SOLAR BASICS CONTENTS I Introduction to Solar Technology
SOLAR BASICS
CONTENTS I. Introduction to Solar Technology II. Terminology: Solar Terms and Energy Terms III. Costs and Financing IV. Basics of Federal, State, and Utility Policy V. Solar Project Design Considerations
EXISTING SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Solar Hot Water Concentrated Solar Power
SOLAR TECHNOLOGY: PV COMPONENTS Cell Panel / Module PV Array
SOLAR TECHNOLOGY: PV SYSTEMS Battery-less, grid-tied – grid connection, can be with or without net metering more than 90% of all installed PV in the US Battery-based, grid-tied – batteries plus ability to put power onto the grid Off-grid – only tied to a battery bank PV-direct – e. g. solar signs, street lights, solar calculator
SOLAR TECHNOLOGY: MOUNTING Solar PV systems can be ground mounted or roof mounted
SOLAR TERMS: SYSTEM COSTS Hardware Costs • Solar Panels • Balance of System Soft Costs • • • Financing Permitting Customer Acquisition Installation Maintenance Total System Cost
SOLAR TERMS: SOFT COSTS
SOLAR TERMS: SOLAR CELL, MODULE, PANEL, ARRAY & SYSTEM
SOLAR TERMS: BALANCE OF SYSTEM The balance of system or BOS encompasses all components of a photovoltaic system other than the photovoltaic panels. • • • Wiring Disconnect Switches Mounting System Inverter Solar Generation Meter
SOLAR PV TERMS: INVERTER, METER, DISCONNECT Inverter Disconnect Switch Utility Grade Solar Meter These requirements may vary by utility. The outlay of these items can vary visually.
SOLAR TERMS: SYSTEM COSTS Hardware Costs • Solar Panels • Balance of System Soft Costs • • • Financing Permitting Customer Acquisition Installation Maintenance Total System Cost
SOLAR TERMS: INTERCONNECTION • The technical and procedural requirements necessary to connect PV system to the electricity grid. • Up until the 1970 s utilities owned all generation and thus had total control over the process of how systems connected to the grid.
ENERGY TERMS: BASE LOAD AND PEAKING POWER Electrical power demand rises and falls during the course of a typical day. • Base load power - the minimum amount of electricity used on the grid. • Peaking power - the maximum amount of electricity used both anticipated and unanticipated.
SOLAR TERMS: NET METERING Net metering allows for the delivery of excess electricity generated back to the utility grid for use elsewhere. This offsets electricity provided by the utility to the customer during the billing period.
CONTENTS I. Introduction to Solar Technology II. Terminology: Solar Terms and Energy Terms III. Costs and Financing IV. Basics of Federal, State, and Utility Policy V. Solar Project Design Considerations
THE COST OF SOLAR PV
THE COST OF SOLAR PV 25% drop in price 2010 - 2012 Tracking the Sun VI: The Installed Cost of Photovoltaics in the US from 1998 -2012 (LBNL)
SOLAR MARKET: TRENDS Grid Parity Today Source: Solar Electric Power Association
SOLAR MARKET: CONSTANT PRICE 25 years at today’s price Grid Parity Today Source: Solar Electric Power Association
SOLAR MARKET: TECHNOLOGY CURVE Solar Technology is similar to computer or cell phone technology in that as there are higher adoption rates, prices decreases. Increased Solar PV Hardware Costs Decline Soft Costs Decline
POLICIES & INCENTIVES Federal State and Utility Investment Tax Credit Qualified Clean Energy Bonds Accelerated Depreciation Tax Credits Tax Exemptions Direct Cash Incentive Renewable Energy Credits Net Metering CLEAN Contract Loan Programs
POLICIES & INCENTIVES Federal State and Utility Investment Tax Credit Accelerated Depreciation Qualified Energy Conservation Bonds Tax Credits Tax Exemptions Direct Cash Incentive Renewable Energy Credits Net Metering CLEAN Contract Loan Programs
POLICIES & INCENTIVES Federal State and Utility Investment Tax Credit Qualified Clean Energy Bonds Accelerated Depreciation Tax Credits Tax Exemptions Direct Cash Incentive Renewable Energy Credits Net Metering CLEAN Contract Loan Programs
TAX CREDITS DC Personal tax credit(s) only Corporate tax credit(s) only Personal + corporate tax credit(s) Notes: This map does not include corporate or personal tax deductions or exemptions; or tax incentives for geothermal heat pumps. Puerto Rico 24 states offer tax credits for renewables
PROPERTY TAX INCENTIVES DC 38 States, State exemption or special assessment only Local governments authorized to offer exemption (no state exemption or assessment) State exemption or special assessment + local government option +Washington DC & Puerto Rico, offer property tax incentives for renewables.
SALES TAX INCENTIVES FOR RENEWABLES DC Puerto Rico State exemption or deduction State exemption + local governments (option) authorized to offer exemption or deduction 28 states + Puerto Rico offer sales tax incentives for renewables
RENEWABLE PORTFOLIO STANDARD Solar carve-out
RENEWABLE PORTFOLIO STANDARD • A requirement on retail electric suppliers to supply a minimum percentage or amount of their retail load with eligible sources of renewable energy. • Typically backed with penalties of some form • Often accompanied by a tradable renewable energy credit (REC) program, to facilitate compliance, in the case of solar in PA and NJ these are called SRECs. • Never designed the same in any two states
RENEWABLE PORTFOLIO STANDARD
RENEWABLE PORTFOLIO STANDARD – MIDATLANTIC
CONTENTS I. Introduction to Solar Technology II. Terminology: Solar Terms and Energy Terms III. Costs and Financing IV. Basics of Federal, State, and Utility Policy V. Solar Project Design Considerations
DESIGN: ORIENTATION Average loss in energy produced 75% S % 90 100% 90 % W N E
DESIGN: SHADING 10% shading of an array can lead to a 50% decline in efficiency Source: Renewable Energy World
SOLAR PROJECT DESIGN Solar contractors prefer large square roofs. Solar panels usually need clear space of up to 24 sq/m. Adequate space on the ground for a ground or pole mount installation. Is there space inside the home for a string-inverter?
FIRST RESPONDER CONSIDERATIONS First responder training should include: • Assess the situation • Visual identification • Look for labeling • Shut down the system • • Ensure circuit breaker is shut off Marking & labeling so when firefighters get there they know how to respond Setbacks so there is space to move about • the roof and vent Electrical equipment in conduits and • inverter strategically placed to prevent firefighters from cutting live wires Cover panels with opaque material Verify conduits are still intact
SOLAR READY II Solar Ready II is a part of the Department of Energy’ s Sun. Shot Initiative. Solar Ready II aims to reduce the soft costs of solar and streamline the permitting process. The goal of Solar Ready II is to enable local governments to replicate successful solar practices to reduce soft costs and expand local adoption of solar energy.
FOR MORE INFORMATION Liz Compitello Research Analyst Energy and Climate Change Initiatives Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission ecompitello@dvrpc. org (215) 238 -2897 Justin Dula Manager County & Regional Planning Delaware County Planning Department dulaj@co. delaware. pa. us (610) 891 -5219 www. dvrpc. org/Energy. Climate/aeowg. htm www. narc. org/solarready
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