Nova Scotia launches community solar program

Provincial and municipal government staff at the solar garden in Berwick, which previously received government funding. (Credit: communications Nova Scotia)

Nova Scotia is investing $5.2 million in 2024 through 2025 to help with the capital costs of building community solar gardens.

The Community Solar Program is intended to help community groups and organizations set up solar gardens on their properties and sell subscriptions to the electricity they produce from the solar gardens. Subscribers will get a solar energy credit of $0.02 per kilowatt hour on their power bill for energy generated by their subscription

“Not everyone has the ability to install their own solar panels,” said Tory Rushton, Minister of Natural Resources and Renewables. “This program creates the opportunity to buy solar energy from a community provider instead. This is just one of the many changes we’re making to give Nova Scotians clean, reliable power at affordable rates, while helping us reach our climate change goals.”

Project owners interested in becoming a community solar garden owner may apply to the Community Solar Program to set up a solar garden on their property and sell subscriptions to the electricity they produce from the solar garden. 

Proposed projects must be located in Nova Scotia in an area that Nova Scotia Power services, and must have a nameplate capacity of at least 0.5 MWac and no more than 10 MWac.

There are many reasons why people can’t install solar panels on their homes, including lack of roof space, too much shade, living in an apartment, condo or other shared housing arrangement, or cost. The Community Solar Program is meant to make solar energy an option for people in these situations.

Non-profits, co-operatives, First Nations communities, municipalities, businesses, universities and colleges are permitted to build and own solar gardens. New gardens under the Community Solar Program are expected to be up and running by spring 2026, at which point people can subscribe to them at a slightly lower power rate.

Introducing at least 500 MW of new local, renewable energy by 2026 and an additional 50 MW of new community solar are commitments in Our Climate, Our Future: Nova Scotia’s Climate Change Plan for Clean Growth, which includes initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, switch to clean energy, create a clean economy, and make homes and buildings energy efficient.