OPA finalizes ground-mounted solar PV microFIT price and changes the rules for aggregators

The Ontario Power Authority announced today that it has finalized a new price category for ground-mounted solar photovoltaic projects under the microFIT program. In what will no doubt be a controversial parallel announcement, the OPA also revealed that commercial aggregators are no longer welcome in the microFIT program.

The new price of 64.2 cents per kilowatt-hour applies to ground-mounted solar PV projects under the microFIT program. The new price is significantly better than the 58.8 cents/kWh that the OPA first proposed a month ago.

The old price of 80.2 cents/kWh will continue to be available for rooftop solar PV systems.

The new two-tier pricing will apply for any applications received after noon on July 2, 2010, which was when the OPA first revealed that it was considering adding the new price category. Much to the relief of many proponents, anybody who received a conditional offer or submitted an eligible ground-mounted application before noon on July 2 will receive the original price of 80.2 cents/kWh. The OPA had originally suggested that only those with conditional offers in hand would remain eligible for the original price.

However, not all proponents will be happy today. The OPA also announced that commercial aggregators are no longer eligible to participate in the microFIT program. Commercial aggregators are companies that lease land and rooftops from individuals for the purpose of installing multiple sub-10kW projects. Says the OPA of this potential bombshell, "this will ensure that the microFIT program is focused on its original purpose - encouraging homeowners, farmers, farm co-operatives, First Nations, small businesses and institutions such as schools, to own and develop small renewable projects."

The OPA will start accepting microFIT applications again on August 20.