Applying for a free assessment is easy. Fill out the Prospect Project Inquiry Form below and we will contact you to discuss your project in more detail and arrange a site visit. Click below to download the prospect project inquiry form. Email your completed form to info@islandsolarcoop.ca or mail to Island Community Solar Co-op, 353 Seventh Street, Nanaimo BC, V9R 1E3.

ICSC maintains the solar PV system until completion of the lease. This includes routine cleaning or snow removal if required, as well as replacement of any equipment that fails during the lease period. In addition, ICSC monitors the solar PV system output to ensure it is delivering as much electricity as possible at all times.

Our clients are aligned with the ICSC mission and vision and want to go solar. They are typically long-term BC Hydro residential or small general service business customers that stay in one place and consume in excess of 33,000 kWh of electricity per year. They also have the regular cash flow required to pay their electricity bill in full but don’t have the significant savings set aside to cover the upfront cost of a large solar PV system. Our client outreach includes rural communities, First Nations and businesses/organizations that serve these communities. If this describes you or your business/organization, please contact us; we would love to explore if our solar leasing program would work for you!

Some of the key factors required for a successful solar panel system include southern roof exposure with no or low shading, long remaining roof lifetime and long remaining building life (solar PV systems typically last for more than 20 years). We will do a free site visit to assess your location to ensure you meet the requirements for a solar PV system.

Surprisingly to some, Vancouver Island is a great choice for solar panel systems. Most of the Island receives enough sunlight to make solar energy a viable and environmentally-conscious choice. Solar technology is also continuously improving, meaning more effective systems and less sunlight needed.

Switching to solar energy comes with many benefits, but here are some of the top reasons homeowners make the switch: Protection against rising energy costs Lessening the household’s environmental impact Ability to shift away from relying on energy imported from BC’s mainland Availability of grants to reimburse system costs

In the event of sustained periods of heavy snow, it will be important to ensure your panels are clear and able to receive sunlight.

In most cases, solar panels will increase the value of your home. Many buyers see a solar panel PV system as an added benefit or upgrade to the home.

There are many factors to consider when installing a solar panel system, but the starting steps are to look at the location of the home and the age of the roof. Solar panels need to be on a roof that is free of nearby obstacles like trees or other buildings that may cause shade. It is also necessary that the roof has southern exposure to ensure it will receive enough sunlight. As solar panel systems have a long lifespan (25-30 years), ICSC requires the home that the solar PV system is mounted on to last as long, or longer, than the life of the system.