Learn about adding solar panels and Tesla Powerwalls to enhance the energy usage for your home.
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Solar energy may still feel like a novelty, but before you know it those big panels on your roof may be just as necessary as your fossil-fueled furnace in the basement.
Interest-free loans from the federal government and municipal incentive plans are helping homeowners finance solar projects while providers are busy educating the public on the technology and benefits of using the sun’s energy. They can also fully explain the various funding programs, says Tyler Sieben, owner of Evalence Renewables, who will be one of five Alberta solar energy exhibitors at the 2024 Edmonton Fall Home Show at the Edmonton Expo Centre.
“We talk to people and answer questions they may not feel comfortable calling us to ask. People at shows are interested in learning about new products,” he says.
A typical system on an average home can be $20,000, or if you take away add-ons like critter guards, it can be closer to $15,000. The federal Greener Homes Grant can provide an interest-free loan with as many as 10 years to pay it back. Municipal programs like the Clean Energy Improvement Program (CEIP), currently closed pending the next funding round, also helps with the financial cost.
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In terms of optional batteries to store solar energy, Sieben notes that Tesla has just released its Powerwall 3, the latest iteration of the maker’s lithium-ion home storage battery. Powerwall 3 features an integrated inverter allowing solar to be connected directly. It can be added to existing solar or installed on its own.
Sieben says the Powerwall is roughly the size of a mini-fridge and weighs about 400 pounds. In warmer climates it’s installed outdoors, but in cold-weather Canada, it must be installed safely in the garage or mechanical room — far from living areas within the home as per the building code.
The Powerwall stores energy to be used during a power outage and the latest version of it uses AI to regulate power use. It connects to Wi-Fi and checks on the weather for pending storms and learns how you use your house. If you cook a turkey every Thursday, it remembers that and will make sure there’s enough power for it, should you need it.
Rural customers would benefit more from a smart battery like the Powerwall. For city dwellers, it’s a $20,000 luxury, Sieben says. When it comes to using solar in our province, batteries aren’t actually required to store solar when grid service is dependable.
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“In Alberta, we have a great utility system. We don’t have a system with price tiers, which changes electricity costs during high peak hours, and you can sell your electricity to the grid. People get a bi-directional meter, which measures what you send out, which shows up on your bill as a credit. About 99 per cent of our installs don’t have batteries, which is a great way to save money on your system,” he says.
Evalence will be joined by Greenamp Solar and Energy, Kuby Renewable Energy, Mag Solar, and Zeno Renewables at the Edmonton Fall Home Show, Friday, Oct. 18 from noon to 8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 19 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 20 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Save $2 per ticket by purchasing online at edmontonfallhomeshow.com.
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