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The government of the Canadian province of Ontario will launch an energy rebate program later this month that will offer up to 30% discounts on the cost of residential rooftop solar panels, heat pumps and battery storage for homes. The Government of Ontario (Canada) is launching a new rebate program for home energy efficiency improvements and renovations. The Home Upgrade Savings Scheme, which launches on 28 January, will cover up to 30% of the costs of new heat pumps, rooftop solar panels and battery storage, as well as new windows, doors and insulation. By the end of the year, the program will be expanded to include discounts on energy-efficient appliances such as refrigerators and freezers. The program is part of a C$10.9 billion ($7.6 billion), 12-year energy efficiency investment package that the provincial government says is the largest in Canadian history. Other measures included are the expansion of the Peak Perks program, which offers small businesses a virtual prepaid credit card for each eligible smart thermostat connected to a central air conditioning system or heat pump unit, along with another sum for each additional year in the program. The Business Retrofit Program, which provides incentives to upgrade energy-efficient equipment, is also maintained, as are other programs targeting low-income households, businesses, municipalities, institutions, the agricultural sector, industry and First Nations communities living on reserves. The Ontario government projects that by 2036, expanding its energy efficiency programs will reduce the province’s peak demand by 3 GW – the equivalent of taking three million homes off the grid. In September, Ontario announced plans for a large-scale competitive energy procurement exercise consisting of new solar, bioenergy and wind projects. The provincial government has tasked the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) in the area, which has recommended the procurement of approximately 5 GW of new electricity resources by 2034, to finalise a design framework. |
