The Canadian Solar Industries Association (CanSIA) recognized outstanding achievements in the solar industry at the fifth annual Game Changer Awards, hosted at Solar Canada 2017 on December 5. The awards recognize the excellence of the many individuals and organizations that have helped the solar energy industry mature by pursuing the path that will lead us to an even brighter future.

For the first year ever, CanSIA assembled a Game Changer Awards Jury, made up of active leaders of renewable energy industry, to carry out the difficult task of selecting the award winners. After much deliberation and consultation, the Jury selected the following winners (click on the name to see project details):

Remote/Indigenous Solar Project
JAZZ Solar Solutions in partnership with Lac Des Mille Lacs First Nation

Solar Developer of the Year
City of Toronto

Smart Energy Innovation
Panasonic Eco Solutions Canada Inc.

Solar PV Project of the Year
Oxford Properties Group

Solar Service Excellence
Apricity Renewables Inc.

Scroll down to see photos!

Partnered with CanSIA, Women in Renewable Energy (WiRE) presented the Woman of Distinction Award for Solar to Janice Ashworth, General Manager at the Ottawa Renewable Energy Co-operative.

“This year marks the third year of the annual Solar Power Woman of Distinction Award,”, said Joanna Osawe, WiRE Co-Founder and Co-Chair. “Janice’s impressive track record was well received by the adjudication panel.”

All nominees are evaluated on their merits of excellence in leadership, advocacy, research and development, community engagement and efforts to increase the adoption of solar power technologies.

​“Janice’s valuable contribution to her community and to the solar sector more broadly is clear,” said Rebecca Black, WiRE Co-Founder. “She represents the  leadership that we need as we transition to a sustainable energy future, driven by strong diverse  perspectives”.

The ambition, energy and creativity of the Canada’s young solar professionals ensures our industry continues to move upward. ELSE’s Emerging Solar Leader award celebrates those new to our industry whom have contributed significantly to solar in 2017 and show promise to continue on as future leaders.

​After receiving many Emerging Solar Leader applications, ELSE awarded Alexander Palkovsky.

Alexander started his career in the solar energy industry in June of 2015 with Solar Flow Through Funds ("SFF") after finishing his undergrad studies at the Ivey School of Business.

Over his two years and half years with SFF, Alexander brought 31 commercial rooftop projects from FIT contract award to COD, financed nearly $50MM of small FIT projects, and led SFF through the development of the company’s first portfolio of ground-mount projects to a construction-ready stage. By the end of 2017, this aggregate portfolio will amount to nearly 15 MW of solar energy capacity added to Ontario’s electrical grid.

Alexander has recently joined Brookfield Renewable.

​Remote/Indigenous Solar Project
Remote/Indigenous solar projects serve as natural showcases for solar energy, benefiting both the local populace and the wider environment.  This award will recognize the commitment and excellence by remote community and Indigenous groups that choose to make a difference with solar.

Nominees include: 

• ​Amp
• Batchewana First Nation
• JAZZ Solar Solutions in partnership with Lac Des Mille Lacs First Nation
• KB Racking
• Solar Now
• Vancouver Renewable Energy Co-op

Solar Service Excellence
Recognizes service excellence in the delivery of support services to the solar sector from any of the engineering, construction, legal, accounting, banking and financial service industries, with an emphasis on the biggest or most creative financing deals, ethical practice and/or health and safety excellence.

Nominees include:

• ​Apricity Renewables Inc.
• HES PV Limited
  
• KB Racking
• KB Racking
• Polaron Solartech Corp.
• Zon Engineering Inc.

Solar PV Project of the Year
Awarded to the Institutional, Commercial or Industrial (ICI) or community solar PV project that, either through high visibility, meaningful stakeholder engagement or innovative features, has helped the solar PV industry become mainstream.

Nominees include:

• Amp
• ATCO
• ATCO
• City of Leduc 
• Elemental Energy
• IKEA Canada
• Oxford Properties Group
• Solera Sustainable Energies Company Limited

Solar Developer of the Year
Recognizes excellence in the responsible development of projects through such practices as meaningful stakeholder engagement, strong project management, predicted output and project returns.

Nominees include:

• City of Toronto
• David Sala of EDF EN Canada Inc.
• Elemental Energy
• Grasshopper Solar
• Sycamore Energy Inc

Smart Energy Innovation
Solar energy is playing an increasingly pivotal role in comprehensive approaches to energy management.  This award will recognize successful and innovative efforts to integrate solar into a holistic energy management environment.

Nominees include:

• Panasonic Eco Solutions Canada Inc.
• Sentinel Solar
• Toronto Hydro 

The Game Changer Award Jurors are active members of the Canadian renewable energy industry, who offer valuable insight and perspective in selecting the Game Changer Award winners. 

The CanSIA Board Nominations and Awards Committee are actively involved guiding with the Game Changer Awards and the selection process. 

The application process for the Game Changer Awards is now closed. Thank you all who participated. Winners will be announced on December 5! 

Every year, CanSIA and members of the industry get together to look back on the year's achievements and toast the innovators and inspiring leaders at CanSIA's annual Game Changer Awards. This year, we will be hosting a Game Changer Awards Brunch on December 5, in conjunction with Solar Canada. 

It's time to recognize your and your organization's important work. But first and foremost, it's time to apply for a Game Changer Award! 

Here are the top three reasons to apply for CanSIA's Game Changer Awards: 

Increase awareness 
The solar industry is filled with unsung heroes that are committed to building a greener and economically sustainable future for Canadians. Let your work shine - raise your organization's profile with the new title 'Game Changer Award Winner'. Game Changer Award winners are not only announced at Solar Canada, but also recognized and celebrated throughout the year in CanSIA's digital and print communications. 

Motivate others 
You're proud of what your organization has accomplished and you want to celebrate it with the rest of the industry. Moreover, your colleagues will appreciate being recognized for their hard work and ingenuity. The experience of winning together will be something your team won't soon forget! 

It has never been easier 
No need to wait for a nomination to roll your way, simply fill out an application yourself. Check out the Game Changer Award categories to find one that is a good fit for you and your organization. 

This year, we are introducing a new award: Solar Industry's Choice Award. The recipient will be honoured for leading by example, demonstrating long-term thinking for the industry and a win/win attitude. And for the first time ever, CanSIA Members will have the chance to vote on the winner! Answer two questions and you'll be done applying for this award. 

The application process for the Game Changer Awards is now closed. Thank you all who participated. Winners will be announced on December 5! ​

​Thank you for your interest in nominating or applying for a Game Changer Award. Please review the questions below. 

For the first time ever, CanSIA Members will have the opportunity to vote on a winner based on the candidate's answers to the following questions. 

1. Please provide a brief summary of your accomplishments (educational, volunteer, career, etc.), particularly pertaining to the solar industry.
2. Describe an instance(s) where you looked beyond personal short-term gain to the longer term health and growth of the industry on a whole.  In what way(s) have you acted and inspired others to think and act in the long-term interests of the industry?

1. Summary: Set out a brief synopsis of the initiative (i.e. project, technology, service).  This summary may be used during the event promotion.
2. Description: Please provide as much detail as you can to describe the initiative.  Simply provide a description of the project, technology, service, etc.  being considered.  Do not address here how it was done or what it achieved.
3. Innovative Approach: Please describe which kind of innovation and creative approach that was used to achieve outstanding results.  In what way has the initiative pushed the envelope of current norms, traditional results and standard approaches?  25/100 points
4. Economic Benefit: Highlight the benefits, with a sense of financial benefit, cost savings, emission reductions or other directly attributable benefits of the initiative.  Did this initiative deliver or exceed anticipated value, results and returns?  If you include confidential and commercially sensitive information, it will be treated as such.  Please ensure you note the following - do not publicize. 25/100 points
5. Engagement: In what way(s) did the nominee undergo meaningful stakeholder/customer engagement and how has it been incorporated into the design and execution of the initiative?  Highlight the manner in which the initiative was communicated to promite the importance and benefits of solar energy while achieving business and stakeholder/client objectives. Demonstrate how the proponent listened to its audience and acted on the advice.  25/100 points
6. Corporate and Sustainable Responsibility: Describe the environmentally conscientious approach during the design and execution of the initiative. Give concrete examples of how your initiative has benefited the environment (ex: saved X amount of CO2 emissions, reduced X amount of GHG, etc.) Explain the ways and manners by which this initiative was undertaken with the intent of demonstrating true corporate responsibility. 25/100 points

Protecting and serving consumers by ensuring a fair, safe and informed marketplace is important to CanSIA and to our Member companies. Therefore, in early June of 2016, CanSIA initiated new consumer protection policies to fulfill this responsibility.

CanSIA’s introduction of a new standard

Leveraging the experience of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) (the American equivalent of CanSIA) and in consultation with its members, CanSIA developed a set of standards in 2016 to serve as a blueprint for the future.  The ‘Solar Business Code of Conduct’,  ‘Going Solar: A Guide for Consumers’ and a robust complaint resolution process were introduced to provide potential consumers with the tools to educate themselves, assess their needs and source reputable solar retailers. 

With the swift uptake from Canadian solar companies, it was evident that high quality standards are not only important to the consumer, but important to the companies themselves. Members take pride in ensuring consumers recognize the value and security associated with the ‘Proud CanSIA Member’ logo.

Fact: The high cost of electricity has little to do with energy costs themselves, and are largely embedded in the service charges billed to consumers. In fact, the introduction of renewable energy technologies will ensure that in the long term, energy costs will stabilize.

Fact: Public opinion polls show that Ontarians support the provincial government’s renewable energy shift, and are in favour of increased investment in renewable energy technologies.

Fact: Investment in renewable energy technology has resulted in the creation of jobs, and has a positive economic impact for the province and the municipalities that host renewable energy sites. Since 2008, renewable energy projects have invested over $14 billion in Ontario’s economy.

Fact: As we move toward the implementation of the Climate Change Action Plan, there is a projected increase in energy demand and Ontario will need to meet this increase in a cost effective and carbon neutral way.

Visit renewourfuture.ca and take action. Ask the provincial government to renew their commitment to renewable energy by submitting an email to the Minister of Energy, Glenn Thibeault and your local MPP.

Ottawa, ON - (March 23, 2017) – The Canadian Federal Government released its first budget yesterday since ratifying the Paris Agreement. 
 
Canadian Solar Industries Association’s President & CEO, John Gorman, released the following statements:
 
“Today’s budget is another early milestone in Canada’s transition to our cleaner energy future. It advances our progress on international obligations, helps Canada adapt to the impacts of climate change and allows our nation to remain competitive in the rapidly changing global economy.  Reducing subsidies to fossil fuels, putting a price on pollution and supporting major green infrastructure projects laid the groundwork.  Budget 2017’s strategic investments—ear-marked for the next generation of clean electricity, storage and smart grid projects—places individuals, households, communities and the buildings that they live and work in at the centre of the solution to our energy future”.
 
“The social, economic and environmental costs of relying on diesel in Canada’s northern and remote communities cannot be overstated. CanSIA applauds the continued leadership and investment demonstrated in today’s federal budget in the transition toward local renewable energy resources and away from imported diesel fuels is welcome.  Integrating solar, storage and micro-grids is an area where Canada can be the global leader”.
 
In addition to signalling that further details on the allocation of the $2 billion Low Carbon Economy Fund will be announced in the near future, the following is a list of specific allocations to programs that will support the transition to a cleaner, smarter and more distributed energy system:

• $100 million to support smart grid, storage and clean electricity technology demonstration projects.
• $220 million to reduce the reliance of remote communities on diesel fuel and support renewable power.
• $182 million to retrofit existing buildings and build new net-zero energy consumption buildings across Canada.
• $200 million to support the deployment of emerging renewable energy technologies nearing commercialization.

 
These investments demonstrate recognition that clean technologies such as solar energy are now commercially ready to play a mainstream role in the 21st Century.  The timing for such a transition has never been better given declining technology costs and the pressing opportunity for Canadian industry to improve its position and expertise in this booming global market niche.
 
About CanSIA
Canadian Solar Industries Association (CanSIA) is a national trade association that represents the solar energy industry throughout Canada. Since 1992, CanSIA has worked to develop a strong, efficient, ethical and professional Canadian solar energy industry with capacity to provide innovative solar energy solutions and to play a major role in the global transition to a sustainable, clean-energy future. Follow CanSIA on Twitter and Facebook.
 
For more information, please contact:
Erin Seegmiller
1-866-522-6742
eseegmiller@cansia.ca

The policy rationale for the plan is that the electricity system in Ontario was facing a massive infrastructure deficit, inherited from successive governments of all political stripes, and needed to pay to address that deficit. Additionally, there were costs incurred during the coal phase-out process in order to clean the electricity supply and reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions from the sector. All of these costs have ended up being front-end loaded with today’s ratepayers subsidizing both past and future ratepayers for infrastructure which needed to be built. Instead of front-end loading the payment of those costs, the government will be amortizing a portion of those costs over 30 years in order to reduce the installments being paid. Similar to refinancing a mortgage this will, however, result in more being paid in the long-run because of the costs of financing the debt. Government estimates put this additional cost at $25 billion over the 30 years.

​And now to the components of the plan and potential impacts.

The Plan: Beyond the already instituted 8% HST rebate, the Fair Hydro Plan will target an average reduction of 17% to residential electricity bills, in part, by reducing the amount of GA that is paid for by ratepayers by $2.5 billion each year for the first 10 years. Keep in mind that the full 17% reduction will not all come directly from refinancing the GA – some of the 17% reduction will come from other measures that will impact solar net metering to a lesser degree. These will be discussed below.

The full cost of GA would continue to be paid to generators (nuclear, natural gas, waterpower, wind, solar, bioenergy) and to fund conservation programs (which satisfies the government’s contractual obligations to these parties) but will be funded, in part, by debt rather than from ratepayers, at least for now. The annual $2.5 billion difference will be transferred to an account managed by Ontario Power Generation (OPG) where it will accumulate interest and be paid off over a longer period of time (30 years). This change will result in an immediate reduction on electricity bills by reducing the GA component of the cost of electricity. The government has also announced that they will be holding any increases to electricity rates to the rate of inflation over the next 4 years.

​The Impact to Solar Net Metering: Refinancing the GA will directly reduce the per kWh charge that electricity customers pay, which will change the price that companies will need to offer a potential net metering customer. For example, if a customer was currently paying 15¢/kWh for grid electricity, a net metering company might need to offer a solar kWh for 13-14¢ in order for the customer to be interested. With the refinancing of the GA, the price per kWh of grid electricity will decrease and the net metering company would need, in turn, reduce the cost of a solar kWh in order to incent uptake. This will increase payback periods by widening the gap between the cost of a kWh from the grid and the required price per kWh that a net metering system would need in order to cover costs and still produce electricity cost savings for the customer.

We do not yet know the exact impacts to the per kWh price in Ontario and so cannot yet quantify the exact impact to net metering system economics. Once greater clarity on the impact to Time of Use (TOU) and Tiered Rates is available, CanSIA will share that information with Members. For the time being, below are some potential impacts in the form of changes to mock bills for standard service residential electricity customers.

Before the Fair Hydro Plan

After the Fair Hydro Plan

The Plan: The RRRP provides a rate subsidy to rural or remote residential customers who are faced with higher distribution costs compared to urban areas. The RRRP will be expanded to include about 800,000 R1 and R2 residential customers (up from the current 350,000) across the service territories of Hydro One, Northern Ontario Wires Inc., Lakeland Parry Sound, Chapleau PUC, Sioux Lookout Hydro, InnPower, Atikokan Hydro and Algoma Power. The costs of the RRRP is currently born by ratepayers through a portion of the Regulatory charge on the electricity bill, however, the cost will be moved to the tax base and thus come off the Regulatory charge.
​
The Impact to Solar Net Metering: This change is expected to have a relatively minor impact on solar net metering as the addition to the regulatory charge on current bills is small and the effect will only impact residential distribution charges. As described previously by CanSIA, the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) is going through the process of fixing residential distribution charges, thus solar net metering cannot affect these charges regardless.

 The Plan: The Fair Hydro Plan will also make a number of changes to one existing program as well as create two new programs, all of which will be funded by the tax base rather than ratepayers. The Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP) will increase its monthly credits by 50% to cover more low-income Ontarians. The First Nations On-Reserve Delivery Credit will eliminate the delivery charge for all on-reserve First Nations households and remove the monthly service charge for customers of licensed distributors which charge a bundled rate. Finally, a new Affordability Fund will be created which will assist low-income customers in accessing energy conservation programs to reduce their electricity consumption.
​
The Impact to Solar Net Metering: CanSIA expects the impact to solar net metering from these three measures to be relatively minor given that they generally target either portions of the bill that cannot be impacted by a net metering system, and because they target customer classes that would not likely pursue solar at this time.

The Fair Hydro Plan is being implemented to provide, in total, a 25% reduction on the average residential electricity customer’s bill. These impacts, however, are largely focused on volumetric portions of the bill (commodity/electricity charge, HST, regulatory charge) and are thus going to impact the economics of solar net metering as this is the portion of the bill that can be reduced by a net metering system. Certainly the GA refinancing plan will have the largest impact, however, the cumulative impact of all changes are additive and will increase the overall impact. The impacts will be especially pronounced for residential customers, however, the commercial/industrial sector will not be as heavily impacted due to the relatively low costs per unit of electricity that come from the of GA for these customers. CanSIA will be working to better quantify the impacts to solar net metering in the coming weeks to better understand changes to TOU and Tiered Rates as well as to total changes to the volumetric portion of the electricity bill.

View the Government of Alberta's full press release. ​

Over the next five years, the Residential and Commercial Solar Program will build on these existing programs. By 2019, the new program is expected to:

• support the creation of 900 jobs in Alberta’s solar sector
• cut solar installation costs by up to 30 per cent for residences, and up to 25 per cent for businesses and non-profits
• reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the province by about a half million tonnes, the equivalent of taking 100,000 passenger vehicles off the road

​To ensure Albertans receive timely access, the government is posting a Request for Proposal to identify a third party to deliver the new program. Details will be defined in coming months, including qualifying systems, installation and eligibility requirements.​ Sign up for CanSIA's E-News to receive updates. 

The program is another important step towards solar becoming an integral part of Alberta’s energy supply. Details of how Alberta’s Climate Leadership Plan will create opportunities for the Canadian solar industry will be discussed at the upcoming Solar West Conference taking place May 9-11 in Edmonton. With 400 expected attendees spanning across the industry, Solar West is certain to be an event energy insiders cannot miss.
 
About CanSIA
Canadian Solar Industries Association (CanSIA) is a national trade association that represents the solar energy industry throughout Canada. Since 1992, CanSIA has worked to develop a strong, efficient, ethical and professional Canadian solar energy industry with capacity to provide innovative solar energy solutions and to play a major role in the global transition to a sustainable, clean-energy future. Learn more at www.cansia.ca. Follow CanSIA on Twitter and Facebook.
 
About Hannover Fairs
Hannover Fairs USA, Inc. (HFUSA) is the United States subsidiary of Hannover, Germany’s Deutsche Messe – one of the world’s largest and most active event organizers. Deutsche Messe annually produces more than 100 trade fairs and conferences worldwide, including Canada’s premier solar energy event, Solar West. Visit www.solarwestconference.ca for more information.
 
For more information, please contact:
Erin Seegmiller
1-866-522-6742
eseegmiller@cansia.ca