Kits offering 800 watts of power can provide one-third of a household’s energy needs, say proponents
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Albertans are ready for portable, plug-in, so-called balcony solar generation, say local environmental activists.
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But they say that while the use of the units is gaining traction elsewhere in the world, Albertans and Canadians are being left behind due to murky regulatory hurdles based partly on safety.
“There’s more than one million installations right now in Germany,” said Dr. Joe Vipond, co-chair of the Calgary Climate Hub.
“With a different regulatory outlook, people might be doing this right now. It’s a win-win and there’s almost no downside.”
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The micro solar panels would entail do-it-yourself installations on porches or balconies on structures such as condo buildings, or even single-family homes.
Generated solar energy passes through a microconverter located on a deck or balcony, leading to a standard household electrical socket.
The systems’ game-changing advantage is the use of that electrical socket, which bypasses the need for more complicated, professionally done installation and hookup required with rooftop solar units.
“It’s much more accessible for people and that’s a good thing,” said Prof. Sara Hastings-Simon, an energy scientist at the University of Calgary.
“It really opens up the technology to a broader set of people, and makes sure people aren’t left behind in the energy transition.”
Kits offering 800 watts of power, selling for about $1,500 each, can provide one-third of a household’s energy needs, say proponents, and be easily transportable in case of a change of address. Advocates also say batteries for power storage are becoming available.
But that simplicity brings its own complexity, by interacting with existing conventionally delivered electricity, said Phil McKay, senior director of member programs with the Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CREA).
“It’s the interactions with the household power system — you have limits on the circuits, on how many things you can have,” he said.
“The grid has to wrestle with power going both ways, but the amount generated (by balcony panels) is so low, it’s like a mosquito in a hurricane.”
Even so, system overload could result in fire or electrical shock, say experts, who also cite concerns about the hazards posed by falling or windblown components. Proponents say those risks already exist with other balcony items.
But along with European jurisdictions, Utah has managed to reconcile those issues to allow the use of the technology, and other U.S. states are following suit.
Certification for that use in Canada is lagging, said McKay, with the next update of the country’s electrical code not coming until 2030 — a constraint that might need to be shortened.
“The real pinch point is that (these devices) are available now, they’re accessible in the States and it won’t be long before they’re accessible across the border,” he said.
“(That timeline) will have to truncate if we don’t want to have guerrilla solar activity.”
He said lobbying by his organization and others, such as the Calgary Climate Hub, is leading to movement on the part of regulators.
The CSA Group, which oversees certification, said the issue is in flux, though its official status hasn’t changed.
“Plug‑in or ‘balcony’ solar systems have historically not been permitted under the Canadian Electrical Code or the National Electrical Code, and therefore have not been eligible for certification as complete systems in Canada,” Dana Parmenter, its commercial vice-president, said in an email.
But last December, certification provider UL Solutions’ work supplied an “interim international pathway” and an “outline of investigation” to establish safety and performance requirements for plug-in photovoltaic technology, he said.
“CSA Group is working toward incorporating this outline into its service offerings,” added Parmenter.
But he said acceptance and installation of those systems is dependent on provincial regulations and local authorities’ jurisdiction.
According to the Alberta government, there are no provincial barriers in the way of plug-in solar, as long as the devices are installed on users’ property.
But Affordability and Utilities Minister Nathan Neudorf’s office said those installations could still be subject to constraints.
“For residents who are renting, we strongly encourage they have a discussion with their property manager or landlord before undertaking significant changes to their residence,” they said in an email.
While legislation in Germany and Utah clears permitting hurdles and liability issues for utilities, landlords and manufacturers, the province’s comments on balcony solar don’t yet provide those assurances, said Vipond.
“Therefore, I don’t think people will move forward with solar until they are done,” he said.
But the demand for the systems probably exists, said McKay.
“There’d be significant pent-up demand. We do know there are a lot of people without access to traditional solar who want it,” he said, adding that’s fed by current energy uncertainty created by the war in Iran.
“But it’s hard to know for sure until it’s allowed.”
City-owned utility Enmax noted that under provincial regulations, micro electrical generators can produce power but can’t exceed what they consume themselves, adding such systems “must be reviewed by Enmax and meet safety, technical and regulatory requirements, as well as City of Calgary and building or condo bylaws.
“While interest is growing, we haven’t received formal applications for balcony solar, and some products on the market don’t currently meet safety standards.”
Canada is seen as a relative laggard in adopting some renewable energy sources, with nine per cent of its electricity generation coming from wind or solar, compared with 19 per cent in the U.S.
BKaufmann@postmedia.com
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