An electricity retailer in Alberta is betting it can entice more homeowners to make the switch to solar panels by launching what it calls Canada91裸聊视频檚 first retail, 100 per cent green energy-based 91裸聊视频渧irtual power plant.91裸聊视频�

As of last week, residential customers who sign up with Calgary-based Solartility Inc. will receive a zero-down leasing option for a rooftop solar system, complete with battery storage and an EV charger system.

Most importantly, though, customers will also receive a bi-directional interval meter, which records power flow in two directions on an hourly basis.

That91裸聊视频檚 what makes Solartility91裸聊视频檚 business model unique, and it91裸聊视频檚 what some observers say could be a game-changer when it comes to incentivizing residential renewable energy in Alberta. These two-way meters, along with Solartility91裸聊视频檚 cloud-based software that manages the entire system, will allow customers to use their own stored power during periods of peak energy usage 91裸聊视频� the times when prices are highest.

91裸聊视频淚n a nutshell, we91裸聊视频檙e maximizing export pricing and minimizing import consumption prices, in aggregate as a pool,91裸聊视频� said Solartility co-founder Shayne Butcher.

91裸聊视频淚t means that for the first time, residential solar customers in Alberta will have access to the wholesale electricity market.91裸聊视频�

Currently, owners of rooftop solar systems in Alberta can earn credits for the excess power they produce at home. But without a two-way interval meter, the price they receive for that power is simply the regulated monthly rate approved by the utilities commission.

Having a two-way meter, along with a 91裸聊视频渟mart91裸聊视频� software system to manage everything, means micro-generators can for the first time be credited for hourly wholesale power prices. In other words, Solartility91裸聊视频檚 software can determine the optimal time to export solar electricity directly from the panels or from the homeowner91裸聊视频檚 battery, as well as the optimal time to import power from the grid.

Butcher said the virtual power plant concept will result in electricity cost savings for Solartility customers of up to 30 per cent.

91裸聊视频淏efore, the biggest barrier was return on investment,91裸聊视频� Butcher said.

91裸聊视频淵ou91裸聊视频檙e going to go out there and lay out $35,000, $40,000 for solar panels, and the ROI91裸聊视频檚 been coming down, for sure, but it91裸聊视频檚 still upwards of 15 years nowadays to get your money back out of that system.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淎 bidirectional interval meter allows the residential consumer to benefit from the excess electricity price,91裸聊视频� said Joel MacDonald, founder of online electricity rate comparison service EnergyRates.ca, adding that wholesale electricity prices can fluctuate wildly from one 15-minute block of time to the next.

91裸聊视频淗istorically, there91裸聊视频檚 been no mechanism in place for consumers to benefit from electricity pricing.91裸聊视频�

With electricity grids expected to come under increased pressure in the coming years as society embraces electric vehicles, MacDonald said, grid management is going to become increasingly important. In order to handle that increased load, as well as to account for the intermittent natures of wind and solar power, grids will have to make smart use of battery storage in periods of lower demand and then inject that power back into the grid when demand spikes, he said.

91裸聊视频淭he grid will function so much better if we can service those peaks,91裸聊视频� MacDonald said, adding that a more efficient grid should also mean more affordable electricity.

91裸聊视频淎s consumers, we think (Solartility91裸聊视频檚 business model) is great, because the more people who are injecting into the grid at times of high demand will actually bring the average price down,91裸聊视频� he said.

91裸聊视频淪o it91裸聊视频檚 a win-win for the average Alberta consumer.91裸聊视频�

If Solartility91裸聊视频檚 Alberta launch is successful, the company hopes to expand its service into Ontario as well as into certain deregulated electricity markets in the U.S.

The company also plans to license its grid management software to other utilities and energy aggregators around the world.

Amanda Stephenson, The Canadian Press

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