What is the Ontario Solar Thermal Heating Incentive (OSTHI)?

OSTHI is an Ontario Government program that provides an incentive by way of a rebate to Ontario organizations in the commercial, industrial or institutional (ICI) sectors which install a qualifying solar water or solar air heating system.

Who funds the OSTHI?

OSTHI is funded by the Government of Ontario, Ministry of Energy, and is delivered in cooperation with Natural Resources Canada's (NRCan) federal ecoENERGY for Renewable Heat program. This collaboration provides a one-stop service to Ontario applicants who plan to install a qualifying solar water or solar air heating system at an eligible property.

When did the OSTHI start and when does it end?

OSTHI complements NRCan's ecoENERGY for Renewable Heat incentive and runs from June 20, 2007 to March 31, 2011.

How much is the OSTHI incentive?

• The OSTHI incentive complements the ecoENERGY for Renewable Heat incentive.
  
  The incentive is calculated as follows:
  
  Performance Factor x Incentive Rate x collector area = anticipated incentive amount
  
  
  • Performance Factor is the predetermined factor for the collector installed. This factor can be found on the List of Accepted Collectors. The performance factor attributed to the collector that you have selected will be valid as of the date of reception of your CDI-2008 application.
  • Incentive Rate is the incentive per m² for each collector type. Find the collector rate on the Incentive Rate table.
  • Collector Area is the total installed area in square meters. This value can be calculated from the individual areas found on the List of Accepted Collectors.
• The maximum incentive is $80,000 per solar installation. Please note that Ontario is considering changing their cap to match the federal one.
• The corporate maximum incentive for multiple installations is $2 million.

Is there any additional incentive for qualifying projects in remote communities?

• Yes. The OSTHI rebate may represent up to 40 per cent of eligible project costs to a total of $80,000 in communities defined as remote in the program terms and conditions. This additional incentive matches the incentive available from NRCan.

Who qualifies for the OSTHI incentive?

• Businesses, industries and institutions located in Ontario, which qualify for a financial incentive for the installation of a solar water or solar air heating system under the federal ecoENERGY for Renewable Heat program are eligible for the OSTHI program.
• To qualify for the OSTHI program, an applicant must first be approved for a Contribution Agreement under the ecoENERGY for Renewable Heat program. When approved by Ontario, the applicant would then enter into a Contribution Agreement with Ontario.
• OSTHI funding is conditional upon the applicant's project being approved by ecoENERGY for Renewable Heat to receive an incentive under the federal program, and the applicant being in compliance with the Contribution Agreement.

How do I apply to the OSTHI program?

• An applicant must submit to NRCan:
  • A signed ecoENERGY for Renewable Heat Application Form:
    
    
    
    PDF (110 KB)
    PDF (105 KB)
    Solar Water Application Form
    Solar Air Application Form
  • A signed OSTHI Consent and Release Form.
• Both federal and provincial forms must be submitted together to ecoENERGY for Renewable Heat.

What is the acceptance process?

• During its application review process, NRCan will inform OSTHI program administrators of the applicant's project details. In determining whether or not to fund the project, NRCan may accept or reject applicant information, or seek additional details from the applicant (see ecoENERGY for Renewable Heat's Terms and Conditions).
• When a project has been approved for funding, NRCan will inform OSTHI program administrators of its funding decision, and Ontario will issue its own Contribution Agreement for the OSTHI incentive. NRCan will also issue a Contribution Agreement to the applicant.

When can I proceed with project installation?

• Both NRCan and Ontario will forward an unsigned Contribution Agreement to the applicant. The applicant must sign each Contribution Agreement and return them, respectively, to NRCan and the Ministry for signature.
• The Ontario Contribution Agreement is conditional upon the execution of the NRCan Contribution Agreement, and proof of insurance for the project as required by the Ontario Contribution Agreement.
• An applicant has six months from the date of the signed NRCan Contribution Agreement to complete installation of the project.

Are there limitations on where the equipment is installed?

Yes, equipment acquired through the OSTHI program must be installed in the Ontario premises of the qualifying Ontario entity.

When do I receive my OSTHI incentive?

Once the project is commissioned and the amount payable under the ecoENERGY for Renewable Heat is approved by NRCan, NRCan will inform OSTHI program administrators that it is initiating payment of the rebate to the applicant under the terms of the NRCan Contribution Agreement. The OSTHI program administrators will initiate a matching rebate payment under the terms of the Ontario Contribution Agreement.

Will information from my application be kept private?

• The applicant's signed OSTHI Consent and Release Form authorizes NRCan and Ontario to share information with each other. Information will be managed in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act in Ontario and the federal Access to Information Act and Privacy Act.
• As public funds are used to support the ecoENERGY for Renewable Heat and OSTHI programs, projects that have Contribution Agreements signed by all parties may be posted on NRCan's and/or Ontario Ministry web sites. Published information may include the name of the recipient, type of system installed, location of installation, projected system output, government contribution amounts and expected or actual date of commissioning of the system.

Whom can I contact with my questions?

For OSTHI:

Ministry of Energy
900 Bay Street, 4^th Floor
Hearst Block
Toronto, Ontario, M7A 2E1
Toll-Free: 1-888-668-4636
E-Mail: write2us@energy.gov.on.ca
Web Site: http://www.mei.gov.on.ca/en/energy/conservation/smartmeters/?page=osthi

For Program Eligibility and Qualifying Products:

ecoENERGY for Renewable Heat
Renewable and Electrical Energy Division
Natural Resources Canada
615 Booth Street, Room 150
Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0E9
Fax: 1-613-943-6517
E-Mail: ecoenergyrhp@nrcan.gc.ca
Web Site: http://ecoaction.gc.ca/ecoenergy-ecoenergie/heat-chauffage/index-eng.cfm