Ontario Power Authority to offer 500 FIT 3 and 63 Unconstructed Rooftop Solar Pilot renewable energy contracts

TORONTO, July 30, 3014 /CNW/ - New contracts that could result in enough renewable energy to power approximately 15,000 homes will be offered to successful applicants under the Feed-in Tariff (FIT) 3 Program.

The Ontario Power Authority (OPA) is ready to offer 500 renewable energy contracts that represent 123.5 megawatts (MW) of power.

Most of these contract offers are for solar photovoltaic (PV) projects, similar to what we have seen in previous application periods. The total list includes 490 solar PV projects, eight bio-energy projects, one wind energy project and one waterpower project. Of these, 257 projects (60 MW) are with Aboriginal participation, 161 projects (42 MW) with municipal or public sector entity participation and 81 projects (21.5 MW) with community participation. More than 95 percent of the successful applications had received municipal council support resolutions.

Ontario's clean energy initiatives have attracted billions of dollars in new private sector investments, generated thousands of jobs and significantly increased the amount of clean energy in Ontario's supply mix.

The complete list of FIT 3 contract offers is available here. A summary of projects with Aboriginal, municipal and public sector and community participation is available here.

Following the application period between November 4, 2013, and December 13, 2013, the OPA was authorized to offer up to 123.5 MW of contracts to proponents with successful applications. FIT projects are generally those with a capacity of more than 10 kilowatts (kW) and up to 500 kW. 

In addition, the OPA is also ready to offer 63 contracts to successful applicants who applied to the Unconstructed Rooftop Solar Pilot (URSP). This stream had a separate procurement target of up to 15 MW. These projects include two projects (0.35 MW) with Aboriginal participation, four projects (0.45 MW) with municipal or public sector entity participation and five projects (2.25 MW) with community participation. More than 93 percent of the successful applications had received municipal council support resolutions.

Both the FIT 3 and the URSP procurements were overseen by an Independent Evaluation Monitor, who ensured that applications were reviewed and tested consistently and in accordance with the program rules.

The complete list of URSP contract offers is available here. A summary of projects with Aboriginal, municipal and public sector and community participation is available here.

Ontario's FIT Program, enabled by the Green Energy and Green Economy Act, 2009, is North America's first comprehensive guaranteed pricing structure for renewable electricity production. It includes standardized program rules, prices and contracts for those interested in developing a qualifying renewable energy project. Prices are designed to cover project costs and allow for a reasonable return on investment over the contract term. Qualifying renewable energy technologies include biogas, renewable biomass, landfill gas, solar photovoltaic, waterpower and on-shore wind power.

As committed in the province's Long-Term Energy Plan, the FIT Program will have an annual procurement target of 150 MW between 2013 and 2018. More details on the next application window will be provided on the FIT website in the coming weeks.

More information about the FIT Program is available at fit.powerauthority.on.ca. The OPA also administers the microFIT Program for renewable energy projects up to 10 kW. More information is available at microfit.powerauthority.on.ca.

QUOTES

"The FIT contracts we are about to offer represent significant investment in Ontario and in our electricity system. They show that the transformation of our electricity system to be cleaner and more sustainable is well on its way."
– Colin Andersen, CEO, Ontario Power Authority

 "Ontario is proud to be a North American leader in renewable energy. The province's investments in clean energy initiatives, like the Feed-In Tariff Program, are attracting private sector investment, creating local jobs and helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions."
– Bob Chiarelli, Minister of Energy

The Ontario Power Authority is responsible for ensuring a reliable, sustainable supply of electricity for Ontario. Its key areas of focus are planning the power system for the long term, leading and coordinating conservation initiatives across the province, and ensuring development of needed generation resources.

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SOURCE: Ontario Power Authority

Media Contact: John Cannella, 416-969-6307, Toll Free: 1-800-797-9604, [email protected]