This is the big question, concedes the solar industry, and even more with the arrival of Hydro-Québec subsidies. But to be interesting in the eyes of Quebecers, this incentive measure must make it possible to make their purchase profitable in half the time than at the moment, argue of the actors of the environment.
Posted at 5:00 a.m.
The objective of Hydro-Québec: to install 125,000 new photovoltaic systems in the next 10 years. The catch? The starting investment is rather high for many consumers. And to make your project profitable, it would take at least … 20 years, according to the online calculation tool of Hydro-Québec.
“Before having [la subvention du Fonds vert des autochtones d’Amérique]we looked at the cost of the installation panels and we said: we will never get into our money, “recalled Anne-Louise Lalancette, resident of Saint-Mathias-sur-Richelieu, who spent about $ 35,000 to have 28 solar panels on his roof (see following text).
“The cost of electricity is so high in Quebec that from an environmental point of view, it’s beautiful, but it was not from an economic point of view,” she said to The press.
Last summer, the government of Quebec therefore announced that it would set up a subsidy for the purchase of solar panels, from 2026: a first in the province.
Photo Patrick Sanfaçon, La Presse
The president of solar energy Quebec, Patrick Goulet
To be interesting, this subsidy should reduce the profitability threshold of panels by half, according to Patrick Goulet, president of solar energy Quebec. “If your investment return is inside 10 years, it will attract many people. It’s the Sweet Spot, ”he believes. An opinion shared by many companies in the sector.
If the form of the subsidy is not yet known, Hydro-Québec was still advanced on the possibility that it can represent approximately 10 to 15 % of an installation.
-But it is not enough to encourage consumers, according to industry. Take this example: the Hydro-Québec website has a type of installation type, which includes 16 photovoltaic solar panels of 300 watts each. Even with a subsidy of 15 %, the project would be profitable only after about 23 years.
That said, according to Mr. Goulet, the solar calculator of the Hydro-Québec website is not up to date, because it does not integrate the inflation of prices and no longer reflects the current reality of the market. “The return of investment, today, without subsidy, we speak more of a duration of 15 to 20 years,” he explains.Try the hydro-Québec calculation tool
For example, the profitability of the Yves-Christian Lavoie project in Alma was estimated at 15 years, according to the company with which it did business, alt-energy.
Why opt for solar?
This is the other big question: why install solar panels when electricity produced in Quebec is one of the cheapest in America?
First, the electricity bill could soon be higher, explains Charles Moquin, president at Wattsun, located in Saint-Basile-le-Grand. According to consumer union, electricity prices could undergo an annual increase of 5.6 % to 9 % from 2028. Solar panels reduce energy dependence to the network, even more if we have a battery, in addition to saving on the electricity bill, he explains.
According to Frédéric Lavoie, managing director at Alt-Energie, solar panels increase energy efficiency in general, since they have a consciousness effect.
People in Quebec are very little aware of the energy level they consume.
Frédéric Lavoie, managing director of Alt-Energy
Since they have solar panels, Anne-Louise Lalcesstte, Yves-Christian Lavoie and Martin Lambert have all underlined the impact of this purchase in their lifestyle, since they can follow how much energy they produce.
This is the real benefit, according to the president of Wattsun: “This is really where you have to go so that people understand the energy. If you don’t have any more overnight, what are you doing? You have to learn to consume it better, ”he concludes.
