Northern Lights Energy Systems Ltd

We are a full service dealer providing sales, service, design, and installations. Located on St. Joseph Island near Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Our home and business operates independent of the hydro grid.

Our goal, reliable systems that meet our customers needs. Satisfied customers have played a key role in our continued growth since 1986.

We ensure that load analysis and design is done correctly so that your system will preform in the way that works with your lifestyle.

Making Money with Solar Power: Ontario Power Authority is taking applications to purchase electricity from renewable energy projects such as residential rooftop solar systems. If your project meets all the criteria for safety and complies with current rules you will be offered a contract to buy your power for the next 20 years at a premium rate. Projects with an output below 10 kilowatts termed MicroFIT, are typical for residential and will earn 39.2 cents per kilowatt-hour. This will result in a payback time of less than 10 years for most systems, and profits continue to roll in for the rest of the 20-year term.

The size and direction your roof faces are usually the determining factors for how big the system will be.

MicroFIT is like a pension plan with an environmental benefit. Don’t forget that solar panels carry a 25-year power output warranty so there will still be value at the end of 20-year contract.

Projects, which have an output of over 10 kilowatts, are put in a different category called the FIT program. The rules are stricter and the application much more detailed.  An example would be a very large commercial rooftop that could support 8000 square feet of solar panels. The pay scale also changes as the projects reach larger sizes. These can deliver good ROI if properly constructed.

Other Government Programs: Net Metering allows you to interconnect your solar or wind system with the utility grid and make your own power. Electricity is blended without switching. If you have more electricity than you need the power will flow back into the utility lines. The utility meter records the number of kilowatt-hours sent back. When you need more power than you produce the meter records the power consumed. The bill is calculated on the net amount of kilowatt-hours consumed, which saves you money on electricity, transmission and debt retirement charges, which are tied to the kilowatt-hours consumed. Net Metering only allows for a credit on your account, which is carried over for up to one year. You will not be paid for any excess electricity.

Ten Kilowatt Solar Project
A 10 kilowatt system would produce approximately 12,000 kilowatt hours per year in Sault Ste. Marie. The cost to install a 10 KW solar system would cost approximately $45,000.

Estimated kilowatt hours produced is based on Natural Resources Canada weather data for the Sault Ste Marie Airport and the PVwatts1 estimator program. System efficiency, slope of the roof, site conditions, and weather variations will affect the performance and revenue produced.

Northern Lights Energy Systems Ltd. had been in business for over 25 years. We have the first grid connected renewable energy wind and solar systems in the area. Northern Lights Energy was one of the first renewable energy dealers to receive ESA contractor license. License No. 7001821

Not all systems are created equal. They may look the same from the ground, and even work the same in the beginning. The difference is in the care we take in designing and installing your project. If you want it to last 20 years or more it requires quality equipment, attention to details in attachment and sealing, and offering supplemental protection from external threats.

All you need to do to get started is to call Northern Lights Energy Systems Ltd. for an on site consultation to become aware of your best possibilities.

Quality: Reliability in our products is very important to us, and the cheapest product may not be best choice. We have become accustomed to reliable electricity, so repeated failures are not acceptable for our business or our customers.

Local Service: Some times even the most well designed and best products fail. If a problem does occur, as a local dealer we have the skills and the test equipment required to diagnose and correct the problem. We can often provide replacement parts to get the system back into service quickly.

Design: We design based on information provided to us about your power usage. The result is a reliable system delivered at an affordable price. Each situation is carefully reviewed, and recommendations are made for not only the system, but where improvements can be made in more efficient appliances. Because of the effort put into a design, the price quote is free for the entire system, but detailed load analysis and component lists are billed for the hours spent.

Service Area: Our service area is determined by the travel time.

Tip: Keep in mind that heating and cooling consume large amounts electricity. For every dollar that you spend on energy efficient appliances it will reduce the cost of your power system by $2 to $3.

SOLAR 
Offers the following advantages: Clean, Silent, No Maintenance, Expandable, 20 to 25 years warranty

We have access to a variety of high power modules from the world leading manufacturers. Sanyo, Sharp, Kyocera, BP, Mitsubishi and SolarWorld are a few brands available. Custom designed PV systems are available for both off and on the grid applications. Ontario now has FIT and MicroFIT Contracts and Net metering for renewables. Whether you need a single module for a remote camp or commercial installation you can count on over 24 years experience to get it done right.

The two most common types of solar panels are Mono Crystal Silicon which offers improved performance in overcast weather and the Polycrystalline silicon that offers a lower cost with equal performance under full sun.

SUN-LINK SOLAR TRACKER

Sun-link Solar Trackers meet Ontario Domestic Content.

A PV modules output is highest when the sun strikes the module at 90 degrees. Conventional mounting of panels doesn't take advantage of early morning and late afternoon sunlight; much of the light hits on an angle and bounces off, reducing power output dramatically.

The Sun-Link Solar Tracker uses an innovative circuit to control the electric actuator arm which positions the PV array to point at the sun. Sun-Link Solar Trackers use photovoltaic technology to sense the direction of maximum power available in the sky.

Why we use Photovoltaics: More sensitive and reliable than photocells and they react faster than refrigerant based units.

Sun-link units have now been in operation for more than 15 years. Units have been sold across Canada since 2002.

The Sun-Link tracker delivers amazing performance. On bright cloudy days the PV array will take advantage of dispersed light by facing south. The tracker will not move on dark rainy days when there is no increased advantage in power output.

WIND TURBINES

Todays wind turbines are lightweight with composite carbon fiber blades and require very little maintenance.

We offer wind turbines from Southwest and Bergey ranging in size from about 1 KW to 10 KW. The Skystream turbine which is direct grid-tie is now available. Unlike many dealers we offer complete installation in our service area.

An important part of operating a wind turbine is an annual inspection on the tower and turbine. This is also a service we offer.

Wind turbines out perform the equivalent solar system during the winter months. Where it is feasible, a combination of wind and solar is the best choice for year round living.

The tower height is very important to the performance of the system. It should be 15 to 30 ft. above any obstructions within a 500 ft. radius of the tower. There are excellent tip up towers that can get the job done without climbing. Choosing the right wind turbine is critical, as upgrades can be complex.

MICRO HYDRO

A turbine so small you can fit it in a blue box, and yet powerful enough to run a home with most of the modern conveniences. These units don’t require a dam, and can run from a stream that comes down the side of a hill.

A pipeline is needed and can be as small as a 2' poly pipe and generally no larger than 8'. Water pressure built up from gravity in the pipe is directed through a nozzle, striking a specially designed wheel, which turns the generator to produce electricity. The newest versions can run on vertical drops of as little as 6 feet. If you are lucky enough to have such a site you should investigate this further. In some cases a specialized machine can be inserted into a fast flowing stream.

An efficient home can run on as little as six kilowatt hours a day. A turbine producing 250 watts continuously, will meet this need. Any excess power produced is dumped into air or water heating.

The benefit of Micro Hydro is its continuous power output.