologies
• investment subsidies (such as grants and loans) to developers to support the capital cost of solar energy technology
• renewable portfolio standards that require utilities and retailers to provide a certain portion of their power and energy sales from renewable sources such as solar
• procurement of new generation from renewable energy sources for government facilities.

The CANMET Energy Technology Centre in Ottawa is one of the main research arms of Natural Resources Canada. Among its areas of focus, it supports research and development on renewable energy and distributed power. Currently, CANMET is developing pilot projects with Canadian companies to help demonstrate the capabilities of solar photovoltaic technologies.

Some provinces and territories have introduced renewable portfolio standards in their electricity markets that include solar. For example, the Government of the Northwest Territories has developed an energy strategy that sets targets for renewable energy, including solar energy. The territory plans to obtain 10 per cent of its energy from renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, biomass and hydro, by 2010, and 25 per cent by 2025.