Alberta · population 1,307,000
Solar in Calgary
ENMAX Power owns the wires in Calgary, and you buy energy from the retailer you choose or the Rate of Last Resort. Calgary is one of Canada's sunniest large cities by NRCan's figures. Hail is a known risk here, so check your panels' hail rating and your home insurance.
- Sample system
- 5.6 kW
- 13 panels, $180/month bill
- Year-1 savings
- $1,005
- Pays back in
- 14.8 years
- Marginal
- NRCan solar potential
- 1,292 kWh
- per kW a year, ideal south array
Month by month
What a 5.6 kW system makes in Calgary
6,967 kWh a year, kWh per month. Summer covers far more than you use; winter covers little.
Your utility: Alberta (regulated rate)
ENMAX Power delivers electricity in Calgary. We don't have ENMAX delivery rates yet, so we use Alberta default rates. Your energy price depends on your retailer.
Micro-generation: exports credited at your retailer’s energy rate. Power you send to the grid earns a credit per kWh, usually worth less than what you pay to buy power, so using solar as it’s made is worth more.
Alberta (regulated rate) rates and solarWhat it costs
At $2.40–$3.02 per watt installed, the sample 5.6 kW system runs about $13,416–$16,882 before rebates. Source
Programs
Rebates and loans for Calgary homes
Programs change often. See all incentives and what’s changed.
Questions
Solar in Calgary: FAQ
- Is solar worth it in Calgary?
- For our sample Calgary home with a $180 monthly bill, solar rates as "marginal": about $1,005 saved in the first year and a payback of 14.8 years. Your roof, shade and usage decide the real answer.
- How much do solar panels cost in Calgary?
- Installed prices in Alberta typically run $2.40 to $3.02 per watt, so a 5.6 kW system is roughly $13,416 to $16,882 before rebates.
- How much electricity do solar panels make in Calgary?
- In our model, each kW of well-placed panels makes about 1,246 kWh a year here. Natural Resources Canada puts Calgary’s potential at about 1,292 kWh per kW for an ideal south-facing array. Output in December is a fraction of June’s.
- Does Alberta (regulated rate) credit solar power I send to the grid?
- Micro-generation: exports credited at your retailer’s energy rate. Power you send to the grid earns a credit per kWh, usually worth less than what you pay to buy power, so using solar as it’s made is worth more.
- Are there solar rebates or loans in Calgary?
- Locally: Clean Energy Improvement Program (CEIP), Calgary. Check each program’s current status before you sign.
Savings use the SolarMyBill model for a sample home with a $180 monthly bill on Alberta (regulated rate)’s default plan, sized for best payback. Solar potential: Natural Resources Canada.
Your roof
Check your Calgary home
Your roof from above, your bill, your utility. About a minute.
Or try a sample roof: , ,
Other Alberta cities