Local firm to unveil first solar microFIT PV system in Brantford, Ontario, Canada

April 19, 2010 - PRLog -- A local “green communities” company has announced that it will be installing Brantford’s first solar PV system under the province’s feed-in tariff (FIT) program for renewable energy generation.

The program allows individuals and businesses to invest in solar, wind or other forms of renewable energy and then recoup their initial investment by selling the energy back to the Ontario Power Authority grid.

Sam Tavernese, the president of ProQuip International, based in Brantford on Dalkeith Drive, said the completed installation will be unveiled Tuesday, April 6 at one p.m. at the site at 99 Winniett Street in Brantford.

“We are extremely pleased that ProQuip is able to kick off this exciting green energy project here in Brantford,” said Tavernese, adding that his company also plans to announce an upcoming press conference and demonstration at the site for the same day. “We feel it will only be the first of many such installations for our company locally as people catch on to the idea, and realize the benefits that go along with it.”

The province announced the details of its renewable energy plan, including the FIT program, in September 2009, then the OPA began accepting applications a month later.

As part of the province’s Green Energy Act, it is North America’s first comprehensive FIT program for renewable energy.

Under the program, the OPA will pay solar producers up to 80.2 cents per kilowatt hour of energy they send to the grid.

To qualify, the OPA requires that at least 40 per cent of the products and labour used to get the project up and running come from Ontario. This percentage is scheduled to increase to 60%. The requirement is meant to encourage growth in green energy manufacturing in the province.

While this installation is a first for Brantford, ProQuip has completed other solar projects throughout Ontario, Alberta, and Quebec.

The microFIT program is designed to encourage homeowners, businesses and others to generate renewable energy with projects of 10 kilowatts (kW) or less. MicroFIT is positioned to make it simpler and faster to get small-scale renewable projects installed and producing power.

Under the program, participants are paid a fixed-price for the electricity they generate. FIT and microFIT contracts are for 20 years, with the exception of waterpower, which has a 40-year FIT contract.

ProQuip has another local project in the works under the FIT categorization. This other project will be a 20kW system in Paris, Ontario, and will be installed this spring.

Domestic content requirements for both FIT and microFIT projects are intended to help support the creation of 50,000 new green jobs in Ontario. FIT projects will help create new local businesses and green jobs as demand rises for technologies such as solar panels, wind turbines, biomass and electricity storage systems, and for Ontarians who can design, build, install, operate and maintain these technologies.

For more information on the FIT or microFIT programs, or about the installation in Brantford, please contact Sam Tavernese, president of ProQuip International at:

Telephone: 519.758.1421
E-mail: Sam@pqi.ca
Website: www.pqiglobal.com

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ProQuip International is a manufacturer and supplier of solar powered LED lighting and turnkey solar power solutions.
Their extensive experience in LED lighting and solar power solutions has made them a recognized leader in the movement to build green communities.

ProQuip's experienced engineering and design team is available for your custom LED, solar PV and solar thermal projects. They work with you from start to finish to ensure all your needs are met.

The people at ProQuip have a vision of making the world and environment a better place and look forward to sharing this vision with you.