Solar Energy

Solar energy is an abundant source of renewable energy. Contrary to popular belief, solar power is a viable option in Canada, thanks to Canada’s generally clear skies. Solar energy can be captured to produce energy in the form of electric power, air or water heating.

Photovoltaic (PV) Technology

The Size of the Industry

• Canada’s PV industry includes some 50 companies, the majority of which (90 to 95 percent) are designers or installers of residential systems.
• It is estimated that the Canadian PV industry has generated revenues in excess of C$100 million, employing approximately 625 persons in 2004.
• The industry is composed of component manufacturers, developers, distributors, suppliers (also called designers or installers) and consultants, most often engineering consultants. There are also a number of companies that produce materials for solar batteries.
• Most designers or installers are companies with a maximum of three employees, operating in a specific geographic area.
• Though the PV industry does include many specialists, typical employment (with the exception of administrative positions) is as follows, in order of decreasing prevalence:
  
  • Designer or installer
  • Research engineer or consultant
  • Assembler
  • Technical sales
  • Process engineer
  • Technician or technologist

Producing Electricity from Solar Energy

• At the end of 2004, the estimated capacity for PV electricity production was 14 MW in Canada, compared to 1.86 MW in 1995.
• In Canada, average annual market growth for PV technologies was 24 percent over the past 11 years.
• At the end of 2002, the capacity for PV electricity production was 512 MW worldwide, generating annual revenues in excess of US$2 billion.
• In 2001, off-grid applications dominated the market for PV technologies, comprising 98 percent of the Canadian market, compared to 32 percent of the global market.
• The price for a PV module dropped from C$11.09/W in 1999 to C$7.14/W in 2002.
• The first solar-power neighbourhood debuted in Waterloo, Ontario, in 2002. The goal is to promote the development and showcasing of networked solar PV homes across Canada.
• PV devices, or solar panels, are semi-conductors that convert solar energy directly into electricity. Their size ranges from 50 kW for autonomous systems, to a few MW for centralized systems.
• The Canadian Coast Guard uses more than 7000 aid-to-navigation systems powered by PV energy, making the federal agency the largest user of this technology in Canada. Buoys and lighthouses function year-round on this technology.
• Installations in several national parks in northern Canada use hybrid PV systems to feed their telecommunication systems.

Heating Air with Solar Power

The Size of the Industry

• Solar systems for heating air are the principal sector of activity for six Canadian companies, employing approximately 60 persons in Canada. However, there are approximately 300 additional companies that operate in related secondary activities.
• The Canadian industry is limited to one manufacturer and several distributors and suppliers. Distributors generally sell a wide range of renewable energy technologies, including solar air heating systems.
• Typical employment (with the exception of administrative positions) is as follows, in order of decreasing prevalence:
  
  • Supplier (designer or installer)
  • Research engineer or consultant
  • Technical sales

Solar air heating systems technology

• In 2003, Canada’s total installed capacity of solar air heating systems was equivalent to a production of 45.6 MW, of which approximately 7.3 MW were installed during that same year.
• The combined area of operational solar collectors for heating air was 65,156 m2.
• According to international standards, the Canadian technology is excellent, and the industry is conducting business outside the country representing between one third and one half of all sales of manufactured products.
• Canadian technologies for solar air heating are applied around the world to assist with drying crops. Drawing on the know-how of Canadian experts, these technologies have made it possible for agricultural producers in several South American and Asian companies to turn to drying techniques that are more ecological and sustainable. Using solar energy to dry crops is ideal for tea, coffee, fruits, beans, rice, spices, rubber, cocoa, and wood.
• In Canada, unglazed perforated plate collectors are most commonly used for heating ventilation air.

Heating Water with Solar Power

The Size of the Industry

• The Canadian industry for solar water heating includes suppliers, distributors, and manufacturers of solar collectors and exchangers, and pumps, reservoirs, and regulators. The industry also has consultants.
• In Canada, there are approximately 70 such companies, primarily designers or installers (suppliers). Half of these businesses view themselves as belonging to the solar energy sector; that is, they also design and install PV systems.
• The solar water heating industry involves some 120 jobs that are directly related to the activities of this field.
• Typical employment (with the exception of administrative positions) is as follows, in decreasing order of prevalence:
  
  • Supplier (designer or installer)
  • Research engineer or consultant

Solar water heating systems technology

• In 2003, Canada’s total installed capacity of solar air heating systems was equivalent to a production of 449.5 MW, of which approximately 19.2 MW were installed during that same year.
• The combined area of operating solar collectors for heating water was 641,408 m2.
• There were more than 2700 solar water-heating systems for pool water in Canada.
• The Canadian industry can offer permanent solar water heaters for year-round use, even under extreme weather conditions.