Canada’s 2025 federal budget is now law, and for commercial energy users, it sends a clear message: clean energy is no longer a niche initiative. It is being positioned as core economic infrastructure.
We sat down with Brightworks Energy CEO Bobby MacCannell to break down what this means for businesses evaluating solar and battery storage today.
1. What does Budget 2025 actually change for commercial solar?
In practical terms, the government is making energy assets more accessible and financially viable.
With refundable investment tax credits and the return of 100% accelerated capital cost allowance, businesses can now recover a significant portion of their project costs quickly. When these incentives are combined, companies may see as much as 40–45% of their total project investment returned within roughly 18 months of a system coming online.
That changes the equation. Solar is no longer a long-horizon sustainability investment. It becomes a near-term financial strategy.
More importantly, this approach shifts part of Canada’s energy infrastructure build-out into the hands of the private sector, allowing businesses to take control of their own energy costs while contributing to broader grid stability.
2. How do these incentives impact financial returns?
The biggest shift is how quickly projects begin to pay back.
Solar and battery systems are long-life assets, typically designed to operate for 20 to 30 years. Historically, returns were spread across that entire lifecycle. Now, a large portion of upfront capital is returned within the first two years.
That early cash recovery significantly reduces risk. It allows businesses to deleverage quickly and improves internal rates of return, often into the high teens or low 20% range .
In simple terms, the financing curve is compressed. Instead of waiting years to see meaningful returns, businesses begin realizing value almost immediately.
3. Are solar and storage now considered core infrastructure?
Arguably, they already are.
Across Canada, and particularly in Ontario, the electricity grid is under increasing pressure. Electrification, decarbonization targets, and rising demand are putting strain on existing infrastructure.
Centralized generation alone is not enough to meet future needs efficiently. Distributed energy resources, such as rooftop solar paired with storage, are becoming essential.
Instead of relying solely on large, distant power plants, energy can increasingly be generated closer to where it is consumed. That reduces transmission strain, lowers costs over time, and improves resilience.
The reality is simple: without private sector participation and distributed generation, the transition to a modern grid becomes far more difficult and far more expensive .
4. What’s the risk of waiting?
The biggest risk is delay.
Electricity costs are rising. Policy support is strengthening. And the financial case for solar is improving today, not at some future point.
While technology will continue to evolve, today’s systems are already highly reliable, with lifespans exceeding 25 years and strong warranty backing. Financial models are built on current performance and current economics, not speculative future gains.
Waiting often comes down to trying to time the market. But in this case, the fundamentals are already in place.
The businesses moving now are not chasing incentives. They are locking in long-term cost certainty, reducing exposure to future rate increases, and positioning energy as a controllable operational input.
The Bottom Line
Budget 2025 doesn’t introduce small tweaks. It accelerates a shift that was already underway.
For commercial operators, the question is no longer whether solar and storage make sense.
It’s how quickly they can be implemented.