Companies trying to meet domestic sourcing requirements under Ontario’s feed-in-tariff (FIT) program need look no further than London, Ontario for inspiration. London is no stranger to solar energy. In addition to being the home of Solcan, Canada’s oldest solar company, the city recently hosted a networking event entitled The Ontario Solar FIT Program: Opportunities & Challenges for Farmers organized by the Ontario Solar Network. Farmers, home owners, and career seekers taking part in the event learned about the importance of proper installation and solar training.

On June 25th, Toronto’s Canasia Power Corp. announced that starting early next year, it plans to build a plant in London to manufacture photovoltaic panels and other parts for harnessing solar energy. In addition to the 300+ new jobs expected at the plant, the project will help boost the construction and service economies and provide opportunities for some of the auto workers displaced by the decline in the region’s automotive sector. The city has lost over 14,000 manufacturing jobs in the last five years.

Solar Parts Plant to Benefit from London’s Skilled Training

In addition to an eager and skilled workforce, Canasia Chief Executive, Ashok Dhillon, cites London’s proximity to the US market and the University of Western Ontario as reasons for selecting the city, according to the St. Thomas Times-Journal. The company currently funds photovoltaic research at the university.

London is an ideal site for the plant, with its manufacturing infrastructure and years of experience in the auto sector. With the help of Canasia, London’s increasingly skilled workforce, and the growing number of people receiving solar installation and other renewable energy-related training, the city could become one of several hubs servicing green energy producers within Ontario’s FIT program.

Solar Installations Command Top Dollar under FIT

Ontario’s feed-in-tariff program allows small- and medium-scale producers of green electricity to feed into the grid at premium prices under a twenty year contract. However, in return, up to 50% (60% by next April) of materials must be sourced in-province. Both the program and its domestic-sourcing requirements benefit Ontario’s out-of-work trades people as they upgrade their skills in solar parts manufacturing and installation - photovoltaic installations command some of the highest prices under the FIT program.

According to London Hydro‘s Vinay Sharma, the city’s welcoming and green business climate has caught the attention of other companies, including Korean firm, Samsung - attention that is making London an emerging hotspot in Ontario’s growing green economy.