All ground-mounted solar facilities with a nameplate capacity over 12kW require a Renewable Energy Approval (REA).
Under the REA regulation (O.Reg.359/09), nameplate capacity means the total of the design electricity generating capacity of all the generation units in the facility.
For solar projects, this refers to the manufacturer’s rating of the solar modules (panels) measured in direct current (DC). 12kW is the average energy requirements of five to ten households.
Ground-mounted, small scale solar projects with a nameplate capacity less than or equal to 12kW do not require a REA. These facilities will also be eligible for the Ontario Power Authority’s micro-FIT program.
It is not the ministry’s intention to require a REA for microFIT solar projects. In January 1, 2011 the ministry amended regulation 359/09 to clarify any potential confusion of this matter and increased the REA threshold for ground mounted solar projects from 10kW to 12kW.
