Solar Heating

Solar Heating Initiative for Today (SHIFT)

 The Solar Heating Initiative for Today (SHIFT) is available to help large energy consumers harness solar energy to heat water and indoor air for use in their facilities.

The target market will be large consumers of hot water in Saskatchewan such as:

• Businesses and industries residing and doing business in Saskatchewan
• Multi-unit residential buildings more than three stories
• Provincial facilities
• Public institutions (e.g. schools, hospitals)
• Municipalities

Pre-approval from NRCan is required before equipment and labour costs are incurred.

Applications for this initiative will be made jointly with the federal ecoENERGY for Renewable Heat initiative, administered by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan). This program limits the overall government funding that may be used for any solar water heating installation project; these limits will be applied to SRC's program as well. The percentage and maximum amounts are identical for both SHIFT and ecoENERGY. 

• Business, industry, multi-unit residential buildings and provincial facilities are allowed to receive up to 50 per cent of eligible project costs from government funding for a solar water heater installation project.
• Public institutions and municipalities may solicit other sources of government funding for a solar water heater installation project to 100 per cent of eligible project costs. 
  
  

  Key Dates for the Federal   ecoEnergy Program Applications:    October 1, 2010:    Last date to receive an application for incentive.    December 31, 2010:    Last date for project commissioning.    January 31, 2011:    Last date to receive payment requests.    March 31, 2011:     Program ends.

Eligible costs/activities/materials are identical to the federal program.

• Design and permitting
• Feasibility and simulation studies
• Solar collectors
• Collector rack/support fasteners
• Piping from collector array to solar storage tank and to conventional hot water tank
• Pipe and solar storage tank insulation
• Solar heat exchanger
• Solar heat storage tank(s)
• Pump(s) (collector side)
• Solar system controller
• Photovoltaic components used to power pumps in the system
• Supervision
• Shipping
• Inspection and commissioning 

1. For full criteria and application forms click here
2. Contact a solar provider in Saskatchewan for a cost estimate and evaluation of your building and provide details on the installation.
   • List of Solar Providers
   • List of those who have successfully taken the CanSIA Workshop
3. Fill out a SHIFT utility consent form and appropriate section/s of application with solar provider.
   • Electrical Waiver Form
   • Energy Waiver Form

Within 30 days of commissioning an approved solar project, the applicant must submit the following to NRCan:

1. A commissioning report signed by a professional engineer or a certified engineering technologist.
2. Copies of all relevant invoices.
3. A signed attestation form of all governmental funding received.
4. A signed waiver form allowing SRC access to the participant's energy consumption records for 18 months prior to the installation, and 10 years after the installations are complete.

A cheque will be issued by SRC for the SHIFT program's portion of eligible solar project costs once NRCan has advised SRC that all the above have been received and are deemed acceptable to the program, and all requirements of the federal contribution agreement have been met.

As part of this initiative, clients will also be made aware of other potential sources of funding that are applicable.

For more information about this program, please contact 306-933-5400 or info@src.sk.ca.
 

The Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) will pay a one-time fee for the purchase of pre- and post-energy consumption utility records from the above organizations as related to solar air and solar water installations in their facilities. This reimbursement fee will match the federal ecoENERGY for Renewable Heat initiative for eligible solar heating project costs up to $80,000. NRCan has modified their program and may be able to provide additional funding depending upon the project.

In order to be eligible for this program, organizations will be required to provide NRCan (as part of the application process) with a signed waiver giving SRC access to their energy consumption utility records for up to 18 months prior to the installation and 10 years after installations are complete.

Steps: 

Eligible costs include material (excluding GST and PST) and labour (excluding GST) costs for the following. Except for design, permitting, feasibility, and simulation studies expenditures, costs are only eligible if incurred after agreements have been signed by the applicant with both SRC and NRCan.