The Ontario Renewable Energy Standard Offer Program

In 2004 OSEA launched a campaign for Advanced Renewable Energy Tariffs (ARTs) in response to the exclusion of small, locally-owned renewable energy projects from the Province’s call for proposals for new renewable electricity generation.

In March 2006, the program was announced by the Premier as the Renewable Energy Standard Offer Program (RESOP) and contracts were available by the OPA in November 2006.

The program launched by OSEA is commonly known as Advanced Renewable Tariffs based on best practice in European countries such as Germany, France and Spain. For simplicity, the government of Ontario chose to adopt the language of Standard Offer Program rather than Advanced Renewable Tariffs. The RESOP offers a base price for electricity whereas ARTs offers differentiated pricing for each technology.

The Renewable Energy Standard Offer Program:

• Provides a guaranteed price for the electricity for 20 years; Wind, water and biomass projects receive 11¢/kWh and solar photovoltaic (PV) projects receive 42¢/kWh
• Is available to projects under 10MW in size
• Is available to applicants who have been granted access to the grid by Hydro One or their local distribution company
• Is administered by the Ontario Power Authority
• Will undergo a review every two years

OSEA is presently working on a critique and recommended changes to Ontario’s RESOP

Additional Information:

The Ontario Power Authority Standard Offer Page
The Canadian Solar Industries Association Standard Offer Program Page