Recommendations backed by a clear reference hierarchy.

PV array

Module selection is not based on wattage alone. Compatibility requires checking string architecture, cold-corrected open-circuit voltage, MPPT window, allowable current, shading, orientation and manufacturer limits.

MPPT controller

Controller current rating alone is not enough. Maximum cold PV voltage, MPPT window, battery voltage, allowable PV power and protection must all be compatible together.

Inverter, hybrid and microinverter

Grid-tied, hybrid, and hybrid-with-backup architectures must be distinguished. Power, AC/DC voltages, MPPT inputs, anti-islanding, battery compatibility and grid-isolation architecture must match the use case.

Protection and disconnecting

Overcurrent devices, disconnects, enclosures, surge protection and shutdown functions must be sized from the actual circuit. A final rating cannot be established without the current, conductors and complete architecture.

Batteries and storage

Capacity in kWh or Ah is only one criterion. Voltage, charge/discharge current, BMS, temperature, location, clearances, ventilation and inverter compatibility must also be considered.

Connectors, terminals and distribution

Connectors and terminals must be listed for their intended use, compatible with the conductor and current, and installed according to manufacturer instructions. A mechanically possible connection is not automatically an acceptable connection.

Wiring

Final conductor size depends on design current, temperature, wiring method, length, voltage drop and protection. An apparent range or minimum may serve as a reference, but final sizing belongs to the regulatory circuit calculation.

Racking and mounting

Racking must match roof or foundation type, climatic loads, supporting structure, materials and manufacturer instructions. Mechanical compatibility is checked separately from electrical compatibility.

Backup and grid isolation

A battery alone does not create a backup system. The architecture must include grid isolation, transfer, supported loads, protection and the power limits of the selected equipment. For work covered by Rénoclimat, connection of the source to the transfer switch and then to the panel must also meet program criteria and be performed by the required master electrician.

Rénoclimat 2026 — fixed battery and backup interconnection

Since October 1, 2026, Rénoclimat provides up to $4,000 for an eligible fixed battery and up to $1,000 for certain electrical work connecting a backup source. For fixed batteries, the system must notably be permanent, provide at least 5 kWh, use a true-sine-wave inverter rated at least 1.2 kW continuous and 2.5 kW surge, be able to operate with the utility grid and comply with E.12-07. Portable batteries and electric vehicles are excluded. The public-assistance stacking covered by the guide is not permitted, so Xterra displays this assistance separately and does not automatically add it to LogisVert.

7 steps before a Hydro-Québec-compliant installation

Xterra separates component compatibility from project compliance. For grid-connected self-generation, the exact bill of materials, diagram, installed equipment, tests and the master electrician's report must remain consistent through final authorization.

1. Size the project and lock the architecture: consumption, PV capacity, grid, storage and backup.
2. Identify the exact bill of materials: manufacturers, models, ratings, certifications and equipment characteristics to be submitted.
3. Prepare the Hydro-Québec application and single-line diagram; an Xterra recommendation is not an interconnection approval.
4. Wait for conditional acceptance and install according to the accepted file with the qualified electrical contractor.
5. Verify on site the disconnecting means, labeling, neutral, grounding and consistency between the installation, diagram and bill of materials.
6. Perform the applicable E.12-07 tests and have the master electrician complete/sign the verification report with the required supporting material.
7. Submit the report and wait for Hydro-Québec final authorization before grid connection and commissioning.

Commissioning and verification

A completed installation must be inspected, tested and documented. For self-generation connected to Hydro-Québec, compliance testing and the verification report are part of the process before final authorization.

Net metering and energy sizing

Sizing should start from actual consumption and project goals. Option I records surplus from eligible renewable generation in a kWh bank; the bank is reset according to the current official cycle, presently every 24 months. For Xterra Quebec, battery or vehicle storage is treated as local storage/backup and is not counted as an exportable self-generation source; V2H/V2X is recommended only for backup or off-grid use.

Metering and monitoring

Commissioning does not end when the system starts producing energy. Monitoring generation, consumption, storage and alarms helps verify operation and support preventive maintenance.