Community solar in Canada lets several people share the benefits of one solar project, usually through bill credits, without installing panels on their own roof. It’s designed for renters, condo owners and homeowners whose roofs are shaded or unsuitable. Availability depends heavily on your province and utility. Some have formal programs, while elsewhere options are limited to local co-operatives or pilot projects.
How community solar works
A solar array, often called a “solar garden”, is built on a large roof or a piece of land. Participants then share its output in one of two main ways:
Model
How you take part
What you get
Subscription
Sign up for a share of the project’s output
Credits on your electricity bill
Ownership (for example, a co-operative)
Buy a share or membership in the project
Possible bill credits or returns, and a say in decisions
The details, such as the cost, the credit value, the contract length and how to leave, vary by program. Always read the terms.
Anyone who wants to support local renewable energy without owning equipment
Community solar in Canada: program examples
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia has a provincial Community Solar Program. According to the program page, Nova Scotia Power customers can subscribe to a community solar garden to cover 10% to 100% of their electricity with solar, and receive a monthly bill credit based on the garden’s actual production. Subscribers can change or cancel their subscription without penalty. Customers already enrolled in net metering aren’t eligible.
British Columbia
BC Hydro’s customer generation offering includes community generation. This lets a community generator operate a shared renewable energy system and offer generation credit subscriptions to eligible customers.
Other provinces and territories
Elsewhere, community solar may be offered by local co-operatives, municipalities, utilities or Indigenous-led energy projects. Check with your utility and your municipality. Current renewable energy programs are also listed in NRCan’s directory of provincial and territorial incentives.
Questions to ask before you join
Is my account eligible? Many programs require you to be in the same utility territory, and may exclude net metering customers.
What does it cost? Is it a monthly fee, an upfront share, or nothing at all?
How are credits calculated? Are they fixed per kWh, based on actual production, or something else?
How long is the commitment? Can you change, transfer or cancel it if you move?
Who runs the project? Who owns and maintains the array, and what happens if it underperforms?
If your roof is suitable, rooftop solar usually gives you more control and potentially larger savings. Community solar is a good option when it isn’t.
The bottom line
Community solar in Canada is a practical way to get solar benefits without panels on your own roof, but it’s only available where a program or project exists. Nova Scotia and BC Hydro have formal options. Elsewhere, check with your utility, municipality and local energy co-operatives, and read the terms carefully before you sign.
Frequently asked questions
Can renters use solar power in Canada?
Yes, where community solar is available. Renters can subscribe to a program, such as Nova Scotia’s Community Solar Program, and receive bill credits without installing panels.
Is community solar available in Ontario?
Ontario doesn’t have a province-wide community solar program like Nova Scotia’s. Local co-operatives or projects may exist, so check with your utility and municipality.
Can I have rooftop solar and community solar at the same time?
It depends on the program. Nova Scotia’s program, for example, excludes customers already enrolled in net metering.
