Our Power - Driving Ontario's Solar Energy Revolution! (Finalist)
If you are interested in becoming a green energy innovator or would like to simply reduce your home's carbon footprint, then Our Power is the tool for you!
We walk you through your initial steps to making a positive impact on climate change by conducting an assessment of your property's solar potential and connecting you to a reliable installation company in your area.
Our Power enables residential solar energy installations, simplifies your solar decision, and connects industry partners to homeowners.
Using resources derived from years of renewable energy project development, Our Power provides Ontario homeowners with real world experience and real time data.
- Within our first three years:
o 110 systems installed and feeding the grid
o $2 million of business channeled to Ontario’s leading solar providers
- We work as an active community partner in:
o Neighbourhoods across Toronto: West Toronto, Downtown Toronto, the Beach, Thornhill, Riverdale and East York
o Communities around Ontario: Guelph, Waterloo, Halton Region, Mississauga, Northumberland County and the o Mennonite Solar Initiative Providing real time production data available on the internets
- We have an in-depth knowledge of the solar industry in Ontario
- We were responsible for 31% of residential systems installed under the Renewable Energy Standard Offer Program (2007-2009) in Ontario
- We were actively involved in developing the new Ontario Feed-in-Tariff Program in 2009
- We possess the largest Canadian database of homeowner solar enthusiasts
- We provide on-line and in-person solar education, information and tools for decision making support
Our Power is your source of uniquely independent and credible solar information. We have an in-depth knowledge of the solar industry in Ontario
Our Power is a project developed by TREC Renewable Energy Co-operative www.trec.on.ca
Web: http://www.ourpower.ca/Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TRECCoopTwitter: http://twitter.com/TRECoopBlog: http://www.trec.on.ca/blog Driving Massive Change
Ontario’s renewable energy landscape is only expanding. The Green Energy Act and North America’s first Feed-In Tariffs are here to stay. Everyone in Ontario now has the opportunity to become a renewable energy generator and to make a profit doing so. At Our Power we envisage a world in which installing a renewable energy system on residences, farms and small businesses becomes the norm, and the decision is economically obvious and the process is clear and hassel-free. To that end we are providing homeowners in Ontario with the resources, guidance and support necessary to drive massive change in the residential renewable energy market. Given the opportunities provided by the solar rooftop feed-in tariff (FIT), our main focus today is the solar photovoltaic (PV) market.
As leaders in Ontario’s solar energy market over the last few years, Our Power is uniquely positioned to connect key market players to drive massive change in solar energy uptake in this province. With our well known internal expertise and resources, proven community education and buying process and comprehensive website, we are already connected to a constituency of thousands of homeowners interested in participating in the solar revolution. Already the Our Power Community Solar Program has resulted in the installation of more than 100 solar PV systems generating over $2 million of business for leading Ontario solar companies.
To maximize participation Our Power has developed a business model that would see the installation of 1800 KW (1.8MW) of solar energy in Toronto over the next two years with the view to doubling our results every 3 years thereafter.
The Challenge – And The Solution
Despite the presence of various groups and initiatives relating to Solar, actual solar uptake has fallen well short of expectations. The industry is embryonic, immature and facing growth challenges as well as eventual transformation and consolidation. Providers are inconsistent in their capabilities, quality and reliability. For most homeowners, they are unaware of the viability of Solar and / or see the purchase decision as daunting, high cost and / or having an uncertain return. The current state of the industry demands improved management and facilitation of the pending explosion in solar power at the homeowner level. While the market conditions are rapidly becoming more favourable, the uptake of solar at the pace and scale envisaged demands a concerted marketing effort that will ‘inform and motivate’ homeowners and others about solar as a viable energy source for Ontario. It also demands an organization with capabilities to efficiently convert interest into final purchase. The Our Power business plan addresses the need for a consolidated effort that works for all constituents including home-owners and their communities, system providers and installers, supportive corporations and all complementary agencies and groups. Individually, none have the resources to ignite massive change at the homeowner decision-making level and through the actual purchasing process. However, working collectively, as a centralized “HUB” coordinated by Our Power, we will provide these resources leading to a significant increase in solar uptake in the residential sector and the healthy growth of the solar industry.
How the Model Will Work
Our Power’s success in driving such massive change will also fuel its financial self- sufficiency and its momentum into the future. Members and Partners will pay appropriately to join the HUB and access our unique offerings. In doing so, they support the solar industries’ growth, and benefit directly from doing so. The heart of the financial model is based on success: Our Power will receive a “Vendor Contribution”, like a commission, on sales that Partners make to our Members. The cost to join will be meaningful, yet modest to ensure widespread participation from the start. In fact, in the spirit to encourage action and success, the model allows for fees to be rebated to Partners and homeowners as purchases are made. Our Power does require continued funding in the short term in order to launch and build the HUB and until it is in a position to repay the funding out of surpluses if necessary.
Our Power will become the “HUB” of homeowner solar energy growth in the GTA, Ontario and potentially Canada. Our Power will engage its stakeholders in a manner that meets their individual demands, those of the “collective” and the industry as a whole. The HUB will be literally that: a compelling meeting place and business exchange for homeowners, their communities and the industry providers looking for access to their marketplace.
Our Power is acknowledged to be the “incumbent” for this role by key stakeholders in the industry and is respected for its role in solar development for several reasons: Our Power’s not-for-profit status gives it a recognized neutrality that allows it to operate in the best interest of ALL stakeholders; the unique and active role of Our Power at all stages of solar development to date, from community education through to vendor communications, through the process of homeowner purchase. Our research efforts have helped to shape the model and confirm the interest by the likely participants.
For emissions reduction metrics see: Image Table 3
Our Power is a voluntary organization that supports communities in the exploration and purchase of solar energy systems (hot water and photovoltaics) for residential application. Our Power provides resources, support and information to community groups based on the growing body of experience and expertise developed through the range of community solar initiatives undertaken by affiliated groups. Examples of such groups include the Riverdale Initiative for Solar Energy (RISE) and the West Toronto Initiative for Solar Energy (WISE). Groups active in Our Power have been responsible for the installation of 71 PV systems of 112 KW of installed capacity and 76 Solar Hot Water systems in Toronto in the last 3 years.
Our Power hosts websites for its affiliated organizations -- Ourpower.ca -- and has developed an extensive, detailed set of resources documenting the community buying group model which it makes available to assist groups to develop their own solar initiatives. Our Power also provides email and phone consulting, if required, with community leaders as they develop their projects.
Community Membership
Our Power will target and deliver services to Members via Community Groups, their events and activities and their Group Buying / RFP Process, and / or directly to the Homeowners.
The foundation of Our Power efforts to date has been our support of community efforts to educate homeowner homeowners and equip them to make Solar purchases. This effort has also been a primary source for building the homeowner database of those interested in Solar Solutions, and / or “leads” in the parlance of the Vendors.
Revenues
- Annual Community Solar Our Power Fee: $150. For providing a specific web site presence (under the Our Power brand) creating events and meetings, roundtables and distribute information.
- Per RFP Fee: $250. For managing the RFP and all of the issues that result and support that is required in running and awarding the RFP.
Note:
- Vendors will pay an RFP participation fee for the opportunity to gain exposure to a large number of homeowners and, of course to secure a major project
- All homeowners participating in the RFP must also be Our Power Members
Homeowner Membership
Homeowners, our priority stakeholder group, may access information on the web or at Community Groups, free of charge. They will be exposed to Our Power through: our website, advertising by Our Power or one of our partners, referrals from other members, attending a community session or buying group initiative, referrals from a Partner LDC or Vendor, other Solar groups or organizations, or from a sponsoring Corporate Partner.
As homeowners become serious about purchasing, they will have the option of becoming an Our Power Member, where our we to support them and provide access to additional value – added membership tools such as:
- Vendor Listings, Ratings, Testimonials
- Purchasing tools such as advice on getting quotes and document templates
- Participate in the Member Referral Program: a referral incentive funded out of the “Vendor Contribution” from the sale. No net revenue impact is budgeted.
Revenues
- Annual / Lifetime Membership Fee: $20.
Provider/ Vendor Partnerships
The Partnership promise is to source, educate, filter, convert and deliver prospective homeowner customers in a neutral, professional and cost effective manner. Providers / Vendors need our help in accomplishing their marketing, sales and revenue objectives.
We will secure Provider / Vendor Partners by a combination of “outreach” efforts set out in the Marketing Plan. As we gain momentum and profile, new Partners will seek us out based on the recognized value that we bring. This value will result from these benefits:
- Our Power Approved Partner accreditation and inclusion in all listings. Subject to annual validation process.
- Included in our Vendor Ratings and Vendor Testimonials area on the web
- Homeowner leads and tracking of their purchase interest and activity
- Access to community buying Group RFP’s
- Access to additional Advertising and Event Sponsorship
- Association with other Our Power Partner Programs: LDCs and Corporate
Revenues
The Vendor Contribution Fee is earned by Our Power when sales occur by a Partner to a Homeowner Member, regardless of our role, if any at all.
- Annual Partnership Fee. Large Company: $2500. Small Company: $1000 Discounted by 50% in 2 years. Can be further rebated / offset against the Vendor Contribution
- Vendor Contribution Agreement: $25cents per Watt to Our Power.
- RFP Participation Fee: $250
Based upon these scenarios, Our Power is fully confident in our ability to introduce unique and valuable services to the homeowner and vendor communities, accomplish financial self sufficiency and be in a position to repay all, or an appropriate portion of the funding it requires.
Comments
Further Details
Thank you for your comment Melissa. In round 2 you can see we have provided additional details regarding our business plan, feasibility, and sustainability. We hope to move forward and gain valuable tools from the ACCELERATE camp being offered for finalists. I believe this will be a key jumping off point for us as we have done our homework and just need some professional guidance to break through into the market with more effectiveness!
Further Details
Thank you for your comment Melissa. In round 2 you can see we have provided additional details regarding our business plan, feasibility, and sustainability. We hope to move forward and gain valuable tools from the ACCELERATE camp being offered for finalists. I believe this will be a key jumping off point for us as we have done our homework and just need some professional guidance to break through into the market with more effectiveness!
profit
i think that your project idea is sound but i wounder how you wil address the following problems
1) solar power is highly expensive
2) solar power dosent porvide a high amount of energy
3) people find that solar power isnt highly effective
i think this is a great idea and i applaud you
Solar Power
Hi Trees, thank you for your comment. I'm not sure where you may have sourced your information but solar power is extremely efficient and continues to become cheaper as technologies change and develop locally. If you would like to read up on some current solar facts you can visit the Canadian Solar Industries Association (CanSIA) website I've linked here. http://www.cansia.ca/
Gather momentum for rooftop solar
Our Power and it's wealth of information can act as a facilitator for ever more roof top solar installations. Beginners can acquire the basic tools to measure the risks of the venture and how to take the first steps.
New homeowners will love Our Power
In such a new field, it is hard to know who is reliable. Having Our Power provide vetted providers will give people more confidence around thier options. This is an easy way to make solar more accessible to home owners.
It would be great to encourage providers to become B-Corporations, that are certified.
Spread the word
There are so many ways people could help spread the word about Our Power, through social media, connecting it with Home Stars, you name it.
Definitely, a two-pronged approach
Definitely! Making alternative energy accessible needs to be combined with conversation-thinking for us to shift to a more sustainble energy future.
Residential Solar - negotiating the market
Not possessing great technical expertise (never mind the time to do comprehensive research), a homeowner like myself could really benefit from Our Power's tools and services to make an educated first step to installing solar on their rooftops.
I understand there is a massive back-log of microFIT applications for rooftop solar projects. Can Our Power connect with these applicants to promote their model and help homeowners made the best solar decisions for their households? How to increase outreach in a targeted way?
Residential Solar - negotiating the market
Great idea Reblacka! Will the back-log of microFIT applications for roof tops possibly stall how Our Powers functionality? What needs to happen to remove the back-log? Anybody know?
Trusted source
Giving those who are intersted in residential homes a central place to learn the steps involved and who can help is absolutely crucial to the solar market. With so much information out there, we need a trusted source to cut through it all. It seems like Our Power has the potential to do just that.
Agreed
I agree wesleynormington, the libary of resources, tools and references Our Power has collected together is simply amazing.
Education, economy and innovation
Our Power is a great way to guide people in investing their time and money towards a more sustainable energy economy. In one program, Our Power not only educates communities about the technology, installation and benefits of solar power, but allows them to reap financial benefits from Ontario's Green Energy Act. From my understanding Our Power also provides a space for people in the same communities to discuss their barriers in and develop solutions for solar power installation, building a sense of community and locality in the energy sector.
By educating, providing economic benefits and facilitating neighbourhood knowledge-sharing, I think Our Power is an incredibly innovative program that contributes to the development of social and economic capital.
Let's continue to update the website and make sure the resources are up-to-date so that curious individuals aren't discouraged by misinformation or empty references!
Supporting the uptake of small solar in Ontario
Our Power is a brilliant concept both for individual and public protection. Sadly I think there are going to be a number of homeowners who get bamboozled by unscrupulous solar providers out there. That's a real shame because the last thing we need is more bad press for renewables. Our Power provides an unbiased framework to allow homeowners, small busuiness owners, institutinos and community groups looking to install micro-Fit projects. The target market is diverse and the information provided by Our Power comprehensive to allow people to make informed decsions and effectively navigate the installation process. Has everyone been to the website - www.ourpower.ca - its a wealth of information!
As already identified by others, Our Power needs to be used by more people to really have impact. Its a bit chicken and egg - reaching more people costs money but will also bring in revenues. Like, most start-ups Our Power faces this conundrum. Also, an anchor partner or partners would be good (e.g. utilities driving their customers to the site). There is real potential for that.
negotiating the market
The comments about the volume of uptake speaks volumes to the interest in small solar and is a strong indicator that there is a large market for Our Power service. The process delays are unfortunate and are something the OPA is going to have to get under contriol if they don't want to totally discredit themselves. I believe solar is here to stay in Ontario - the upcoming price reductions will only help create increased support for solar. Our Power is a certainly a keeper, it just needs some strategic partners.
Great Feedback
Thank you all for your compelling opinions and interesting feedback. We have thought about many of the issues that have risen and have ideas to help Our Power expand and move forward, the majority of which require funding. Key partnerships, advanced technologies, marketing, and outreach are all integral to our success in terms of educating and powering the community. The key component to Our Power is community acceptance and it is great to see so many of you provide positive and constructive comments.
Thank You,
Our Power team!
perfect use of solar enegy in our life and saving energy
The good thing about this project is that we can save our under crust resources like oil,water,land and use solar enegy for lighting our life by just bringing home roof solar plant at our house and make perfect use of it and help going green.
first implementing on ownself and sharing good points to other that other also get attracted towards it and start using it and help world in changing the enviorment.
Ontario's Solar Potential!
Great to have real data on the solar potential in Ontario, even with winter coming!
Our Power is such an amazing but under-used resource, would love to get the message out to more Ontarians!
Social Solar
I am loving all of the solar projects being proposed.
Do you see any cross over between this project and the other finalists, such as Solar Bonds and the Green Skills Network?
Facilitating Renewables for Ontario
Thank you for your comment Slyder. Further to your question there may be some overlap with other finalists. As SolarShare provides opportunities for all Ontarians to invest in renewable energy whether or not they can afford their own residential system, Our Power deals with those who have the ability to take their involvement one step further. Depending on our success implement projects throughout Ontario, perhaps in the future larger projects initiated by Our Power may become part of the SolarShare project matrix.
Co-op model -Great!
It is great that your organization took a co-operative model approach.
It is important that we as citizens of our communities and people that have ownership in our homes and buildings take the energy into our own hands.
I feel that with smart grid applications that provide transparency to the HOEP we can get a true pricing index of our usage.
I thought your membership fees a little low?
You don't want to do all this work and not have the right rate charged to participants.
Pricing
Thanks for your interest Zell. It's always great to hear citizens supporting the co-op model as it has many benefits for the community, some more tangible than others ie local, democratic economy and sense of community. In terms of pricing, I guess all new endeavours grapple with finding the right number. As a non-profit we try to keep our costs low to encourage higher membership numbers, but as we further develop Our Power and more components come into play, we will keep your comment in mind. It's great to know citizens are willing to pay a little extra for quality and beneficial services.
Revolutionarizing Solar energy
I am glad that Solar Energy is bieng revolutionarized by Our power this is eco friendly and the great sourse of energy during summers.I think this has the advantage over the coming time as our fresourses are scarce so we must go for solar energy to save fuel and outher natural resourses of energy and thats what Our power is supporting.
Weakness is that is is not effective during the winters.
This could be improved by producing cos effective solar products so that people will prefer to buy them and it should be advanced in technology as then itwill get attention of the people.
Solar - A Reliable Resource
The strength is that solar is the most convenient way of using energy as it helps save destruction of natural resource. Its a sustainable energy and so it provides economy for the ontarians. But the home dwellers should concenterate more and more on initiating it to a great extent.
This can be impoved youth influnce in the family so that the members of the family can know the actual realization and importance of the solar equipments as they are the most convenient resources nowadays.
We Need Renewables!
Great project and solid track record, TREC is really opening the door for many people to participate in the energy revolution!
I would be interested to know more about how your project will work with and support local or regional manufacturing for solar pv and other renewable energy componentry, while important to stay competitive in price and performance I think people would choose Ontario/Canada made if it is available.
Solar power is the energy source of the future
I really think solar power is a very important source for energy and in future it will become more and more important. It is necessary that people get to know how they can use solar power and how they can promote the whole solar energy sector. If communities try to change from let's call it "normal" energy step by step and as much as possible to solar power they can make a huge contribution to a better environment and to less emissions.
The only weakness of this project I can find is that there is a huge amount of money involved in this project, since the whole technical equipment related to solar cells etc is quite expensive.
A practical and meaningful project needs a detailed business pla
This project has its specific target market and huge potential demand. I believe it will be very successful in the further.
Capacity and viability: the capacity of this venture is very strong because the venture is conducted by the company TREC Renewable Energy Co-operative, which was ranked as the top knowledgeable company in the solar industry in GTA.
By viewing the business plan, I find it is realistic and proactive. The business plan anticipates the challenges for this venture precisely. It also proposes the solution of beating the challenges.
Climate Impact: In the gas emission section, it is not clear for me that it will reduce the gas emission by replication and scale-up. The diagraph only shows me how much the solar system will consume energy per day. It needs to be improved.
Innovation: the whole project is innovative even full of entrepreneurship. It not only opens a new window for every individual to participate in solar energy using, but also give them a feasible technology and approach to contribute.
Community connection: the venture will build membership among communities and homeowners. It roots deeply get into the supporting of the communities. Besides, it will find partnership from its providers and vendors, which enhances the feasibility of the project with no doubt.
In the business plan, I would like to see more details in steps. A Grant Chart would be a good way to detail how the venture will be fulfilled may be in the next two years.
Viability?
I have some serious doubt over the viability of this project.
The only concern tome is over the viability of this project. over all its good but please address the issue of viability....
Best idea to utilize sun light
It is great idea to utilize the sun light and solar technology is best way to save environment.
Is it possible to reduce the cost for technology?
Expand the business worldwide
Promote the solar technology worldwide to save the global environment. By expanding the business worldwide, its more profitable and in near future I think more and more prople will go for this.
Go global with efficient technology.
100% this can be a global
100% this can be a global venture
Good idea
The proposal is good. Solar power would provide efficient energy and will not have any effect on the environment.
The cost of installation may be a problem.
Solar life
It is a great idea, which involves the advantageous consumption of one of the abundant natural resource on earth that is Solar energy, without any harm effect to the environment. It will not only contributes in promoting the healthy environment as well as the sustainibility of the natural resources for the upcoming generations but also cut off the money expenses of the consumer. I think its a huge project which needs people's involvment as well as support from the government.
At some points, it could hinder the process, that may be-
-storage capacity of the solar panels in case of black out or at night or in bad weather
-cost of the installation could also be somehow need to be considered for the use of huge masses
Overall its a good proposal that can contribute a lot to the healthy environment.
Solar as a clear choice
This is a great tool, not only does it show that Solar is a viable option for Ontario but also shows you how long it will take for the revenue generated by your system to pay-off the initial installation and purchase cost!
- wider reach and more real-world data
perfect Idea
This is the optimum utilization of the use of solar energy which is available to us in no cost. This will help the homeowners o save their money and this is a clean pure energy.
I am a bit concern on the rainy days and winter time, when the sun is not their, is there any way that we can increase the capacity of the solar chargers and keep he energy preserved for some later day ?
I think you should look forward for one step ahead, which is contacting the government and making partnership with them to install this in every home. We all should know that this is a pure energy and no harmful things is there in it.
innovative idea
it is good but what about the rainy days and those days when we cannot get sun...
co-op idea
The Our Power proposal is unique and creative, helping homeowners through a cluttered market place to help ensure quality installations that benefit everyone. Solar like wind is getting a betting among the media. We need to reaise the profile of this important energy source and educate people about its benefits on so many levels. Our Power provides education that is tangible and that can result in more solar uptake aroudn the provice. Because its an on-line resource, the potential for expansion to new markers is great and should be encouraged.
IT would be great to see some utility partnerships to help spread the message and also minimise the amount of repetition on the web. Lots of groups are providing simimlar but far less comprehensive and not necessarily unbiased information about solar on the web - lets all work together through a common portal - Our Power!
Great idea, but a few questions
Hi, I like the idea of a neutral not-for-profit assisting homeowners with such a huge decision and acting as a one-stop shop -- or "hub" as you call it -- for those interested in taking the leap. There is much confusion in the marketplace, and Our Power can act as an important filter than makes sure those vendors in the marketplace play fair and are consistent in the services they provide. I do have a number of questions, however:
1) I know Our Power contributed was active under the RESOP and help influence the FIT program, but are there other financing models you are promoting that could lead to an even greater embrace of solar? For example, is Our Power pushing municipalities (and the province) to embrace PACE (Property-Assessed Clean Energy) programs that would allow people to add solar to their homes and finance it as a charge on their property taxes over 15 or 20 years? After all, the FIT program may not last forever, and there are other jursidictions beyond Ontario you may want to move into that don't have a FIT structure.
2) Second, to what degree do you or can you screen the products that may be offered as part of your vendor network. There are many new module manufacturers entering the Ontario market and little idea of how reliable/efficient their respective modules are over their 20 or 30 year life. For those using modules made of imported cells, are there assurances that these cells (most imported from China) are being produced using sustainable practices? For example, China's Jinko Solar has been accused of illegally dumping toxic materials from its manufacturing processes. How can we assure such products are not used in Ontario or anywhere in Canada? As a homeowner considering solar, I think I would find such assurances comforting.
3) I'm curious to know what technology/tools you use to do home assessments. Some U.S. vendors, for example, use Google Maps and other software to do remote preliminary assessments of rooftop exposure and size, allowing systems to be sized and expected annual energy production guestimates before an in-person visit to the property. You may already use these technologies, but your proposal doesn't make that clear (unless I've missed something).
4) Do you have intentions of expanding your reach to beyond solar. For example, to energy-efficiency retrofits or small wind?
5) I worry about your in-house capacity to deliver the kind of scale that's needed. What parternship opportunities are there for you to get the resources you need to have a meaningful impact?
See above questions.
Great Insight
Thanks for the thourough questions Tyler. We are glad you are so interested in Our Power, and have addressed your questions below:
1. Regarding the policy question you raise an important point and perhaps a renewed need for a voice for residential solar beyond or in addition to the microFIT. At TREC (the folks that created Our Power) we work hard on policy issues, but admittedly have been focused on issues related to the FIT and now FIT review. At the same time we are, perhaps better than most, aware of the need to be policy agnostic or at least FIT fluctuation immune and yet, like so many we have been trying to ride the FIT/microFIT wave a long as possible. We at TREC with our Our Power insights were active in the policy space around residential solar in the pre- and early micr-FIT days and together with TAF and the City of Toronto Energy OFfice we facilitated bi-monthly solar round tables to discuss policy issues. We have explored the PACE and other municipal solar models in the past but have not given it much attention since the microFIT. I agree that to be relevant as a Hub Our Power will have to revisit those policy questions and make suggestions if we see significant detrimental changes to the microFIT program and if some of the present development barriers are not addressed. As part of our FIT review submission, these challenges are certainly being addressed. Let's hope someone is listening!
2. To date we have focused mostly on screening the vendors and to a lessor extent the technology. I agree that there are some potentially questionable products (just as there are questionable vendors) and we should think about creating criteria around the product in as much as we have created it for the service. Thank you for that suggestion.
3. Our site assessments are conducted just as you describe it, using a combination of on-line mapping and sizing tools together with our customized Our Power investment calculator that converts generation potential into return on investment over the 20 year microFIT contract. Our investment calculator allows us to input the assumptions we believe to be realistic for projects in Ontario and we err on the conservative side with our projections because we know from experience, things can come up when you least expect it.
4. Regarding expansion, we started Our Power focusing on residential solar hot water and solar photovoltaics but since 2009 there has been so little incentive for homeowners to go the hot water route that we discontinued that effort. It comes up periodically, because solar thermal in many applications makes more sense than solar PV and we think the province should explore a mechanism to support solar hot water - possibly through a FIT for green heat - but for now the solar FIT makes the most sense. We have deliberately not entered the residential retrofit space because we see others who provide good service in that realm (e.g. GreenSavers and WindFall Ecology Centre0. TREC's niche is community owned renewables. What we are working on setting up is similar support (as we've created for homeowners) around community owned wind and solar projects. With our WindShare, SolarShare and LakeWind experiences we have a lot of knowledge to share as well as many tools and templates (including a comprehensive financial model) that we think would be of great benefit to other groups. We are in the process of working up a business plan for that aspect of TREC's work. We believe it might be possible to integrate the Our Power model with our TREC Generation model but this was not far enough advanced to submit to this competition. There are obviously significant differences in the target market but there are commonalities are far as helping people sort through the weeds is concerned. We'd be happy to explore an integrated service model with the ClimateSpark audience and experts and welcome any feedback participants may have.
5. Scale has not been a problem to date but in an ideal world it might become one. The big issue would be completing site assessments in a timely fashion and being able to provide follow-up advice. I think there are some create ways to address that as the actual site assessment is not that difficult to do. We could easily train (as we are already doing at the high school level) people to conduct site assessments on commission, and keep on staff a few solar experts who oversee the work and provide technical expertise. We might also license other non-profits or other eligible partners to use the Our Power model and have them service their local municipality or region. I don't think scaling up is our biggest challenge but its certainly worth contemplating the implications. I think it provides great opportunities for training, skills development and entry level solar jobs for some aspiring young Ontarians. With our partnership with TREC Education, we already have the relationship with high schools and colleges into which we can tap for a labour pool. We would welcome that challenge!
Our Power Team
Transparency
I can see the need for this type of service but wonder how neutral the advice and referrals are if vendors are paying for the RFPs. Is there not potential for confict of interest there?
Roof mounted home solar system working wonders in Alberta
We have a brand new owner installed 6 Kw system on our roof in Alberta, and we're paid a fraction of what an Ontario homeowner would get per Kw hour produced. The PV system we installed works in series, with each panel having its own optimizer. It is visually unobtrusive (in case you care) and would pay for itself in Ontario in 5 years. Since my husband and I approach solar anergy as a hobby, we'd love to tell others about our success free of charge! This proposal is elegant and simple in its aims... Surely most consulting of this nature would be provided as a public service and without cost? The point is to get across how simple an installation like this is... you need a south facing roof with a reasonable pitch; can do all your research online and need only contract a civil engineer for a few necessary details. We believe the less onerous and daunting photovoltaic seems, the more homeowners will initiate their own installation projects and the less carbon we'll collectively burn. Email us at [email protected] if you want to see photos of the system or get specs.
Make it as user friendly and affordable (publically funded or free) as possible.
How to Encourage Massive Change
Our Power has great name and has a lot of potential to make a difference. It would be interesting if there were a partnership or a connection with a financial institution to help create a product that would provide even more incentives for consumers to get involved. This may have already been anticipated and GreenHeroes would be interested in stories of particular homeowners who have had success or are having success with the Our Power approach.
This proposal is very thorough but could be punchier considering the Awesomeness of its name! GreenHeroes likes the idea of OUR POWER!
The ClimateSpark Social Venture Challenge is a project of:
Our sponsors:
A step in the right direction
I'm glad to see Our Power move forward to the second round of ClimateSpark. With more awareness of this project we can further develop affordable, beneficial solar projects that add to the energy matrix in the GTA and furthermore, Ontario. I look forward to seeing more details re: business plan in this round.