On August 2, Global Energy Inc announced an agreement between its subsidiary, Colorado-based RCI Solar, Inc, and Aqua Solar Ltd to develop a series of renewable energy projects for residential, commercial, and industrial markets within the province. Hoping to leverage some of the incentives provided under the Ontario Power Authority’s microFIT and FIT programs, the partnership signals an important step towards the sustainability goals outlined in Ontario’s Green Energy Act.
“This multi-million dollar project will benefit all participants over the next twenty years,” says Syd Harland, CEO of Global Earth Energy, who is optimistic about Aqua Solar’s purchase of $1 million worth of products from RCI to enhance the provincial programs. According to Harland’s predictions, sales could reach $5 million during the first year of operations and increase 10% to 15% yearly thereafter. RCI also purchased a 1400-meter warehouse for its inventory management needs in anticipation of the new flow of business.
A Leading Renewable Energy Corporation in Ontario
“We are pleased and excited to partner with a first-class organization such as Aqua Solar,” commented Jeff Hoogveld, Operations Manager of RCI Solar. Based in Woodstock, Ontario, Aqua Solar, Ltd. not only distributes solar equipment, but it also offers support, service and maintenance to its current clients, which include associations within the local community. Aqua Solar provides them with distribution services throughout the Southern Ontario area, thus providing the base needed for growth of the provincial programs.
The Real Steam behind Ontario’s Solar Energy Programs
The RCI-Aqua solar partnership is just one of many to emerge in the province over the past several months. By offering generous incentives to power producers who feed clean energy back into the grid, the Ontario Power Authority has helped spark a revolution in renewable energy and sustainability. The regulatory agency hopes to phase out coal-powered electricity within the decade, and thus, it promotes tariffs, tax breaks, and other methods for increasing green adoption. While wind, biomass, and biogas projects continue to launch across Ontario, most recipients of microFIT and FIT funding tend to focus on solar energy, thus creating numerous investment, employment, and training opportunities within the PV sector.
