The Solar for Schools Program provides financial rebates to Alberta Public School Authorities who install solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on existing school facilities or land in their jurisdiction and complete a student education initiative as part of the project. Through the program, your school can receive rebates that cover up to 50% of installation!
Who is eligible for this program?
As long as your school is within the province of Alberta, serves Kindergarten (K) and/or a set of grades 1-12, and reports to School Authorities classified as Public, Separate, Francophone, and Charter by Alberta Education, you are eligible to participate in the SFS.
How do the rebates work?
Participants are eligible to receive a rebate per watt of total installed capacity ($/W), as shown the table below.
Total Installed Capacity (DC) | Rebate |
<10 kilowatts | $1.50/watt |
10 kilowatts to <150 kilowatts | $1.25/watt |
150 kilowatts to <2 Megawatts | $1.10/watt |
2 Megawatts to 5 Megawatts | $1.00/watt |
The rebate provided by the MCCAC will not exceed 50% of eligible expenses.
School Authorities can submit multiple applications. Each School Authority is eligible for funding up to the lesser of:
- $3,000,000 in allocated funding to schools within the School Authority district; or
- 30% of schools within the School Authority district have been allocated program fund.
Why is it important?
Solar helps you reduce operational costs. With a solar panel system, you’ll generate free power for your system’s entire 25+ year lifecycle. Even if you don’t produce 100 percent of the energy you consume, solar will reduce your utility bills and you’ll still save a lot of money.
And installing solar at your school is a great practical learning opportunity to teach students about solar and renewable energy!
How does it benefit you?
130 solar PV modules installed
50kW of installed capacity
35 tonnes GHG emissions avoided annually
4 school authorities participating
Protect against rising energy costs
One of the most clear cut benefits of solar panels is the ability to hedge utility prices. By investing in a solar energy system now, you can fix your electricity rate and protect against unpredictable increases in electricity costs.
Protect the environment
Demonstrate your commitment to protecting the earth for future generations and reducing your school’s impact on climate change.
How does it work?
Schools within the province of Alberta which serve Kindergarten (K) and/or a set of grades 1-12 and report to School Authorities classified as Public, Separate, Francophone, and Charter by Alberta Education are eligible to participate.
The only other requirements are that the system must be a new installation, and it must be located on a facility or parcel of land wholly owned by the participating School Authority.
Webinar
Need a little boost to convince your school authority to make use of solar? The Action Centre created this webinar that lays out everything they need to know. You can also request a webinar for your next meeting, or register for an upcoming Solar for Schools Program 101 webinar.
Case studies
- Cochrane High School
Save money. Save the planet—it’s a win-win
If this program sounds right for your community apply now and start making a difference today!