Yes, solar works in Edmonton
People are often surprised that Alberta is one of the better places in Canada for solar power. We have a lot of clear, sunny days, and the cold actually helps: solar modules are slightly more efficient at low temperatures than on a hot summer afternoon.
What we do not have is much winter daylight. In December the sun is low and the days are short, so output drops a lot. The trade-off is long June days with sunlight from early morning until late evening. Over a full year, a well-placed system in Edmonton produces a respectable amount of energy.
Because of that seasonal swing, a home solar system in Alberta is best thought of as a yearly energy producer, not something that covers your use every single day. That is also how Alberta's rules for connecting it to the grid are designed.
How a grid-tied system works
Almost every residential system in Edmonton is grid-tied. It works alongside your utility connection instead of replacing it. Here is the path the energy takes:
- Solar modules on the roof turn sunlight into direct current (DC) electricity.
- An inverter converts DC into the alternating current (AC) your home uses. This can be one central inverter, or small microinverters or optimizers under each module.
- The inverter connects to your main panel through a dedicated breaker, so solar power feeds your home's circuits first.
- When the system makes more than the house is using, the surplus flows out through a bidirectional meter to the grid. At night or on cloudy days, you draw from the grid as usual.
A standard grid-tied system shuts itself off when the grid goes down. That is a safety requirement, so it never back-feeds lines that utility crews are working on. If you want power during outages, you need a battery system designed for it. See home battery storage in Alberta.
Is your roof a good candidate?
The biggest factors are direction, shading and the roof itself.
- Direction. South is best. East and west faces still work well and spread production across the day. North faces rarely make sense.
- Shading. Trees, chimneys, neighbouring houses and dormers all matter. Modern electronics limit the damage from partial shade, but they do not eliminate it.
- Roof age. If your shingles are near the end of their life, replace them first. Removing and reinstalling an array later adds cost.
- Structure. The roof must carry the added weight plus Edmonton snow loads. Older or modified roofs sometimes need an assessment.
- Space. Leave room for required setbacks around ridges and edges, and for vents and chimneys.
A designer will usually model the roof with satellite imagery and shading tools, then confirm it with a site visit. That is far more reliable than guessing from the ground, especially in mature neighbourhoods with tall trees.
Ground-mounted arrays are an option on acreages and larger lots. They can be set at an ideal angle and are easy to clear of snow, but they need a trench back to the house.
Your electrical system matters too
Solar connects to your main panel, so the panel has to be able to accept it. The code limits how much power can be back-fed into a panel based on the ratings of the panel and its main breaker. Older 60 A and 100 A services in Edmonton sometimes need an upgrade or a different connection method to fit a system of useful size.
The inverter and disconnects also need a sensible home, usually near the panel or on an exterior wall, with clear working space around them. Utility crews and firefighters need to be able to find and identify the shutdown points quickly.
This is a good time to think about everything else you are planning. If an EV charger, heat pump or battery is on the list, design the electrical side once. See can my panel handle an EV charger and solar plus EV charging.
Permits and approvals
A home solar installation involves more than one approval:
- An electrical permit for the installation, from the City of Edmonton or your local permit authority.
- Depending on the municipality and the project, a building or development permit may also be needed. Rules vary, so check with your municipality.
- A notice to your wire services provider under Alberta's Micro-generation Regulation, which leads to a bidirectional meter. In Edmonton this is EPCOR. See Alberta micro-generation explained.
There is no switch that turns off sunlight. Never disconnect, move or open solar wiring or connectors yourself, even with the inverter off. Leave it to a licensed electrician trained on solar.
Getting started
Pull together twelve months of electricity bills, a few photos of your roof and panel, and a list of anything you plan to add in the next few years. With that, a designer can estimate what system size fits your use and your roof. Our guide to sizing a solar system walks through how that is done.
Be wary of any proposal that promises a specific payback without showing its assumptions. Energy prices, your usage and the credit you receive for exports all change over time, and an honest estimate says so.
Alberta Electrical designs and installs residential solar systems and handles the micro-generation application process from start to finish.
Common questions
Does solar work when it is -30 C?
Yes. Cold does not hurt solar output; panels are slightly more efficient when cold. What limits winter output is short days, low sun and snow cover.
Will solar power my home during an outage?
Not a standard grid-tied system. It shuts down when the grid is down for safety. Backup power requires a battery or other system designed for it.
Do I need to replace my roof before going solar?
If your roof is near the end of its life, it is usually worth replacing first, because removing and reinstalling the array later adds cost.
Is a north-facing roof worth it?
Usually not. A north face gets far less sun at our latitude. East, west and south faces are much better choices.
Codes and permit rules change and every building is different. For work on your system, talk to a licensed electrician and your local permit authority.