Solar energy
Solar energy is a growing opportunity for Nova Scotia to cut emissions, help meet clean energy goals, increase energy security and help people save money.
About solar energy
More energy from the sun falls on Earth in a single hour than the world’s population uses in an entire year – making it a compelling opportunity for our future energy supply.
Solar technology captures that energy, converting sunlight into electricity or heat – much like a plant converts sunlight into food and energy to help itself grow. Nova Scotia gets around 1,800 to 2,000 hours of sunshine per year. With improving technology, solar energy is becoming more accessible and affordable for homeowners, businesses, and communities.
Benefits of solar energy
Solar energy offers many benefits to Nova Scotia, including:
- environmental impact – solar is a clean source of energy that helps cut emissions, reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, and combat the impacts of climate change
- savings – over time, solar panels can mean significant savings on electricity bills; they allow property owners to produce their own power to offset their electricity usage and potentially earn credit on future electricity bills for what they don’t use
- energy independence – by generating electricity locally, people and communities can reduce their dependence on imported energy sources, enhancing their energy security
- local jobs – the solar industry creates jobs in installation, maintenance and other services
- solar adoption -- to encourage solar adoption, Nova Scotia offered incentives up to $10,000 on residential solar in 2018. By 2024, the 10,000th rooftop solar panel was installed with incentives of up to $3,000 was no longer required to encourage solar installs
Nova Scotia's solar energy advantage
Nova Scotia has many advantages that can help to support the growth of the solar industry:
- government policy – Nova Scotia’s Clean Power Plan outlines how it will meet its clean electricity targets by bringing more wind and solar energy onto the grid
- Community Solar Program – a program that allows non-profits, co-operatives, First Nations communities, municipalities, businesses, universities, colleges, and Community Economic Development Funds (CEDIFs) to develop solar gardens between 0.5 megawatts and 10 megawatts
- commercial net metering – gives businesses credit on their power bill if they generate more electricity than they use
- self-generating program – allows any customer to install a generator or battery storage device with a capacity of 27 Kilowatt or less that shares the same meter as their home or business
Support and training
Nova Scotia is building the expertise and training to support growth. Supports include:
- Nova Scotia Community College – offers a solar photovoltaic micro-credential program designed to equip people with skills for careers in the solar industry
- Solar Nova Scotia – a leader in promoting solar energy, offering networking, educational events, and advocacy to encourage industry growth since 1980
- Efficiency Nova Scotia – maintains a list of preferred, qualified solar installers
- Clean Economy Grants Program – helps master's students research areas of importance to Nova Scotia's energy sector
- Clean Economy Scholarship Program – helps students entering college or university with a scholarship to gain the skills for work in the renewable energy sector
- Energy Training Program – helps businesses in the energy sector hire post-secondary students and recent graduates