Mapping BC’s Solar Potential: A New Open-Source Solar Map

Ian Casselman, drummer for Canadian rock band Marianas Trench, joins The Solar PVcast to share his experience as a solar homeowner. From obsessively checking his solar production app to adding a hybrid vehicle to the driveway, Ian talks about how solar has changed the way his family uses energy. He also shares his thoughts on the importance of incentives, the future of solar in Canada, and why he believes more people should make the switch. Whether you're a Marianas Trench fan (We touch on what they're up to as well!), considering solar for your home, or just curious about what it's actually like to own a solar system, this episode is for you. Powered by Shift and hosted by Chris Palliser, The Solar PVcast explores solar power and the role it plays in improving our lives and our planet. Watch the video episodes on YouTube. Thinking about going solar? Our podcast sponsor, Shift, is offering listeners $500 off a solar installation! Simply enter partner code PVcast when requesting your free quote at shift.ca.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three years ago, we sat down with Lindsay Block-Glass of LBG Home and Royal LePage to talk about solar and real estate in Victoria, BC. Now she’s back — and the conversation has changed. When we first spoke, solar and home energy generation weren’t really things buyers were regularly asking about. Today, Lindsay says energy awareness is increasingly part of the real estate conversation. Homebuyers are asking more questions about energy efficiency, operating costs, solar and the ability for a home to generate some of its own electricity. In this follow-up episode of The Solar PVcast, we look at what has changed over the past three years, what Lindsay is hearing from buyers and sellers in the Victoria real estate market, and why energy is becoming another consideration when people think about a home. We discuss solar, energy costs, buyer awareness, what homeowners should consider when making energy upgrades, and where Lindsay sees the conversation heading next. Three years ago, we were asking whether energy would become part of the real estate conversation. Three years later, it is. Guest: Lindsay Block-Glass — LBG Home | Royal LePageLocation: Victoria, BCPodcast: The Solar PVcast Powered by Shift and hosted by Chris Palliser, The Solar PVcast explores solar power and the role it plays in improving our lives and our planet. Watch the video episodes on YouTube. Thinking about going solar? Our podcast sponsor, Shift, is offering listeners $500 off a solar installation! Simply enter partner code PVcast when requesting your free quote at shift.ca.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the first time, British Columbia’s solar potential has been mapped in a powerful new open-source tool. On this episode of The Solar PVcast, Chris sits down with Connor McGookin, Research Associate at UBC, to talk about the project and the team behind it. They discuss how the map was created, the many factors considered when estimating solar potential across BC, and why having this data readily available matters. Similar solar mapping tools exist elsewhere in the world, but BC has been missing this kind of resource. Now it's freely available for anyone to explore — from researchers and communities to policymakers and utilities like BC Hydro. It's an exciting new tool for solar education, planning and understanding just how much potential exists across the province. Explore the map: BC Solar Potential Map Powered by Shift and hosted by Chris Palliser, The Solar PVcast explores solar power and the role it plays in improving our lives and our planet. Watch the video episodes on YouTube. Thinking about going solar? Our podcast sponsor, Shift, is offering listeners $500 off a solar installation! Simply enter partner code PVcast when requesting your free quote at shift.ca.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does solar look like north of 60? On this episode of The Solar PVcast, Chris chats with Sebastian Jones, Wildlife Analyst with the Yukon Conservation Society, about the opportunities — and challenges — facing solar energy in the Yukon. They dig into electricity rates, the need to modernize the territory's grid, the end of the Micro-generation Program and why solar adoption can move frustratingly slowly. Sebastian also shares his experience living off-grid and why he believes Yukoners need more ways to generate their own electricity, including emerging ideas like balcony solar. And despite its northern location, the Yukon has some fascinating advantages for solar: incredibly long summer days and cold temperatures that can help solar panels perform efficiently. The potential is there. So what's holding solar back in the Yukon? Powered by Shift and hosted by Chris Palliser, The Solar PVcast explores solar power and the role it plays in improving our lives and our planet. Watch the video episodes on YouTube. Thinking about going solar? Our podcast sponsor, Shift, is offering listeners $500 off a solar installation! Simply enter partner code PVcast when requesting your free quote at shift.ca.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tariffs, trade uncertainty, and changing global supply chains are once again shaking up Canada's solar industry—but if you've spent enough time in solar, unpredictability is nothing new. Chris is joined by Rob Milliken, Vice President of Business Development at Charge Solar, who brings 25 years of experience riding the “solar coaster.” They break down what tariffs and changing trade policies mean for solar equipment, pricing, installers, and ultimately Canadian homeowners and businesses—and why an industry built on constant change knows how to adapt. Powered by Shift and hosted by Chris Palliser, The Solar PVcast explores solar power and the role it plays in improving our lives and our planet. Watch the video episodes on YouTube. Thinking about going solar? Our podcast sponsor, Shift, is offering listeners $500 off a solar installation! Simply enter partner code PVcast when requesting your free quote at shift.ca.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of The Solar PVcast, Chris chats with Western University PhD researcher Koami Soulemane Hayibo about his hands-on research into floatovoltaics — floating solar PV systems. Koami shares insights from a year-long project exploring how floating solar is implemented, what makes it different from traditional ground or rooftop systems, what about the ducks, and why water-based solar could play an exciting role in the future of renewable energy.For More on the ProjectHereHereor Here Powered by Shift and hosted by Chris Palliser, The Solar PVcast explores solar power and the role it plays in improving our lives and our planet. Watch the video episodes on YouTube. Thinking about going solar? Our podcast sponsor, Shift, is offering listeners $500 off a solar installation! Simply enter partner code PVcast when requesting your free quote at shift.ca. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BC Hydro's transition to Net Billing is now official, with the new program launching July 1. In this episode, we sit down with Steve Unger, Lead, Microgrid Development at Shift, to recap the journey to get here, explain how Net Billing works, why BC Hydro made the change, and tackle the question many solar homeowners are asking: Should you keep the $5,000 rebate or pay it back to stay on Net Metering? Steve shares his perspective after reviewing a wide range of customer scenarios.  Powered by Shift and hosted by Chris Palliser, The Solar PVcast explores solar power and the role it plays in improving our lives and our planet. Watch the video episodes on YouTube. Thinking about going solar? Our podcast sponsor, Shift, is offering listeners $500 off a solar installation! Simply enter partner code PVcast when requesting your free quote at shift.ca.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on the Solar PVcast, we sit down with Jonathan Maile, CEO of Skyblue Products, to explore the exciting world of balcony solar and what it could mean for the future of energy in Canada. From plug-and-play systems already transforming homes around the world to the policies and regulations still holding Canada back, we unpack where balcony solar currently stands — especially here in British Columbia — and how close we really are to seeing widespread adoption. We also take our best guess at timelines, discuss what needs to change, and why balcony solar could open the door for millions more people — including renters, condo owners, and urban Canadians — to finally live the solar life. It’s a fun, optimistic, and future-focused conversation about accessibility, innovation, and the next evolution of solar energy in Canada. Powered by Shift and hosted by Chris Palliser, The Solar PVcast explores solar power and the role it plays in improving our lives and our planet. Watch the video episodes on YouTube. Thinking about going solar? Our podcast sponsor, Shift, is offering listeners $500 off a solar installation! Simply enter partner code PVcast when requesting your free quote at shift.ca.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We sit down with Michael Quast, CEO of Passive House Canada, for a conversation that blends deep insight with plenty of laughs. We explore his journey into the role, the organization’s mission, and the upcoming conference shaping the industry. Along the way, we dig into the realities of Passive House adoption in Canada—politics, barriers, and momentum—while keeping things light, human, and optimistic about where high-performance building is headed. Powered by Shift and hosted by Chris Palliser, The Solar PVcast explores solar power and the role it plays in improving our lives and our planet. Watch the video episodes on YouTube. Thinking about going solar? Our podcast sponsor, Shift, is offering listeners $500 off a solar installation! Simply enter partner code PVcast when requesting your free quote at shift.ca.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we sit down with Ryan Gander from Relay Education to explore what it really takes to educate the next generation about renewable energy. Ryan shares his journey, the evolution of energy awareness in schools and communities, and how Relay Education is making complex topics engaging and accessible. From hands-on experiments to surprising insights about whether kids or adults are more open to change, this conversation highlights the power of education in shaping a sustainable future.If you’re inspired by Relay’s work and want to support their mission, consider making a donation at www.relayeducation.com/donate. Powered by Shift and hosted by Chris Palliser, The Solar PVcast explores solar power and the role it plays in improving our lives and our planet. Watch the video episodes on YouTube. Thinking about going solar? Our podcast sponsor, Shift, is offering listeners $500 off a solar installation! Simply enter partner code PVcast when requesting your free quote at shift.ca.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.