Solar Power Canada

Using Solar Energy in Canada

Solar Power Canada. Even though we occupy a place on the globe where solar rays are more limited, plenty of thermal, pv and passive solar energy falls on Canada to power our lives.

Solar Energy Canada - Thermal, Passive and PV

Let's start using some of our abundant solar energy Canada!

solar power canada

Canada is certainly not the first country that comes to mind when the question of solar energy arises and yet with her wide open spaces and largely unrestricted sunshine the potential is staggering.

The Canadian provinces and solar are a great fit but Canada has barely begun to utilize her carbon free resources.

Still mostly a vast wilderness, hundreds of kilometres can separate you and the nearest power pole. Solar power is often the less spendy choice when faced with the expense of bringing grid power to a remote location.

Latitude, Latitude, Latitude.

Our position in relation to the sun isn't ideal compared to Mexico or southern USA. During Canadian summer months, days are long and sun drenched providing ample energy to run a household on nothing but solar.

Winter is a different story with short days and long cold nights, a combination that will stress a photovoltaic system with a greater need for power during the long nights while the short days provide minimal collecting ability.

It is possible to live completely off the grid in Canada using nothing but solar but in some cases (in the far north for instance) supplementing your solar array with wind, geothermal, hydro turbines and or a generator is often less expensive and more reliable.

Angling panels appropriately and adding a few panels to an array will compensate for the angle of the sun.

Because space and water heating use huge amounts of power, adding a wood stove or natural gas fireplace and a solar water heater will also reduce the load on your photovoltaic system and keep costs down.

Expense can be further reduced by incorporating as many passive solar principles as possible in your home.

Canada, Solar Power and the Future

With the newer thin film photovoltaic technology that is more efficient, easier and less expensive to produce and collects spectrums of light yet unharvested, solar will be more available, more affordable and more viable in far northern and southern latitudes.

Canada has a growing number of solar powered households, cottages and businesses as well as serious infrastructure projects such as municipal water distribution systems, traffic lights and navigational markers.

When assessing countries that can benefit from solar power Canada is right up there in sprite of it's Northern position on the globe. Even in some relatively rainy areas like the Gulf Islands many households are enjoying an off grid life that includes solar power.

The sunrayce of 2005 covered 2,494 miles using only solar power. Canada is the last leg of the race that begins by heading North from Austin, Texas, USA to Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada then West to Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

The sleek, solar powered vehicles averaged speeds of 46.2 miles per hour and are capable of speeds over 65 miles per hour.

Using nothing but the power of the sun the vehicles sped noislessly into Calgary proving that solar powered vehicles are feasible and that when it comes to solar power, Canada is no slouch.

Because of Canada's Northern location not to mention her vast selection of resources, solar is frequently combined with other renewable sources of energy to provide uninterrupted power service through the changing seasons.

Do YOU Do Solar in Canada?

Tell the web how you use solar in Canada. Do you have a photovoltaic system that you use for home, rving or at the cottage?

Maybe you use solar lighting for the garden or heat the swimming pool with solar power.

Tell us what you use, how you like it and whether you'll use more solar in the future.

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