Solar Project – Josée & Martin from St-Mathieu-de-Beloeil

Installation completed in April 2022

Study conducted in February 2025

By: Ibrahima Labou, M. Sc. A

Master’s degree in Energy Engineering – specialization in Renewable Energy

Summary

This solar structure, costing about $26,300, pays for itself over a 22-year period! Have you ever heard of a lounge area that pays for itself?! This project demonstrates the perfect alliance between efficiency, sustainability, and innovation. The integration of a solar gazebo and a storage system at Josée and Martin’s home highlights an advanced use of solar energy, fully meeting residential needs while contributing to the energy transition.

Benefits for Josée & Martin

Outdoor space enhancement: The solar gazebo blends harmoniously into the backyard, creating a refined, comfortable, and multifunctional living space that enhances both the aesthetics and value of the property.
Energy security: Batteries provide continuous power in case of outages or low production.
Energy efficiency: A portion of the energy produced is consumed directly, while the surplus is stored or fed back into the Hydro-Québec grid and credited on electricity bills.
Financial benefits: Significant reduction in energy costs.
Environmental impact: A commitment to sustainability and an eco-friendly lifestyle.

Technical Specifications

Style & structure: Solar gazebo, an airy and elegant structure, ideal for maximizing airflow, reducing heat buildup, and improving comfort and enjoyment of the space.
Slope: 15-degree tilt, optimizing solar capture while ensuring efficient drainage.
Configuration: Grid-tied system with batteries, allowing surplus energy to be fed into Hydro-Québec’s network while storing part for later use.
Installed capacity: 5.475 kW, powered by 15 bifacial panels of 365 W each, offering a 10–30% gain depending on weather conditions.
Monitoring system: Schneider platform, ensuring precise tracking and efficient management of energy production and consumption.

Profitability Analysis

Calculation assumptions

Average Hydro-Québec residential rate (Tariff D): $0.1219 / kWh (taxes included)
Average annual residential rate increase from Hydro-Québec: 3%*

* Based on Hydro-Québec’s planned average increases. This rate does not take into account future “peak hours” pricing, which will likely raise bills further. In our case studies, this new pricing would actually reduce the payback period for a solar system.

Project cost: $34,800

Value of an inert structure (without energy production) of equal quality: $8,500

Amount to amortize: $26,300

The amount includes:

Installation of the gazebo
Purchase of bifacial panels
Installation and configuration of the grid-tied photovoltaic system
Installation and configuration of the Schneider monitoring system

The amount excludes:

Purchase of storage batteries

Performance & statistics

Average annual energy savings: 6,575 kWh, representing about $800 per year in savings, with a 3% annual increase linked to Hydro-Québec’s rate inflation. This ensures a return on investment in about 22 years.
Total production since commissioning (April 2022) up to the study date (February 2025): 22,323 kWh over 34 months, which equals an average monthly production of about 657 kWh, representing $80 per month.
Environmental benefits: Significant reduction in CO₂ emissions, with a sustainable system enabling smart production and storage.