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Commercial and industrial solar

Commercial Solar in Canada: The Business Case, Then the Quotes

Enter your business address to see the federal and provincial incentives that apply, the output your roof can expect, and quotes from vetted commercial installers.

Free · No sign-up · See your rebates in seconds

  • Federal credit up to 30%
  • Provincial rebates read on official pages
  • Free, no obligation
Solar installer working on a commercial rooftopUp to 30% federal tax credit
federal Clean Technology ITC on solar and batteries
Up to 30%
Ontario Save on Energy Retrofit, up to 1 MW-AC
$770 / kW-AC
Efficiency Manitoba business solar rebate
$0.75 / W
BC Hydro business solar rebate
Up to $10,000

Is Commercial Solar Worth It for My Business?

Quick answer

It is when the system offsets power you buy at a high price during the day and the incentives cut the upfront cost. The same panels pay back faster on a building that runs in daylight, in a province with a rebate and a good rate, than on one that sits empty on weekends.

  • Daytime use

    Solar produces when the sun is up. Buildings that run machinery, refrigeration or cooling by day use most of what they generate.

  • Your electricity price

    The higher the price you avoid, the faster the payback. Check energy and demand charges on a recent bill.

  • Roof size and condition

    Panels last decades, so a roof near end of life should be replaced or reinforced first.

  • Incentives

    The federal credit plus a provincial rebate can cover a large share of cost. See the worked example on the incentives page.

  • Export rules

    Whether spare power is credited at retail, a set price or case by case depends on your utility and system size.

  • Your tax position

    The federal credit is for taxable Canadian corporations. Talk to your accountant about the cost base and timing.

Which Commercial Buildings Suit Solar?

Quick answer

Large, flat or gently sloped roofs on buildings that use power by day are the best fit: warehouses, cold storage, manufacturing plants, retail centres and offices. Smaller or shaded roofs can still work, so check yours before ruling it out.

Good fit

  • Warehouses and distribution centresBig roofs, steady load.
  • Cold storage and manufacturingHigh daytime electricity use.
  • Retail and officesDaytime occupancy, rooftop or parking-lot space.

Check first

  • A roof near the end of its life
  • Heavy shade from neighbouring buildings
  • No landlord approval, if you leaseOwners and tenants should agree who claims incentives.
Checked against official pages · Sept 23, 2026

Incentives for Business Solar

A compact view of the open programs for businesses. The incentives page explains the federal credit and how it stacks with provincial rebates.

Source: each program's official page (linked) · as of Sept 23, 2026. Amounts change often, so confirm on the official page before you apply.
ProgramProvinceForAmountStatus
Clean Technology Investment Tax CreditCanada (federal)Businesses

Taxable Canadian corporations

Refundable credit of up to 30% of eligible solar and battery equipment costs (20% if labour requirements aren't met). Up to 15% for equipment available for use in 2034Open

Open until Dec 31, 2034

BC Hydro solar and battery rebates (business)British ColumbiaBusinesses

Businesses that own or lease their property and hold an eligible BC Hydro account

Solar: $1,000 per kW, up to $10,000. Battery: $500 per kWh, up to $10,000. Each capped at 50% of costOpen

Open while funding lasts

Efficiency Manitoba solar rebateManitobaHomeowners and businesses

Manitoba homes and businesses

Homes: up to $5,000. Businesses: $0.75 per wattOpen

Open

Save on Energy Retrofit ProgramOntarioBusinesses

Ontario businesses. Your local utility must confirm the system can connect

$1,000 per kW-DC for systems up to 10 kW-DC; $770 per kW-AC for systems over 10 kW-AC, up to 1 MW-ACOpen

Open

What Your Utility Pays for Extra Power

Whether exports are credited at the retail rate, banked, or bought at a lower price can matter more to payback than the rebate. These are the rules we have read on the utility or regulator page.

Source: each utility or regulator page (linked) · as of Oct 15, 2026. Terms change with rate cases, so confirm with your utility before you size a system.
Province and utilityHow exports are creditedSystem size
British Columbia: BC HydroExports earn a fixed credit of 10¢ per kWh, applied to the current bill and good only against energy charges. The older net metering schedule (1289) is closed to new customers100 kW AC inverter capacity
Alberta: Your electricity retailerSystems under 150 kW are credited monthly at your retail rate, or at hourly wholesale prices if you install a suitable meter. Systems of 150 kW and above are credited at the hourly wholesale price. The rate is agreed with your retailer5 MW, sized to meet your own electricity needs
Saskatchewan: SaskPowerSaskPower posts the credit rate for exports on its net metering page and credits it against energy charges only. Check the posted rate before you size a system100 kW
Manitoba: Manitoba HydroExports earn the excess energy price of 7.173¢ per kWh until March 31, 2027, applied against other charges on your monthly bill. This is not the retail rateUnder 100 kW. Generators of 100 kW or more are priced case by case
Ontario: Your local distribution companyExports earn a credit that carries forward to later bills for up to 12 months. Credits offset energy used, not fixed monthly chargesSet by your local distributor and what the local grid can host
Quebec: Hydro-QuébecExports go into a surplus bank that resets every 24 months. A balance left at reset is credited to your bill at the average cost of electricity supply. The system access charge is not credited1,000 kW, and no more than your estimated energy need

From Quote to Rebate: How a Project Works

Solenery is a marketplace, not a contractor. We check your incentives first, then help you compare quotes from vetted local pros, so you choose the right commercial solar installer with the full cost in view.

  1. 1

    Check your address

    Solenery matches federal, provincial and utility programs to your building and estimates output from your roof and location.

  2. 2

    Get your utility's view on connection

    Your local utility confirms the system can connect. In Ontario, the Retrofit program asks for this, so start early.

  3. 3

    Compare vetted quotes

    Ask installers whether they meet the federal labour requirements, since they decide a 30% or 20% credit, and to show rebates on the quote.

  4. 4

    Confirm program steps before you sign

    Some rebates need approval before you buy equipment. Read each program's page and keep the paperwork.

  5. 5

    Install and claim

    File the federal credit with your corporate return, and submit each program's closing documents.

Solenery listing the incentive programs matched to an address

Step 1 in Solenery: the programs matched to your address

What is Solenery?

A short explainer on how Solenery matches your rebates and helps you compare contractor quotes.

Commercial Solar Questions

Answers checked against government and official program pages.

It depends on system size, roof, equipment and installer, so Solenery doesn't publish a range. Get quotes from at least three installers and compare the price per watt and the incentives each assumes.

The federal Clean Technology Investment Tax Credit covers up to 30% of eligible solar and battery costs for taxable Canadian corporations. Provinces add rebates: Ontario pays $770 per kW-AC over 10 kW-AC, BC Hydro up to $10,000 and Efficiency Manitoba $0.75 per watt.

Commercial incentives in detail

Not to get quotes. An audit helps you cut use before you size a system, because a smaller load means a smaller system.

About energy audits

Often yes, with the landlord's agreement. Settle who owns the system and who claims the tax credit and rebates before you sign.

Yes. Ontario has its own rebate and connection steps, covered on the Ontario commercial page.

Commercial solar in Ontario

Check what solar looks like for your building

Enter your business address to see the incentives that apply and compare quotes from vetted commercial installers.

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Cutaway illustration of a home with a heat pump and solar panels

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How We Research This Page

Last updated: .

Every rebate amount, status and deadline on this page was read on the program's official page and is dated next to it. We re-check each program monthly, because amounts and deadlines change often. Always confirm with the program before you apply.

Facts and figures come from government departments, utilities and safety regulators, linked next to each figure and listed here. We don't publish price ranges: costs depend on your home, so we explain what drives them and let contractors quote.

Solenery is a marketplace. It connects homeowners with contractors and doesn't install anything itself.

Sources