Orizon Energy installs commercial solar, battery storage, and demand-shaving systems for wineries, distribution centers, and commercial buildings across the Okanagan.
The Okanagan sees some of the strongest solar irradiance in interior BC, with far fewer cloud-cover days than the coast, which means commercial systems in this valley typically produce noticeably more energy per installed kW than a comparable rooftop near the coast. That production advantage, combined with BC's 7% PST exemption on solar equipment, makes the payback period for a well-sized system in this market often shorter than in Metro Vancouver.
One detail specific to this part of the province: depending on exactly where your facility sits, you may be served by either BC Hydro or FortisBC, since both utilities operate distribution territory in and around the valley. That matters because the two run different export compensation programs, BC Hydro's flat 10¢/kWh self-generation rate versus FortisBC's 1:1 retail-rate net metering, so confirming your utility is one of the first things we check during a site assessment.
Commercial solar installations require a building permit through the City's commercial, industrial, and large multi-family building permit process, which asks for scaled construction drawings and, notably, requires roof truss packages to already account for future solar panel loading on new builds. Existing buildings need a structural review to confirm the roof can carry panel weight. Interconnection is handled through whichever utility, BC Hydro or FortisBC, serves the specific property.
A winery production facility south of the city, served by FortisBC, was running refrigeration and pumping equipment through the harvest season with electricity costs spiking every fall.
Orizon designed an 80 kW rooftop and adjacent ground-mount array sized to FortisBC's 50 kW net metering cap per meter, splitting the system across two connection points to maximize the 1:1 retail-rate credit available under FortisBC's program.
The combined system offset roughly 70% of the facility's annual consumption, with the PST exemption and federal ITC bringing the payback period to approximately 4 years.
Client name changed. Results vary based on individual circumstances. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
Rooftop and ground-mount systems for wineries, warehouses, and commercial buildings.
Learn More →On-site storage to shift load and add resilience for facilities on either local utility.
Learn More →We also serve businesses in Vancouver and communities across the Lower Mainland.
See what solar, storage, and demand shaving could save your Okanagan facility.
or call (855) 674-9661