Closed
Solar Photovoltaic (PV) incentives
Funding for energy-saving retrofit upgrades
Last Update: May 27, 2026
Funding available
$ 50
Timeline
- Receipt of requests is now closed
Location
Ontario, Canada
Overview
The Save on Energy Retrofit Program provides funding to help businesses upgrade energy-saving equipment and reduce electricity use. Eligible work includes prescriptive and custom retrofits such as solar PV systems, EMIS installations, HVAC and chiller upgrades, and networked lighting controls.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase production or service capacity
- Implement environmental initiatives
- Increase operational productivity
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 50 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
Timeline
- Receipt of requests is now closed
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Utilities
- Construction
- Manufacturing
- Wholesale trade
- Retail trade
- Real estate and rental and leasing
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Accommodation and food services
Location
- Ontario
Legal structures
- All legal structures
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- All groups
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Behind-the-meter solar PV installations on rooftops.
- Energy-saving equipment retrofits under the Prescriptive or Custom stream.
- Industrial energy management information system installations.
- Energy-efficient upgrades for data centres, HVAC, lighting controls, manufacturing, and horticulture facilities.
Documents Needed
- Program Requirements
- Participant Agreement
- Custom Project Worksheet, if applicable
- Solar PV DER Worksheet, if applicable
- Industrial EMIS Worksheet, if applicable
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Commercial participants.
- Industrial participants.
- Institutional participants.
- Owners or lessees of eligible buildings.
Who is not eligible
- Wall-mounted solar PV projects.
- New construction lighting projects.
- Projects using net-metering agreements.
- Lighting measures already moved to the Instant Discounts Program.
Eligible expenses
- Solar PV equipment, inverter technologies, racking systems, and installation costs.
- EMIS equipment, third-party installation labour, and M&V plan preparation costs.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Wall-mount solar PV systems.
- Lighting measures moved to the Instant Discounts Program.
- Projects using net-metering agreements for solar PV.
Eligible geographic areas
- Ontario
Selection criteria
- Project eligibility under program requirements
- Compliance with measure-specific worksheet requirements
- Evidence of grid connection approval from the local utility
How to apply
- Step 1: Create a Retrofit portal account
- Sign up in the Retrofit portal to start the application process.
- Step 2: Submit pre-project application
- Enter the project details and required information in the portal.
- Step 3: Receive pre-project approval
- Wait for approval before starting the installation.
- Step 4: Complete the project
- Install the eligible equipment or retrofit measures.
- Step 5: Submit post-project information
- Provide the required completion details in the portal.
- Step 6: Receive incentive payment
- After final approval, the incentive is paid.
Processing and Agreement
- Applications are submitted through the Retrofit Portal.
- Pre-project approval is required before installation.
- After installation, post-project information is reviewed before final approval.
- Incentive payment is issued after incentive amount approval.
Additional information
- Applications are submitted through the Retrofit Portal.
- A Participant Agreement is required before proceeding.
- Some projects may be subject to QA/QC review.
- Save on Energy provides application support and portal guides.
Contacts
Other components of this program
Explore related funding streams and grants that belong to the same program.
- Retrofit Program - Agriculture IncentivesEnergy-saving upgrade incentives for Ontario businesses
- Save on Energy Retrofit Program – Greenhouse Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) Incentives (Southwest Region)Incentives for greenhouse energy storage projects
Frequently Asked Questions about the Solar Photovoltaic (PV) incentives Program
What is the Solar Photovoltaic (PV) incentives?
The Save on Energy Retrofit Program provides funding to help businesses upgrade energy-saving equipment and reduce electricity use. Eligible work includes prescriptive and custom retrofits such as solar PV systems, EMIS installations, HVAC and chiller upgrades, and networked lighting controls.
How much funding can be received?
Solar Photovoltaic (PV) incentives Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses, capped at $50 per project.
Who is eligible for the Solar Photovoltaic (PV) incentives program?
To be eligible for the Solar Photovoltaic (PV) incentives program, you must:
Commercial, industrial, or institutional participants
Projects must reduce electricity use
Rooftop-mounted solar PV only
What expenses are eligible under Solar Photovoltaic (PV) incentives?
Behind-the-meter solar PV installations on rooftops.
Energy-saving equipment retrofits under the Prescriptive or Custom stream.
Industrial energy management information system installations.
Energy-efficient upgrades for data centres, HVAC, lighting controls, manufacturing, and horticulture facilities.
Who can I contact for more information about the Solar Photovoltaic (PV) incentives?
You can contact Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) by email at retrofit@ieso.ca or by phone at 1-844-303-5542.
Where is the Solar Photovoltaic (PV) incentives available?
The Solar Photovoltaic (PV) incentives program is available the province of Ontario.
Is the Solar Photovoltaic (PV) incentives a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Solar Photovoltaic (PV) incentives is a Grant and Funding