Solar for Nova Scotia businesses, farms, and non-profits.
We design commercial systems around the 100 kW NS Power net-metering cap, your federal Clean Tech ITC eligibility, and your real load profile.
Where commercial solar makes sense in NS
Not every business is a fit. These are the ones that usually are.
Daytime-load businesses
Restaurants, retail, offices: daytime usage matches solar production directly.
Farms & rural
Barns, dairy, irrigation: strong daytime loads with available roof or ground space.
Non-profits & co-ops
Where the goal is long-term operating cost reduction over 25+ years.
Multi-unit residential
Apartment buildings, co-housing: when net-metering structure permits.
The 100 kW net-metering cap, plainly
The rule that shapes most commercial system sizes in NS.
NS Power's standard net-metering program caps individual systems at 100 kW. Anything above that requires a different agreement (typically Embedded Generation), which has different economics, usually less favourable on a per-kWh basis.
A 50 kW system that nets out at the cap
Sized just below the cap to maximize retail-rate credits without spillover.
A 200 kW system on the wrong tariff
Bigger isn't better if half your production sells back at wholesale. We model both before recommending.
What a commercial proposal should cover
- Real load profile from your last 12 months of NS Power data
- Roof or ground-mount feasibility study
- System size right-fit against the 100 kW cap (or pathway above it)
- Federal Clean Tech ITC eligibility check (30% credit at filing time)
- PACE eligibility check where municipal programs apply
- 25-year levelized cost of energy (LCOE) vs. NS Power rate forecast
- Payback range with every assumption stated
What we won't do
- Quote against rebates that have ended
- Inflate NS Power rate-escalation assumptions to make payback look better
- Recommend battery storage that doesn't pay for itself
- Sell a system bigger than your real load, just to pad revenue
Federal Clean Technology Investment Tax Credit
Qualifying entities can claim a refundable 30% federal Clean Tech ITC against eligible solar capital costs. It's claimed when you file, so it comes back after the install rather than up front. We never deduct it from your upfront price: we show you the real cost and what comes back later.
Example only. Eligibility depends on entity type and tax position. Always confirm with your tax advisor.
Want to know if solar makes sense for your business?
We'll model your real load and tell you straight.