Ontario's Solar Industry Coming Out of the Cold

Solar PV inverter manufacturer, Satcon, has recently agreed to provide 78 of its PowerGate Plus inverters to rooftop PV developer OZZ Solar.  These units will be deployed on 40 separate commercial rooftop projects throughout Ontario, helping to deliver nearly 18MW of clean energy.  Locally sourced and manufactured, the PowerGate Plus PV inverters will help these projects qualify for the province's feed-in-tariff (FIT) program, allowing power producers to sell electricity back into the grid.

According to the announcement, OZZ Solar will use Satcon's PowerGate Plus 100KW and 250KW inverters, both of which have been configured for 600V (AC).  Originally released last January, this new line of PV inverters was manufactured in Burlington, Ontario, thus, successfully meeting the domestic content requirements mandated under the province's FIT regulations.  In fact, the PowerGate Plus technology purchased by OZZ Solar is the only line of large-scale inverters that is 100% compliant with these local content requirements.

Equally important, Satcon's inverters are said to deliver optimal performance even at temperatures well below freezing (-40º C / -40º F) - an important feature in a region known for unusually long winters.  Interestingly, performance and temperature are often inversely correlated in the photovoltaic industry - the colder it becomes, the better the energy yield (up to a point).  However, that sub-zero functionality is becoming a unique selling point within the industry illustrates the growing shift away from typical hotspots (ex: Arizona and California), where the emphasis has traditionally been on high-temperature performance. 

According to Jonathan Goldman, Executive VP of OZZ Solar, “These installations mark the beginning of major growth for large-scale, grid-tied rooftop solar power plants in Canada and are a significant step in the implementation of Ontario’s FIT program.”  Goldman adds, “These projects required the most advanced, highest performing, and most reliable systems that could deliver reliable performance in the harsh Ontario climate."  

Sean White, Lead Instructor at Ontario Solar Academy, explains that, "Close to half the world's PV is in Germany because of its strong feed-in-tariff incentives. The sunshine in Germany is no more impressive than that in Ontario, but the latter's FIT program offers much more money than the German model does."  White adds, "To top it off, Ontario has a colder climate, which translates to higher voltage, more watts, more kilowatt-hours, and a better rate of return for the investment."

Ontario Becoming Solar Mecca in Its Own Right

The Satcon and OZZ Solar deal is yet another in a long string of announcements highlighting the province's growing allure amongst solar developers, sustainability experts, and even homeowners.  The deal is also illustrative of Ontario's expanding opportunities.  Satcon's announcement came just weeks before losing one of its long-term solar veterans, Marty Fleet, to rival inverter manufacturer, PV Powered, Inc.  Personnel shifts, technology launches, and new partnerships are all becoming commonplace in a region that has historically stood on North America's solar energy sidelines.  With billions of dollars in investment floating around coupled with aggressive policies to ensure Ontario's growth continues unabated, the province's solar industry is likely to undergo even more dramatic changes in the coming months.

According to Pete Degraff, Satcon’s VP of Worldwide Sales & Marketing, "With these first set of projects, OZZ Solar is stepping to the forefront of commercial solar development in Ontario."  He adds, "With a long history of manufacturing world-class products in Ontario, Satcon is a proud partner in OZZ Solar’s commercial solar projects, and a highly committed local developer to the Ontario government’s commitment to clean energy production.”