Solar & Battery Design Tools for Canada Design Systems, Calculate ROI & Find Installers
Design solar and battery systems across Canada using Photonik's professional design platform. Canada has over 5 GW of cumulative solar capacity, with Ontario and Alberta leading installations. The country offers federal Investment Tax Credits (ITCs) up to 30% for commercial projects and Canada Greener Homes Loans up to $40,000 for residential solar.
ℹ️ Get quick estimates for solar and battery sizing, costs, and savings in Canada using these simplified calculators. For more accurate, advanced calculations, use the full Photonik design platform.
Solar Design Canada
Energy Usage
Understanding your household's daily energy consumption is essential for designing an effective solar system in Canada. The average Canadian household uses between 30-40 kWh per day, with energy-efficient properties often using significantly less. This consumption reflects Canada's diverse climate, larger average home sizes, and lifestyle patterns, with higher usage during cold winters for heating and moderate usage during mild summers.
Before installing solar, consider reducing your energy consumption through improved insulation and energy-efficient appliances. This is particularly valuable in Canada, where federal and provincial incentives make solar more affordable, and reducing consumption can lower required system size and improve returns, especially important given Canada's variable solar generation throughout the year.
Typical energy usage per person per day in Canada:
Note: Actual usage varies depending on property size, building efficiency, climate, and appliances.
Solar System Sizing
You'll need around 3.9kW of solar to match your average Canadian household consumption. We recommend sizing between 5.9kW and 7.9kW for optimal results, accounting for daily and seasonal variations. Solar generation potential varies significantly across Canada, with prairie provinces (Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba) averaging 3.5-4.0 kWh/kW/day annually, whilst eastern provinces average 3.0-3.5 kWh/kW/day.
A 6.6 kW system in Canada generates approximately 26.4 kWh daily on average, with seasonal variation from 2.70 kWh/kW/day in December to 4.71 kWh/kW/day in August. Canada's good solar irradiance in many regions, combined with federal and provincial incentives, makes solar a viable investment for homeowners across the country.
Solar & Energy Savings
Calculate Heat Pump & EV Savings
Electrify your home by replacing gas heating, petrol vehicles, and other fossil fuel appliances with electric alternatives powered by clean solar energy. This delivers significant additional financial savings and substantial carbon emission reductions. Our calculator helps you compare costs and model the financial impact of switching to electric appliances and vehicles.
How Solar Reduces Your Electricity Bills
The calculations below show how your electricity bills change with solar. Your Old Bill of - per month (- annually) is calculated from your total energy consumption multiplied by the grid electricity rate. Your New Bill of - per month (- annually) accounts for solar generation, the percentage you use directly (self-consumption), remaining grid consumption, and feed-in credits for excess energy exported to the grid. This results in monthly savings of - (- annually).
Battery Storage Canada
Solar Battery Sizing
With solar-only (no battery), a 6.6 kW system provides approximately 50% self-usage in Canada, depending on your consumption patterns, drawing 50% from the grid. Adding a 10 kWh battery increases energy independence to approximately 99% annually, reducing grid reliance to 1%. Battery storage is valuable in Canada, allowing you to store excess summer generation for use during darker winter months and providing backup power during outages, maximising the value of your solar investment.
Net metering policies vary by province and utility in Canada, with most provinces offering net metering programs. Feed-in rates typically range from $0.05-0.15 per kWh depending on your province and utility. Federal ITCs up to 30% for commercial projects and Canada Greener Homes Loans up to $40,000 make solar more affordable. For accurate battery savings and ROI calculations specific to your location and utility, use the full Photonik design tool.
Energy Self Sufficiency Calculator*
*Note: This calculator provides simplified battery self-sufficiency estimates. For accurate per-hour simulations that account for solar generation patterns, consumption timing, battery charging/discharging cycles, and efficiency losses across all seasons, use the full Photonik design tool.
Panel Placement Tool Canada
This is a simple panel placement tool that lets you quickly estimate panel count for a single roof area. Try Photonik for advanced features:
- Multiple panel groups
- Custom roof angles
- Panel orientation
- Shade loss calculations
- Panel selection (1000+ models)
- Full integration with our design tool
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Solar & Battery System Cost Canada
Understanding Solar & Battery System Costs
A 6.6 kW solar system in Canada costs approximately $9,697, while adding a 10 kWh battery increases the total to around $17,277. Canada offers federal Investment Tax Credits (ITCs) up to 30% for commercial projects and Canada Greener Homes Loans up to $40,000 for residential solar, with many provinces offering additional rebates. Solar-only systems typically pay for themselves in around 7.5 years in Canada, whilst adding battery storage usually extends payback but significantly improves energy independence. Canada's combination of good solar potential in many regions, federal and provincial incentives, and competitive installation costs ($2.42-$3.27 per watt) makes solar particularly attractive, with many systems achieving payback in under 8-10 years.
The cost breakdown shows estimates for equipment costs, installation labour, and applicable taxes. Adjust system size and battery storage to see how it affects total investment and payback periods. Canada has good installer coverage, with qualified installers operating throughout major provinces, providing competitive pricing and quality installations.