What does solar actually cost a BC farm?

As estimates: a 50 kW system costs about $100,000 installed and nets out around $46,000 after the BC Hydro rebate, the 30% refundable federal credit and the first-year write-off, saving about $8,200 a year and paying off in about 6 years. A 200 kW system costs about $370,000 and nets out around $130,000 after incentives, saving about $26,900 a year and paying off in about 5 years. Real numbers depend on the site and BC Hydro's project review.

Does my farm need to be incorporated to get the 30% solar tax credit?

Yes, the federal Clean Technology Investment Tax Credit is a refundable credit for taxable Canadian corporations. Incorporated farms qualify; sole proprietorships do not qualify directly. The credit is a cheque, not just a deduction: the farm gets the money even in a bad year.

How are incentives set for larger farm systems?

Above the standard rebate, BC Hydro sets incentives for larger projects on a project-by-project basis. Amounts vary: one B.C. industrial solar project received $875,000, about 40% of its system cost, per BC Hydro's own press release. Any real quote needs BC Hydro to run its own numbers for your site.

Is ground-mount solar better than rooftop for farms?

Ground-mount systems can be oriented and tilted for maximum yield, sized without roof constraints, and maintained easily. Farms with available land near their electrical service are among the best ground-mount candidates in B.C. Barn and outbuilding roofs can also work well; the site assessment determines which pencils better.

BC Solar Incentive › Solar for Farms & Greenhouses

Solar for Farms & Greenhouses in British Columbia

Feed, fuel and fertilizer move with markets. Electricity only moves one way: up 3.75% in 2025 and another 3.75% this April. It's also the one input a farm can fix: ~3–5¢/kWh from your own land for 25 years (estimate), with grants and tax credits covering more than half the setup.

What happens to your bill if you do nothing

BC Hydro commercial rates rose 3.75% in April 2025 and another 3.75% in April 2026. Slide to your current monthly bill and see where the compounding takes it if increases continue at a similar pace.

Your current monthly BC Hydro bill

$—/month today ($—/year)

$500$20,000

In 5 years$—$—/yr+16% (estimate)

In 10 years$—$—/yr+34% (estimate)

In 25 years$—$—/yrmore than double

Total paid to BC Hydro over 25 years$—incl. $— caused by the increases alone

Estimates. Assumes increases continue at 3% per year, in line with the assumptions behind the worked examples on this page; the last two BCUC-approved increases were 3.75% per year, and future rates are set in filings you don't control. Power you generate yourself works differently: an estimated 3–5¢/kWh, fixed for 25 years, immune to every future increase. See what your version of this math looks like →

The numbers, at two farm scales

Estimate

Small farm or winery, 50 kW

About 110 panels. Barn roof or small ground mount.

Typical monthly BC Hydro bill, this size~$800 – $2,500/mo

System cost$100,000

BC Hydro rebate− $10,000

Federal tax credit (refundable)− $27,000

Year-one tax write-off value− $17,000

What you actually pay$46,000

Saves ~$680/month (~$8,200/year) on powerPaid off in about 6 years. Your solar power costs ~4.8¢/kWh vs ~15¢ from BC Hydro.

Estimated 25-year savings: ~$262,000 on a $46,000 net investment.

Estimate

Larger farm, 200 kW

About 440 panels. Big roof or ground mount.

Typical monthly BC Hydro bill, this size~$2,500 – $6,000+/mo

System cost$370,000

BC Hydro incentive*− ~$115,000

Federal tax credit (refundable)− $76,500

Year-one tax write-off value− $48,000

What you actually pay~$130,000

Saves ~$2,240/month (~$26,900/year) on powerPaid off in about 5 years. Your solar power costs ~3.3¢/kWh vs ~12¢ from BC Hydro at this size.

Estimated 25-year savings: ~$867,000. *BC Hydro sets larger-project incentives project by project. One B.C. industrial project received $875,000, about 40% of its system cost (public record).

All figures are estimates based on typical B.C. installed costs, mid-range production (~1,150 kWh per kW per year), current rates and general corporate tax treatment. Incentive totals already account for how the programs interact. Your site and BC Hydro's review determine the real numbers.

Why farms pencil out

Greenhouses, dairies, packing houses and irrigation systems draw power steadily through daylight hours, when solar produces. And unlike urban commercial buildings, farms usually have the one thing that removes every design constraint: land. A ground-mount array can be oriented for maximum yield and sized to the actual load, not to whatever roof happens to be available.

Ground-mount freedom

Optimal tilt and orientation, easy maintenance, no roof structural questions. Land near your electrical service is an asset.

Daytime loads

Ventilation, cooling, milking systems, pumping and packing lines consume solar power the moment it's generated, at full value.

Owner = decision-maker

No landlord, no strata, no head office. The person weighing the investment is the person who owns the asset.

A hedge on rising rates

BC Hydro rates rose 3.75% in 2025 and again in 2026, with future increases set in rate filings. Solar is the only farm input that locks its price for 25+ years: ~3–5¢/kWh (estimate).

The incentive stack behind those numbers

30% federal Clean Technology Investment Tax Credit: refundable (a cheque, not just a deduction), so the farm gets the money even in a bad year. Requires incorporation; the full 30% requires meeting federal labour requirements, which our installs are structured to do.
BC Hydro rebate or custom incentive: $1,000/kW up to $10,000 on standard systems; larger projects are set project by project and have received up to 40% of system cost. Since June 2026, rebates flow only through certified (HPCN) installers.
100% first-year write-off: expense the full system in year one; the tax break shows up immediately.
Battery option: for 25 kW+ storage, BC Hydro's incentive can cover up to 80% of cost (estimate) in exchange for a 10-year grid-support agreement. Backup for ventilation, milking and refrigeration is real risk protection.
No PST on solar equipment in B.C.

Sizing note: since July 2026 the interconnection limit is based on what you export, not nameplate capacity, so a farm with meaningful on-site load can install materially more than 100 kW of panels and self-consume most of it.

What the assessment looks at

The free assessment reviews your BC Hydro bills and rate schedule, available land or roof area relative to your electrical service, seasonal load patterns (greenhouse lighting, irrigation season, milking schedules), and which incentives your corporate structure qualifies for. You get your version of the numbers above before any design work begins.

Get your farm's numbers, free

60 seconds. A solar advisor maps the incentive stack to your operation and comes back with your estimated cost, payback and savings.

More solar use cases

Solar for Wineries & BreweriesThe 50 kW example, winery-style Solar for Cold Storage & Food ProcessingBC Hydro can cover up to 80% of a battery (estimate) Solar for Auto DealershipsEV charging, demand spikes and lot-canopy systems All BC solar incentivesThe full 2026 incentive stack, with examples