Ground based. It sat there installed all last summer before Ontario Hydro got around to hooking it up after much prodding and complaints.
He's never seen it go over 8kw ever. With payments, interest, (cost was $80k) and rate of return, he's wondering if it was such a good idea.
Hydro only pays for what they use. There are so many factors. For example, all depends on what type of transmission line the unit is hooked up to. However, its seems that ppl that got in very early negotiated their own contracts at considerable legal expense to themselves, but essentially those contracts guarantee X amount per kw regardless if it's used or not.
This comes from a guy who farmings about 8000 acres in and around Harriston, Palmerston and Listowel. The GOV was encouraging owners of large agricultural structures to participate in the program. However, he discovered that only buildings hooked to a Tier 3 transmission line would be viable, for what technical reasons I can't remember, and that the power produced must be purchased whether it's needed or not. According to this fellow, any producer not on the right transmission line, and most are not, and who didn't get in early and get a guarantee that all power produced would be bought, will not break even.
I have a perfect roof for some solar panels. But I am on a Tier 1 transmission line and would have no guarantee exactly how much Ontario Hydro would buy from me so it would be a lost cause financially.
However, if I get a plug in vehicle of some sort say in 4 years when Toyota or Nissan has got these vehicles better sorted out I'll be tempted to self install some sort of solar electric generating devise to charge the vehicle.