At the B.C. Solar Summit today, Guy Dauncey of the B.C. Sustainable Energy Association said the provincial government needs to "get with the game" when it comes to solar thermal development.
According to Natural Resources Canada, there are currently fewer than 500 solar hot-water systems in British Columbia. These systems can supply up to 60 per cent of a home's hot water needs and cut energy costs by about $300 per year.
Dauncey recited a list of recommendations to boost solar hot water installation in the province. He said these systems should be a requirement for new buildings and individuals should receive a 100 per cent tax credit towards them. Dauncey also called for standardized training for solar installation in colleges and apprenticeship programs.
Ole Pilgaard, CEO of a U.S. solar hot water firm, said political initiatives have been the main driver of solar hot water development in Europe.
"You just don't build a house in Austria without considering solar thermal today," he said.
David Kelly, president of Calgary renewable energy firm Sedmek Inc., said a market for solar hot-water systems could create thousands of manufacturing jobs in Canada.
"It's about jobs, jobs, jobs," he said. "There are 250,000 jobs in the renewable field in Germany today. But until we develop the market, there's no point in manufacturing."
Today Dauncey also announced that Whistler would be the seventh so-called solar community in British Columbia (and he pointed out that mayor Ken Melamed is leading by example with a solar hot water system on his home.)
Six solar communities were named last year, including Kelowna, Tofino and Dawson Creek. Each city or district received $20,000 from the ministry of energy, mines and petroleum resources to support solar hot water projects. That funding was part of a $5 million provincial investment in the SolarBC program, which was launched by the B.C. Sustainable Energy Association with the goal of building 100,000 solar roofs in the province by 2020.
Colleen Kimmett writes on environmental issues for The Tyee.
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Chris Bouris
3 years ago
Solar Hot Water Incentives in BC
For those interested in Solar Hot Water system incentives in British Columbia, Nitya Harris of Solar BC provides a very concise
video presentation on that topic.
guydauncey
3 years ago
Guy Dauncey
It is always great to have publicity, and I know that I am often outspoken, but it's not true that I said the "the provincial government needs to "get with the game" when it comes to solar thermal development."
In reality, the BC Provincial Government has been enormously supportive of our efforts to help mobilize the solar thermal industry in BC.
The BC Ministers of Energy and Environment jointly chaired the government Task Force that set the goal for BC to have 100,000 Solar Roofs by 2020, and they are providing generous support for BC's federal/provincial solar thermal incentive program, which enables BC homeowners to get up to $2,000 to support the installation of a solar hot water system. (For details, see www.solarbc.ca)
We - the BC Sustainable Energy Association - are working hard to help the solar thermal industry get to the stage where they are (eg) in Austria, where 15% of detached houses use solar hot water, even though they get less sunshine than many parts of BC.
We have maybe 0.003% of houses with systems (500 out of 1.5 million), so we have a way to go! - and the government is being very helpful.
-Guy Dauncey,
President,
BC Sustainable Energy Association.
www.bcsea.org
North of Hope
3 years ago
Infrastructure project
This is where the money for infrastructure projects should be directed. It should not go to new 8 lane bridges or highways for gas fueled cars. We must start to develop a sustainable society.