Incentives
The Canada Greener Homes Grant has closed — but Calgary homeowners still have powerful ways to save thousands on solar in 2026. Here's everything you need to know.
If you've been searching for the Canada Greener Homes Grant hoping to slash the cost of solar panels on your Calgary home, you deserve a straight answer: the original grant is no longer available. The grant portion closed in March 2024, and the interest-free loan that followed it closed in October 2025.
But here's the good news: the financial case for solar in Calgary is stronger than ever in 2026 — and there are real programs you can use right now. This guide breaks down what replaced the Greener Homes Grant, what's actually available to you as a Calgary homeowner today, and how to stack programs to maximize your savings.
The Canada Greener Homes Initiative launched in 2021 as one of the most ambitious residential clean energy programs Canada had ever offered. It had two main components:
The grant closed to new applications in March 2024. The loan stopped accepting applications in October 2025.
If you applied before either deadline, your application will still be processed through the Natural Resources Canada portal. For everyone else, it's time to look at what's available now.
The federal government replaced the original grant with the Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program (CGHAP) — an $800 million initiative launched in September 2025. Unlike its predecessor, CGHAP is specifically designed for low-to-median-income households, using a direct-install model where qualifying homeowners pay nothing out of pocket for eligible retrofits.
Important caveat for Calgary homeowners: CGHAP is rolling out province by province, and each province sets its own eligible technology list. As of mid-2026, Alberta's implementation details are still developing. If you're above the income threshold, CGHAP does not apply to you.
Bottom line: CGHAP may help some Calgary homeowners, but it is not a like-for-like replacement for the original $5,000 grant that was available to everyone.
For most Calgary homeowners in 2026, the most powerful tool available is the Clean Energy Improvement Program (CEIP) — and it's arguably better than the old grant for many situations.
The CEIP is a City of Calgary initiative that lets you finance up to 100% of your solar installation costs — up to a maximum of $50,000 per property — with repayment added to your property tax bill. Unlike a bank loan, the financing is attached to your property, not to you personally.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Financing amount | Up to $50,000 (100% of project costs) |
| Interest rate | Fixed at 3.75% for 2026 (reassessed each application period) |
| Repayment term | Up to 20 years |
| Money down | Zero — $0 upfront required |
| Credit check | No traditional credit bureau check |
| Completion bonus | Up to 10% off your total financed amount |
| Property transfer | Financing stays with the house if you sell |
That last point is particularly valuable. If you sell your Calgary home before the CEIP balance is paid off, the remaining financing simply transfers to the new owner — you don't have to settle the balance at closing. The new owner inherits both the solar system and the monthly savings it generates.
For a limited time, the City of Calgary is offering an incentive of up to 10% of your total project costs, applied directly to your Clean Energy Improvement Tax once the installation is complete. On a $25,000 solar system, that's up to $2,500 back — making it the closest thing currently available to the old $5,000 grant.
Before stacking incentives, let's talk about the real numbers.
Solar panel installation in Calgary typically runs $2.70–$3.20 per watt. For a typical Calgary home:
Calgary has a significant advantage over most Canadian cities: no provincial sales tax (PST) on solar equipment. You pay only 5% GST, saving $1,000–$3,000 compared to homeowners in PST provinces.
Calgary receives approximately 2,396 annual sunshine hours — making it one of Canada's best cities for solar generation. At current ENMAX rates of around 12¢/kWh (which continue to trend upward), a properly sized 10 kW system typically saves $1,200–$1,800 per year in electricity costs.
With CEIP financing and net metering credits combined, most Calgary homeowners see a payback period of 7–12 years, after which the system continues producing near-free electricity for another 15–20+ years.
Studies suggest solar panels increase home values by an average of 3–5%. For a Calgary home valued at $500,000, that's a potential increase of $15,000–$25,000. Critically, Alberta does not assess increased property taxes on solar installations — so that gain stays in your pocket.
One of the most underappreciated incentives for Calgary solar owners is Alberta's net metering program (Micro-Generation Regulation). When your solar system produces more electricity than you're using — common on sunny summer afternoons — the surplus is exported to the grid, and you receive bill credits in return.
Under ENMAX's micro-generation program, those credits offset your electricity costs monthly and are settled annually. This effectively uses the grid as free battery storage, removing the need for expensive home batteries for most households.
| Program | Status | Value | Who Qualifies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada Greener Homes Grant | ❌ Closed (March 2024) | Was up to $5,000 | N/A |
| Canada Greener Homes Loan | ❌ Closed (October 2025) | Was up to $40,000 | N/A |
| Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program (CGHAP) | ✅ Rolling out | Varies | Low-to-median income |
| Calgary CEIP | ✅ Open (2026 rounds) | Up to $50,000 financing + 10% completion bonus | Calgary property owners |
| ENMAX Net Metering | ✅ Ongoing | Bill credits for surplus solar | ENMAX customers |
| No PST on solar | ✅ Always active | $1,000–$3,000 savings | All Alberta homeowners |
The Canada Greener Homes Grant era is over — but the opportunity to go solar in Calgary has never been better. Between the CEIP's zero-down financing, the 10% completion bonus, Alberta's no-PST advantage, and ENMAX net metering, a well-planned Calgary solar installation can deliver a stronger financial return in 2026 than the old grant ever could on its own.
Ready to get started?
The programs have changed. The savings are still very real.
Last updated: June 2026. Program details change frequently — always verify current status directly with the City of Calgary and Natural Resources Canada before applying.