Check out our slideshow of a recent residential solar electric project we completed in the Comox Valley. We installed a 2.76 kw PV array next to our prior two collector solar hot water installation on a home in Courtenay that was undergoing a significant renovation. Make sure to click on the "show info" button on the top right corner of the slideshow to read all about it!
More information about Solar PV:
The price for solar electric (PV) varies depending on how much energy you want to off-set in your home and whether you want a battery back-up or not (battery back-up adds cost, but provides you with the ability to generate electricity when the power goes out). We recently provided a 4.5 kilowatt grid-tie solar array with battery back-up to a residential home in the Comox Valley and the cost was appx. $28,000. Without battery back-up it's more like $20,000. However, this size system will only offset about 40-50 per cent of their whole home energy usage.
An average house generates roughly 11,000 kilowatt hours a year, so if you want to offset your whole home you'd be looking at a 9-10 kilowatt system (one kilowatt of solar energy provides about 1100 kWh/y on Vancouver island and 1050 in the Lower Mainland), which would range more in the $35,000-$40,000 range.
But you can always start with a smaller system, like the one in our slideshow, above. It all depends on your wants/needs/budget. If you'd like to get a quote for a renewable energy project you have planned, you can fill out our webform and we'll contact you directly.