Will Stewart was a general contractor and his brother-in-law (Tilden Hagan) had studied electrical engineering before they opened Green State Power (No. 444 on the upcoming 2015 Top Solar Contractors List) in 2008. The company, now up to four people, has built 1.1 MW of solar total and 200 kW last year.
Green State Power is a small company, but it has big aspirations. Stewart said it aims to break into utility-scale solar construction, but there’s just one problem.
“Some of the big guys in North Carolina were in it years ahead of us. Some had contacts in the industry, some came over from Europe,” Stewart said. “The long and short of it is, we were a little late in the game.”
North Carolina attracted large companies from across the globe with its 35% tax credit for solar projects.
“Investors won’t hire you if you haven’t built a utility-scale project, and you can’t build one until someone hires you,” Stewart said. “It’s the chicken and the egg problem.”
Not to be deterred and unflinchingly realistic, Stewart admitted that he simply wasn’t going to be hired to build a utility-scale project, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t eventually develop and build one himself.
By working with investors and other EPCs, Green State Power has been able to work as subcontractor and co-EPC on projects, building the portfolio necessary to do its own utility-scale EPC work.
In the meantime, Stewart has been busy developing his own projects, getting them teed up to sell, directing his own role on the project.
“What we’re doing is selling a fully developed project and working under another EPC so we can get that experience on our resume,” Stewart said.
A fully developed project includes all the details, such as interconnection paperwork, environmental studies, permitting and even paying the interconnection fee, which can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. When all the details are in order, it’s ready for financing from a tax equity investor.
“There is no way a larger developer is going to call us, so we’re building relationships with the investor, who will agree to finance one project,” Stewart said. “They will have an inside knowledge on our role in the project, and hopefully they will have more comfort with us in the future.”
Green State Power is in the final stages of closing a sale on its first developed project, a 6.7-MWdc array in Bladen County, North Carolina.
True South Solar co-founders Eric Hansen (left) and Shawn Schreiner (right) on the steps of the Oregon State Capitol in Salem on April 15, 2015, for Solar Lobby Day.
SEIA has long urged contractors to lobby their local governments and help keep solar on the upswing. Oregon contractor True South Solar (No. 386 on the upcoming 2015 Top 500 Solar Contractors List) was among the companies to answer.
True South Solar joined others in the state’s solar organization (OSEIA) this year to propose four solar bills, ranging from extending Oregon’s feed-in-tariff and renewable energy tax credit to recommending community solar. Unfortunately, the bills were defeated, but Eric Hansen, general manager of True South Solar, said they learned a lot and are ready to start the next battle.
“[Solar installers have] been the beneficiaries of preexisting tax credits and incentives, and we’ve been able to build our businesses around them over the last five years or so,” Hansen said. “Now it’s really important to get more involved. We saw a great effort [in Oregon]. If nothing else, we learned a lot. We really circled the wagons and flushed out a lot of key players and built a lot of relationships that now we need to develop further. Now it’s just systematically implementing new plans that’ll bring a lot better results.”
Hansen said a successful social media campaign for solar in Oregon really brought everyone together as a state. While the bills didn’t pass, it was great to see how power increased with numbers.
“I really think our jobs depend on it,” Hansen said of lobbying. “Staying in touch with our representatives is huge, especially if we have to negotiate with utility rate increases or demand charges or anything that could kill small-scale solar. We have to have those relationships before we come to the table. We know that we’re up against a lot of money and power, and it’s going to take a grassroots effort. We’re not going to be able to win on money and power. We need the power of the people, which is ultimately greater than the money and the power that the utility companies have.”
Allocating resources to lobbying is important, even for a small contractor, Hansen said. He estimates he personally spends 15% of his time helping with legislative work with OSEIA, and True South Solar plans to make a bigger contribution this year and in the future. All contractors should try to help in some way—even if it’s just stuffing envelopes.
“Five years ago I read about a company in Boulder, Colorado, that had a dedicated policy member of their staff. It seemed crazy to me to be able to have the resources to do that,” Hansen said. “Now it seems crazy to me that even a small contractor wouldn’t allocate at least part of a staffer’s position toward policy. We all need to be involved. It needs to be something in our workday. The earlier, the better.”
REC Solar employees Mario Richard, on roof, and Scott Mirto, on ground, begin solar installation on a Englewood, Colorado home participating in the Solar Benefits Colorado program. (Photo by Dennis Schroeder / NREL)
It’s not pessimistic or unrealistic to prepare for what’s coming. Assuming the federal investment tax credit (ITC) is not renewed by Dec. 31, 2016, all sections of the market will be affected. Specifically, residential solar will see significant changes when the ITC under Section 25D drops from 30% to zero. There are nearly 100,000 solar workers involved with installation in the United States, and many of these are employed by smaller businesses that benefit from Section 25D (the section focusing on residential installations). Without an extension of the residential ITC (which is looking more likely, especially with the lack of movement in Washington), many of these jobs will be lost.
While 2017 may seem like a long way out, preparations should have already started. But if you’ve been too focused on the present to concern yourself with the future, don’t panic; there are still steps you can begin now. Solar Power World spoke with Stephen Irvin, president of Amicus Solar Cooperative, and he offered residential installers the tips detailed below. Irvin represents the knowledge base of Amicu’s 34 developer, EPC and installer companies based in 26 states. These are the questions you must ask yourself and the obstacles you must plan for if you want to be a successful company past 2016.
Decide what your company means to you
First and foremost, are you happy working in solar? Do you want to stick around? Continued success in this business may not come easily, and you need to be prepared for the road ahead.
“It’s very possible some installation companies today are looking to earn all they can from the salmon run that will happen through the end of 2016, and then maybe they’ll close the business down or try and sell their business,” Irvin said. “Then there are those who want to be in it for the long haul. It can simply depend on the personal plans of those small business owners.”
Once you determine if you want to stay in solar, it’s time to prepare for changes.
Be realistic with your employees
You could very well come out the other side of the credit reduction without scrapes or bruises, but business is still unlikely to go on as usual. It’s best to be up-front with your current employees and any potential hires.
“Set expectations very clearly with your employees: This is what’s staring us in the face. [We] can’t guarantee what’s even going to happen with the business,” Irvin said. “It’s OK to say they’ll have a job at this pay rate today, installing solar and learning this trade for a year and a half. But after that, no job is safe and this is just the reality of what’s happening in our industry.”
But hiring has to happen now, not next year. According to a report from Mercatus, which cited University of Chicago research, because solar’s pool of quality talent is small, outside individuals must be trained, and that takes time. In order to meet 2016’s demand for solar installations, employees should begin training four to six months out, which is right now.
Use your money carefully
Do you need to buy new trucks or can you lease them? Do you have to move the company to a larger building this year? Would switching to new management software save time and funds? Make wise decisions with your cash.
“For residential, it depends on your current operational efficiencies and cost structure,” Irvin said. “As a smaller business, you have to be profitable. Can you reach installation prices that allow you to be profitable without the residential Section 25D credit? If not, then consider holding off on making large capital investments that take years to see the return on. Be very careful with your cash flow and use it for operating and installation labor expenses that will generate earnings in the short term.”
Search for financing options
Contractors that present attractive financing options to their clients will come out ahead after the credit drops.
“Ideally, residential contractors who want to remain competitive will partner with banks and financial firms that can offer monthly cash flows for the homeowner which show savings compared to their current utility bill,” Irvin said.
Longer term loans could help get them there when the credit goes to zero. A $20,000 residential system amortized over many years is much easier to handle without any incentives up front.
Get creative about marketing
Referrals are the best and easiest ways to secure business, but out-of-the-box marketing will help get over the post-2016 hump.
“Get creative about how to get around people and talk about solar,” Irvin said. “Referrals are your best base for turning a lead into a sale.”
Attend community festivals, host education nights, try a new advertising campaign—informing customers that solar is affordable even without the Section 25D credit will secure your leadership in the area and bring in sales. But remember, you’ll likely need the financing partners to bring such affordability to those kitchen tables.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Oakdale-based SUNation Solar Systems has completed its construction and installation of the second largest, privately owned, commercial rooftop solar project in Long Island history through its contract with Perfume Center of America (PCA). Long Island’s largest solar installer was selected by Kulka Construction Corporation to build-out the 830,000-watt system and install 2,674 solar panels on the rooftop of the new Perfume Center of America, now located at 2020 Ocean Avenue, Ronkonkoma, NY. Perfume Center of America will be moving from its current location in Plainview, NY to its brand new 180,000 square foot headquarters later this summer. The new facility will become the home to over 100 employees – making it one of the most environmentally friendly and energy efficient buildings in the region. The solar installation will decrease operational expenses and lower PCA’s carbon footprint while offsetting 95% of its electrical usage over time (drastically reducing their dependence on local energy provider PSEG).
“We decided to go the solar route to be more environmentally responsible. This move allows us to reduce our overhead and operational costs while maintaining our Long Island roots,” says Kanak Golia, President/CEO, Perfume Center of America. “Through this commercial solar installation, we decrease our carbon footprint by reducing the use of fossil fuels, and we will preserve our environment.” The $1.6 million project is environmentally friendly, and it will provide Perfume Center of America with a positive return on investment. Anticipated cost savings will include a $66,000 PSEG rebate, a $454,200 federal tax credit, and $476,153 Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS) depreciation.
As one of the largest solar projects in the region, this initiative is a prime example of how solar energy can create tremendous cost savings for commercial property owners and tenants. “Our solar installation project with Kulka Construction and Perfume Center of America demonstrates that businesses can redirect financial resources to business growth, hiring and innovation. It produces a win-win-win outcome by using the latest solar technology and design while leveraging rebates and tax credits,” commented Scott Maskin, President and CEO, SUNation Solar Systems.
Providing the latest in solar design and technology featuring Q CELL solar panels, SUNation Solar Systems’ construction and installation process started in April 2015 and was completed in late June 2015. The building is expected to go online in August 2015.
You’ve seen solar carports, probably many of them, but you haven’t seen solar carports like this.
Towards the end of last month, Santa Ana Golf Club (SAGC) in Bernalillo, New Mexico had a 250-kW (DC) carport solar array installed to help power its facilities and provide protection from weather elements for cars in its parking lot. The installation makes SAGC New Mexico’s first solar-powered golf club. The carport is expected to offset 95% of the facility’s power usage and save the club over $2 million in electricity costs.
Carports have emerged as a popular platform for solar arrays, however, Santa Ana’s model offers one-of-a-kind design elements including integrated Spanish-style steel corbels, a minimalist racking design, locally-sourced hand-blown glass emblems, LED energy-efficient lighting and a custom paint job seamlessly integrated with surrounding buildings.
Osceola Energy’s solar carport for the Santa Ana Golf Club draws on inspiration from its native New Mexico surroundings, incorporating colors, design features and simplicity that is prolific within the region.
Osceola Energy, the unique project’s installer, was founded by a husband and wife team who wanted to combine their talents in design and electrical contracting with their passion for a sustainable New Mexico. Founded in 2009, the electrical contracting company focused primarily on residential applications before moving to commercial projects.
Not having developed a solar carport before the SAGC project, the company drew on inspiration from its native New Mexico surroundings, incorporating colors, design features and simplicity that is prolific within the region. The carport has important environmental and economic impacts, Christopher Fortson, Marketing Director at Osceola Energy remarked. In addition to those benefits, the design elements allow the carport to demonstrate that renewables such as solar have many practical applications beyond simple rooftop arrays and solar farms.
“Our fundamental belief is that renewable energy systems should be both functional and aesthetically pleasing,” Fortson said. “All too often we hear that ‘solar is ugly,’ and we stand to challenge that perception. Our motto is ‘solar so beautiful, you’ll want to show it off.’”
The installation consists of 840 polycrystalline panels with a capacity to produce 250 kW (DC) per hour, while also serving the practical function of shading guests’ vehicles. It features integrated Spanish-style steel corbels accenting pillars.
“We chose Osceola Energy because of its focus on aesthetics, as well as its extensive knowledge of solar energy systems,” Derek Gutierrez, director of the Santa Ana Golf Club, said about the facility’s decision to “go solar” with the New Mexico-based EPC. “Integrating renewable energy is important to us; it’s part of our commitment to environmental sustainability in New Mexico.”
The installation consists of 840 polycrystalline Canadian Solar panels with a capacity to produce 250 kW (DC) per hour, while also serving the practical function of shading guests’ vehicles. SAGC’s carport powers all of its facilities, including a restaurant and bar. About 800,000 lbs of carbon emissions will be reduced annually.
During the construction of the carport, a priority of Osceola Energy was to ensure that operations did not interfere with SAGC’s daily operations and customers. “Because we were building the structure in the only parking area available for patrons, special precaution was taken to ensure space was created and available for automobiles in the vicinity,” Fortson said. “A planning timeline was needed to ensure that certain areas were always available to the public and safe for parking during the construction process.”
SAGC is New Mexico’s first solar-powered golf club, with the carport expected to offset 95% of the facility’s power usage and save the club over $2 million in electricity costs.
Osceola Energy will operate and maintain the system, allowing SAGC to focus on its daily operations and patron needs. The two companies look forward to a greener future for New Mexico, and hope other local businesses will follow suit.
“Solar systems have been around since the 1950’s, but are finally becoming more prevalent and practical because of advancements in the industry that have lowered the cost,” said Adam Harper, president and CEO of Osceola Energy. “Customers are seeing that they can save money on energy costs and help the environment at the same time. It just makes sense.”
Installation Notes
Project: Santa Ana Golf Club Location: Bernalillo, New Mexico
Carport manufacturer:CBC Steel Buildings Modules:Canadian Solar Max Power CS6X 310W No. of modules: 840 Inverters:SMA Sunny Tripower 15000TL-US, 24000TL-US No. of inverters: (5) 15000TL-US; (6) 24000TL-US System capacity: 250 kW (DC)
Georgia Power announced today a new, on-base 46-MWac solar facility planned at the Marine Corps Logistics Base (MCLB) Albany. The project was approved Tuesday by the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) and will be the fifth large-scale solar project to be developed by Georgia Power in coordination with the military. The company is currently working under a memorandum of understanding with the Department of the Navy (DON) to finalize project details.
With the approval of the new MCLB Albany project, Georgia Power expects to have more than 160 MW of on-base solar online by the end of 2016. Other major projects in progress with the military include the Georgia 3×30 with the U.S. Army, three 30 MW solar projects under construction at Fort Benning, Fort Gordon and Fort Stewart, and a 30 MW solar facility with the DON at SUBASE Kings Bay near St. Marys, Georgia.
The MCLB Albany solar facility is expected to be built and placed in service by the end of 2016. As with the company’s other four military projects, the facility will be brought online at or below Georgia Power’s avoided cost – the amount projected it would cost the company to generate comparable energy from other sources.
Working with the Georgia Public Service Commission, Georgia Power is adding renewable energy as part of a diverse generation portfolio and fueling the state’s momentum as one of the fastest growing solar markets in the nation. Through its various solar programs, the company is adding thousands of solar panels to Georgia’s energy landscape.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.This is an On Demand Webinar. A copy of the webinar will be emailed to everyone who registers on August 19, 2015. Click the register link below to reserve your copy.
This on demand webinar will walk attendees through the conception, development, financing, construction and management of a Solar RV and Boat Storage project. A case study of a completed project, this session will include real time solar production numbers, rental capacities and income as well as actual development, and construction cost reviews. One year open, the Oakley Executive RV and Boat Storage is a proven concept that will help attendees understand lessons learned by this projects developers.
Solar inverter manufacturer Bonfiglioli is now exclusively deploying Moxa Modbus gateways, network switches, Ethernet I/O, and serial-to-Ethernet controllers in its turnkey solar solutions. Bonfiglioli’s decision follows several successful deployments of Moxa equipment in Bonfiglioli RPS power conversion stations, which provide complete photovoltaic field management and maximize system yield.
Bonfiglioli designs and manufactures power conversion systems and turnkey inverter solutions up to 3.35 MVA specifically designed for utility-scale PV plants. The RPS TL-UL product portfolio currently offers the widest range of inverter ratings on the market, from 367kWAC to 1575kWAC, ensuring an optimal match to any array size. This unique system is designed to optimize ROI, thanks to its distributed MPPT architecture which is proven to maximize energy harvest.
With the Moxa equipment platform installed, the updated RPS Station is able to support much higher communications performance and complexity, while benefitting greatly from easier setup and remote management. Matthew Charles, Technical Group Manager at Bonfiglioli stated, “We now offer Moxa’s Gigabit-ready inverter communications platform as a standard feature on our RPS stations because we believe that it is by far the best platform in the solar industry. The Moxa platform is smart grid-ready and absolutely future proof. As a result, we can provide our clients with a future-ready, highly reliable, and simplified solution to meet even the most demanding requirements over a longer lifetime.”
Mr. Charles estimates that deployment and troubleshooting times have decreased over 90% compared to their previous installations, and communication performance and responsiveness have improved by a factor of ten or higher. “Thanks to Moxa, very few manufacturers will be able to match the level of inverter communications performance and reliability that Bonfiglioli can now offer,” he stated.
Bonfiglioli is continuously investing in the development of new products, services, and solutions for energy conversion, the latest being the release of an energy storage 4-Quadrant inverter. To date, more than 2.5 GW of worldwide solar PV installations are deployed with Bonfiglioli inverter solutions averaging over 99% uptime. Bonfiglioli offers rapid, localized support in commissioning and maintenance by highly qualified experts, as well as pre-sales, installation, and after-sales services.
A view of Intersolar North America’s 2015 conference and exhibition.
As the United States’ solar market looks to maintain its record-breaking growth, around 18,000 verified visitors from more than 80 countries filled the exhibition halls of the Moscone Center West and InterContinental Hotel for conference tracks during the eighth annualIntersolar North America,the most-attended solar industry event dedicated to the North American market. The first major solar industry event of the year grew visitor numbers, speaking to the strength of the U.S. market, which is on pace to add up to 8.5 GW of solar in 2015.
“Intersolar returns to California each year because it is the heart of the U.S. market, and year’s first major solar event to view solar innovations that will drive the industry forward,” said Markus Elsaesser, CEO of Solar Promotion GmbH, an Intersolar North America organizer. “As the industry continues to grow and mature, it is importantfor professionals across the solar value chain toactually see and experience industry developments.”
On the exhibition floor, visitors viewed the latest products from 521 exhibitors, includingpacked ees™ North America, a special exhibition that showcases the latest technologies in the energy storage value chain. The growth of the solar-paired-with-storage industry was confirmed by an 88 percent increase in exhibition space dedicated to storage companies, plus the more than 30 well-attended presentations hosted on the ees Stage.
“Intersolaris known as the leading venue that brings the latest in technological trends and insights to solar professionals. The show’s increased focus on energy storage reflects this commitment,” said Daniel Strowitzki, CEO of FMMI International, another organizer of Intersolar North America.“This year’s show floor and conference connected energy storage and solar exhibitors with decisions makers in the U.S. and global solar market to grow the solar industry’s strong future here in North America.”
“Intersolar North America is becoming one of the most important energy storage events for GILDEMEISTER energy solutions. It is well organized and focuses its conference and exhibition on the latest industry applications. We look forward to attending again next year,” said Lars Möllenhoff, CEO of GILDEMMEISTER energy solutions.
In continuing to support the U.S. market with valuable content, Intersolar and the California Solar Energy Industries Association (CALSEIA) debuted a new white paper at this year’s event titled “U.S. Solar-Plus-Storage Market: Drivers, Economics and Outlook.” The comprehensive research, indicating a combined market value of $3.1 billion by 2020, was provided by GTM Research and is now available free at Intersolar’s website.
Balance of systems, which has tremendous potential for reducing the overall cost of solar, also saw an increase in terms of exhibition space, and grew 12 percent this year. Additionally, the new California Pavilion—sponsored by CALSEIA—saw robust visitor traffic throughout the show, and interest from high-growth companies.
“Intersolar North America 2015 proved to be a productive trade show for NEXTracker, enabling us to reach our customers, partners and prospects in an energizing and electric atmosphere,” said NEXTracker CEO Dan Shugar. “Showcasing our advanced tracker on the ISNA exhibit floor helped facilitate customer engagement. With the accelerated demand for our state-of-the-art trackers for distributed and utility scale projects, we found Intersolar to be a worthwhile venue that delivered solid return on investment.”
Industry Experts Present on Critical Topics in 47 Conference Sessions
Solar industry executives, policymakers and industry advocates shared insights and discussed market trends during the three days of the Intersolar North America conference. More than 200 speakers covered the major challenges and opportunities facing the solar industry, including how best to continue the impressive expansion of U.S. installed capacity, in 47 panel discussions. Echoing trends from the exhibition floor, all five energy storage sessions were well attended, with panelists often speaking to standing-room only rooms.
The 2015 conference also hosted several sessions featuring solar and energy storage startups. The most popular startup focused event was the Growth Company Circle, dubbed “speed dating for solar.” This new, innovative special event sponsored by SunPower was produced in partnership withSfunCube, the world’s only incubator and accelerator dedicated to solar. The Circle provided 30 entrepreneurs with an opportunity to connect with 30 investors and potential customers.
“The Intersolar Growth Company Circle cohosted with SfunCube was an exceptional opportunity for investors, corporates, and entrepreneurs to meet. This was the first time they did it, and it was the most valuable part of the conference for me,” said Elena Lucas, cofounder and CEO of UtilityAPI. “For UtilityAPI, I was able to reinforce relationships I already had while identifying people who I wanted to connect further. There were so many opportunities for mutually beneficial relationships.”
Additionally, panels on financing and the North American market were very popular and well attended. With uncertainty over the future of solar-friendly legislation, attendees were eager to learn about what to expect in the coming year. CALSEIA and Intersolar offered an entire session dedicated to the federal investment tax credit (ITC), which is due to expire at the end of 2016. In addition to providing updates on efforts within the industry and its advocates to extend the ITC, volunteers also collected signatures for CALSEIA’s “Save the ITC” petition. Information on Intersolar and CALSEIA’s campaign can be found online.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Researching the site conditions of an area for a potential solar application is very important for the success and health of the project. Which variables should installers pay the most attention to?
Solar resource is the most important site condition to have reliable information on, according to Matt Perry, manager of Renewable Energy Group at Campbell Scientific. High quality solar irradiance data is critical for site selection and system design, he said, as well as for estimating, validating and forecasting power plant performance.
“Solar resource and power production are very tightly coupled,” said Gwendalyn Bender, product manager for Assessment Services at Vaisala. “Understanding how the solar resource has varied for the last 10 or 20 years is a substitute for normal performance variation over the lifetime of a project.”
Bender added that most sites will not have onsite or nearby observational equipment for over 10 years, however, satellite-based datasets from companies like Vaisala can provide high-quality long-term datasets. These datasets can be calibrated with local observations for higher accuracy.
Weather parameters also play a large role in solar site assessment. Perry cited weather as a defining PV-operating condition, as it provides a connection to historical and satellite data for accessing annual solar resource variability. He mentioned ambient temperature and wind speed as two weather variables to consider, each affecting the irradiance and operational PV-module temperature.
Elaborating on temperature, Bender explained that high irradiance usually goes hand-in-hand with high temperatures, which lead to reduced panel efficiency and energy output. However, some locations may have high irradiance with low temperatures during the winter or spring months.
“If you only have data on irradiance, then you’re missing a piece of the puzzle that explains energy output,” said Bender. “Knowing the temperature profile of a site can also help you choose the best equipment to handle weather extremes the system may experience—different manufacturers specialize in different temperature conditions.”
The precipitation profile, including snowfall, must also be considered for maintenance purposes. The amount and type of precipitation at a site affects soiling loss, which applies to pre-construction energy estimates and factors into cleaning schedules during operation of the solar system, as well.
“Knowing the amount of snow a region receives and when it will fall can help developers make pre-construction plans for handling snow loads, and aim to control its influence on production,” Bender said.
Borrego Solar Systems Inc. announced the completion and operation of a 2.6-MW solar PV system on Tompkins Cortland Community College’s (TC3) main campus in Dryden, New York. TC3’s solar PV system is expected to meet 90 percent of its electricity demand, generating the equivalent amount of electricity needed to power approximately 440 homes annually.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.TC3 will purchase the clean energy produced from the solar energy system’s owner over the 25-year term of the power purchase agreement. TC3 expects to realize first-year savings of approximately $30,000, with potentially greater annual savings as retail utility rates increase over time.
“The leadership at TC3 took action to control the college’s energy costs and carbon footprint at an ideal time in New York,” said Amy McDonough, senior project developer at Borrego Solar. “There are incentives and solar friendly programs available statewide that make going solar for New York public entities the easiest and most cost effective it’s ever been. Borrego Solar is working with colleges statewide looking to take control of their energy costs and reduce their risk in the face of rising energy prices.”
The new solar facility will allow TC3 to replace the majority of its fossil fuel-generated electricity with renewable energy. This means cleaner air and water, fewer greenhouse gas emissions, and a healthier climate for future generations. The installation will offset 2,160 metric tons of CO2 annually, which is the equivalent of taking 455 cars off the road or the amount of carbon sequestered by 1,771 acres of U.S. forests each year.
The project has been made possible in part by New York’s solar policies, which have supported rapid development through incentives, supportive permitting procedures and other programs to get more solar deployed. This past spring, the State’s NY-Sun initiative awarded $46 million for large-scale solar energy projects through the NY-Sun Competitive PV Program administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.
TC3, one of the 64-member institutions of the State University of New York system, serves more than three thousand students on its 220-acre campus.
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) announced its $1 million commitment to support the installation of rooftop solar on 79 homes with 18 different Habitat for Humanity local affiliates throughout Northern and Central California. From the Mendocino Coast to Merced, PG&E’s Solar Habitat Program, in partnership with Habitat for Humanity, is making affordable housing and solar energy a reality for deserving families, particularly in neighborhoods that have been historically underserved and overlooked.
“PG&E is proud to support Habitat for Humanity’s mission of making homeownership a reality for deserving families. Our sustained collaboration on the Solar Habitat Program allows these homes to be both financially and environmentally sustainable. Together, we’re building a cleaner, brighter future for the people of California,” said PG&E Corporation Chairman, CEO and President Tony Earley.
For 10 years, PG&E’s Solar Habitat Program has provided more than $9.6 million to help respond to the housing needs of families in Northern and Central California. As the exclusive solar partner of Habitat for Humanity in the Bay Area, PG&E’s Solar Habitat Program has funded the installation of solar on more than 600 new-construction Habitat for Humanity homes throughout the utility’s Northern and Central California service area.
“Thanks to our partnership with PG&E and the Solar Habitat program, Habitat homeowners spend less on electricity and that helps us keep the overall cost of homeownership low. This is a critical piece of the overall affordability of Habitat homes,” said Phillip Kilbridge, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco.
The PG&E Solar Habitat program lowers the electricity bill of an average household by $500 per year. Each solar panel generates nearly 300 kilowatt-hours of clean, renewable energy from sunlight per month, avoiding the release of more than 132,000 pounds of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere over the 30-year life of the system. In total, Habitat families have saved $9 million in energy costs through this partnership.
Earlier this year, the company and the non-profit celebrated their decade-long solar partnership by hosting the Brown Bag Build at Justin Herman Plaza in San Francisco. Community members contributed over 200 volunteer hours to Habitat for Humanity to safely construct 60 doors and window frames in 30-minute shifts during their lunch breaks for the Habitat Terrace development in San Francisco’s Ocean View neighborhood.
In addition to the Solar Habitat program, PG&E employees have provided more than 11,000 hours of volunteering with Habitat for Humanity through the years.
The full list of Habitat for Humanity local affiliates and grants are below:
Many photovoltaic plants in Germany are exposed to heavy soiling. This ranges from PV plants that are located next to very busy streets exposed to extreme pollution or bird droppings. Pollution causes yield losses and in some cases irreversible damage to the modules if the contaminants are not frequently removed. From a technical perspective cleaning of PV modules makes a lot of sense in most cases, but does it calculate for the PV owner?
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
Courtesy of smartblue
There are numerous reasons which are responsible for the contamination and the self-cleaning during rainy days will not remove all dirt in most cases. And the effect of self-cleaning is highly dependent on the slope of the modules – the smaller the angle of the slope, the less the effect will be. Further, the design of the modules also plays a crucial role. For example when you look at frameless PV modules the running water leaves less sediments at the edge the module. If PV modules are exposed to one or more of the following reasons of soiling, a regular cleaning should be considered.
Organic substances from ventilation systems of cattle sheds
Exhaust air from smokestacks
Exhaust from nearby roads and industry
Feed dusts from agriculture
Bird droppings
Leaves and flowers from trees
Growth of plants like lichen, algae and moss
When you decide to clean the modules of a PV system you should also assess the effect on yield improvement. Here is an example how we looked at the impact of the module cleaning to the PV yield performance.
We compared:
The yield performance of a 100 kWp PV system before and after cleaning. The facility is located on the roofs of a stockyard. A nearby PV system, without particular pollution load was used as reference. Both PV systems were running without fail in the period under review.
Figure 1 shows the monthly energy yield of the PV Plant (blue), the reference PV plant (red) and the prognosis for the PV Plant without cleaning. The PV plant was cleaned on the 24th of May. After cleaning a significant yield increase of more than 15 percent was measured and only two months after the cleaning the monthly yield dropped again below the reference and continuously degraded over time. The green bars show a prognosis for the expected monthly yields if no cleaning would have been performed. The monthly yield improvement caused by the cleaning for the period from June to December adds up to 11.000kWh. In the case of a feed-in tariff of 0.33 €/kWh, this corresponds to 3.630 €. The cleaning cost for the 100 kWp PV system is 1.430€. The profit gained seven months after the cleaning service is already 2200 €. The PV owner smiles.
This article was republished with permission from smartblue, written by Johannes Maison.
It’s common for solar projects in the Northeast to be situated on difficult terrain. Sometimes installations require tree clearing, access roads, earth moving, even rock blasting.
In rural areas, endangered turtles or Indian burial grounds can present problems. And in the city, projects can encounter limited space, people trying to go about their day and thieves. Inclement weather can play the antagonist during any solar array installation.
In this Solar Speaks podcast, New Jersey-based Pro-Tech Energy Solutions President Rich Cooper discusses how his company makes the best of a difficult situations while keeping projects profitable.
Cooper also touches on the ITC reduction and what could become of the solar industry along the East Coast after 2017.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Alamo Beer Company opened its doors to the public on March 6, 2015 with Texas sized pride, partly because of the creative contributions from One80 Solar. The collaboration yielded an Alamo-shaped solar panel array atop the beer company’s brewery, allowing them to use renewable energy to power their facilities.
“We call it Solar Art,” says Patrick Attwater, CEO of One80 Solar. “We’ve taken something that is usually very utility, and turned into a piece of art.” One80 has built a reputation helping organizations use clean, decentralized, renewable energy.
With the help of a rebate program with San Antonio’s CPS Energy the company has a unique opportunity to sell excess power back to their grid. The 5,000 square-foot solar panel design includes 256 U.S. made SolarWorld 250-watt solar modules. This solar art is expected to produce 90,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, and save approximately 30 tons of carbon dioxide emissions in its first ten years of production. The array will pay for itself in four to five years, then resulting in free power from the sun for at least the next 30 years. This makes Alamo Beer Company an industry pioneer, merging innovation with results.
Using solar energy to support the production process is a unique win for both the solar and beer industries. “We’re committed to producing a quality product: great beer,” says Eugene Simor, CEO of Alamo Beer Company. “Doing so by using a sustainable energy source makes it a win not only for us, but for the entire community.”
By the beginning of August, visitors will be able to interact with an educational kiosk inside the brewery that will monitor and share the amount of solar energy being produced.
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“There isn’t another PV array out there that takes on an artistic shape, accented with additional fabricated pieces to help define the image,” says Attwater. The solar array can be seen from numerous buildings in downtown San Antonio, including the Tower of the Americas. The Alamo-shaped design was decided on because it represents the independent spirit of the brewery and honors one of Texas’ most important historical events…and it just so happens to be the company’s logo. This makes the brewery a prime tourist destination for not only beer lovers, but also history buffs, and solar-power enthusiasts.
The brewery includes a beer hall and biergarten located on 1.89 acres next to the notable Hays Street Bridge in downtown San Antonio. The start of brewing production marked their historic return to the Alamo City after 95 years. With the solar array as major energy source, the company anticipates high brewing production in its first five to seven years, making Alamo Beer Company a key player in the revitalization of the East downtown San Antonio. With that much beer, visitors are sure to remember the Alamo.
According to a recent report by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), 437 MW (approximately 100,000 homes) of residential solar PV were installed during the first quarter of 2015. This represents a 76% increase over the same timeframe the previous year. In fact, SEIA predicts PV installations will continue to grow across all markets throughout 2016, with the most rapid growth coming from the residential sector.
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BIPV as roof shingles
Of homes already harnessing the sun’s energy, the vast majority are doing so via rack-mounted modules installed on rooftops. However, as the market for solar has grown, it has created room for differentiated solar solutions. Solar is now being considered by an increasing number of aesthetically minded homeowners who want to embrace the benefits of solar and not compromise curb appeal. Manufacturers have been trying to satisfy both desires by offering building integrated PV (BIPV) for years—with limited success. With today’s much larger market for solar, coupled with lower costs for solar overall, an increase in demand for integrated solutions is here.
BIPV refers to solar PV modules that not only generate electricity, but also typically perform the waterproofing function of the roofing shingle or tile. They install flush with the existing roof, and just like a traditional roofing product, are designed to withstand snow, wind and hail. They can be retrofitted into existing roofs or installed with a new roof. Several manufacturers of integrated solutions provide the entire BIPV system (modules, flashing, inverters, etc.) and back them with comprehensive system warranties. This backing provides the owner with the peace of mind that comes from knowing that the entire PV system, and in some cases the installation of the system, is warranted by one reputable manufacturer.
The benefits, however, are not reserved solely for homeowners. These installer-friendly systems are lightweight, require no rack-mount or structural reinforcement, and are easily installed on a rooftop. Additionally, many solar installers have found that having a BIPV offering in their solution suite helps them grow their business over and above the additional revenue from BIPV sales. Several solar companies have indicated that the response rate to their direct marketing efforts have doubled or tripled when their campaigns include eye-catching integrated solar solutions as compared to campaigns that only feature rack-mounted products.
BIPV products also lend themselves well for adoption by roofing companies that are increasingly getting into solar and frequently start out by offering only integrated solar solutions. Many roofers find the installation of BIPV more intuitive than rack mounted systems, given that BIPV is installed directly on the roof deck using installation techniques familiar to them. Additionally, roofers have access to “free” homeowner leads through their normal roofing business and existing customer database. This lead pipeline has the potential to generate significant solar (and BIPV) sales when one considers that about 4 million residential roofs are installed in the United States each year.
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Matt Stancroff
While BIPV still makes up a very small portion of overall residential system sales in the United States, a clear uptick in interest is evident in the industry. Although it is still too early to tell if BIPV will ever take significant share from rack and panel, the robust growth of the residential market has created increased demand from homeowners and installers looking for a an alternative to rack and panel solutions.
This article was written by Mark Stancroff, director of CertainTeed Solar.
E.ON Solar, a part of E.ON SE, announced the completion of Alamo Solar in San Bernardino County, California. The 20-MWac photovoltaic solar facility, located near the town of Oro Grande, marks E.ON’s first solar project executed in the state and is the latest expansion of a growing U.S. footprint.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.“E.ON Solar is very proud of Alamo, our first project completed in California,” said Steve Trenholm, president, E.ON Solar. “We intend to build more solar projects in California that create jobs as well as clean energy that doesn’t use water in the production of electricity,” said Trenholm.
San Francisco-based E.ON Solar also announced the sale of Alamo to Dominion, which makes Alamo the first U.S. solar project to be sold by the company.
“The Alamo Solar transaction demonstrates E.ON’s continued ability to deliver high-value renewable energy projects, either solar or wind, that attract the interest of world-class energy investors like Dominion,” said Nathanael Esposito, vice president, Partnering, North America, E.ON.
E.ON’s global experience enables it to build quality, economical solar projects on schedule and on budget, whether E.ON or another entity is the owner or operator. In 2014, Tucson Electric Power (TEP) selected E.ON Solar to build an array on the U.S. Army’s Ft. Huachuca base in Sierra Vista, Arizona, after seeing E.ON’s industry-leading capabilities up close.
The 14-MWac photovoltaic project is the U.S. Department of Defense’s largest solar array on a military installation. In early 2015, E.ON brought the Ft. Huachuca solar project, which has 57,000 panels and serves approximately 25 percent of the base’s electricity needs, into service. TEP also purchases power from two E.ON facilities, Valencia Solar and Tech Park Solar, located near Tucson.
“E.ON Solar is rapidly expanding its development pipeline across the country with a flexible business model that allows us to work with utilities and others to own and operate projects, or build turn-key projects. This is an exciting time for the U.S. market and E.ON is at the forefront of delivering clean energy that doesn’t require water to produce electricity,” said Trenholm.
E.ON Solar has begun construction of another solar project in California, which is expected to reach commercial operation later this year. Currently, legislators in Sacramento are considering two bills to increase California’s Renewable Portfolio Standard. “Strong public policy leadership from Sen. Kevin De Leon, and Rep. Das Williams continues to make California an attractive market for E.ON to expand its solar presence and create jobs,” said Trenholm.
Indiana based Inovateus Solar announced it was awarded the installation of a 2.5-megawatt AC, ground-mounted solar array project for Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) an operating unit of American Electric Power (AEP). The future site of the new I&M solar array is in Marion, Indiana, adjacent to the company’s Deer Creek substation. Groundbreaking for the new project took place July 24 at the site. This solar project with Inovateus marks the first for I&M. The Deer Creek solar array will encompass over 17-acres near the substation.
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Inovateus Solar, which has provided solar integration and installation services to a myriad of projects worldwide, is especially excited about this Indiana installation in its own back yard. The President of the firm, T.J. Kanczuzewski, explained at the groundbreaking event on July 24 that this is the biggest local project provided by his firm.
“Inovateus Solar is extremely happy to be working with I&M and AEP on this groundbreaking project for our region,” said Kanczuzewski. “We applaud I&M’s commitment to solar energy and we are dedicated to making this project a success for everyone involved.”
Once completed, the 2.5 MW array will provide the grid with the equivalent energy to power over 350 homes for one year. The system consists of 9,972, 310-watt solar panels and 11 Nextronex 250 inverters.
“The environmental offsets of the Deer Creek array are significant,” stated Senior Account Executive and Project Manager for Inovateus Solar, Nathan Vogel. “It’s equivalent to the energy of over 7,600 barrels of oil per year, 43 tankers of gasoline per year, or burning almost 18 rail cars of coal per year. We are so pleased to be working with our own Northern Indiana utility, Indiana Michigan Power, on this project.”
“I&M is very pleased to partner with Inovateus Solar in building our first utility-scale solar generation facility,” said Paul Chodak III, President and Chief Operating Officer of Indiana Michigan Power. “I&M welcomes the opportunity to work with this experienced Indiana solar company to add emission-free solar energy to our generation portfolio.”
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.NRG Energy recently announced it is leveraging its expertise to bring shared solar – also known as community solar – to customers across the United States, fulfilling on the company’s customer-focused commitment.
“Residents in several states across America – including Colorado, Massachusetts and Minnesota – have spoken: they want their lives to be powered by affordable, renewable energy any way they can get it,” said Steve McBee, president and CEO of NRG Home, a division of NRG. “In Massachusetts, customers enthusiastically signed up to 100% of the output of our new shared solar facility, and in response we are accelerating our shared solar development to meet strong demand in states with supportive policies.”
The announcement comes on the day NRG Home Solar and NRG Renew bring a new community solar site online in Freetown, Massachusetts. The 1-MW site, which powers approximately 160 households, furthers NRG’s mission to put customers first by providing broad access to clean energy.
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From left to right are Dan Hendrick, NRG, U.S. Representative Joe Kennedy III of Massachusetts, Kelcy Pegler, Jr., President of NRG Home Solar, Patrick Sullivan, NRG, tour the NRG shared solar site in Freetown, Massachusetts, Monday July 27, 2015. (Aynsley Floyd/AP Images for NRG)
NRG Home Solar and NRG Renew have over 100 megawatts of shared solar projects in various stages of development and are actively working to expand into additional markets, so customers who may not have a rooftop suitable for solar still have the option to go solar.
Subscribers to Freetown’s shared solar project entered into a 20-year agreement with NRG Home Solar that provides price stability and savings. Customers earn credits toward their energy bill that are calculated based on how much renewable energy their portion of the project generated in a billing cycle.
“One of the most exciting things about solar is that as it grows explosively we create new opportunities for people to make renewable energy part of their lives,” said Kelcy Pegler, Jr., President, NRG Home Solar, a division of NRG Home. “Shared solar represents that opportunity – a simple, inexpensive path for people who buy power to go solar without limitations.”
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The NRG shared solar project in Freetown, Massachusetts, Monday, July 27, 2015. This is the first NRG shared solar, or “community solar,” facility in Massachusetts that allows customers to lock in their electricity prices for 20 years. With already 100% of the facility’s output powering customers, this 1-megawatt site will service roughly 160 residents in the region. (Aynsley Floyd/AP Images for NRG)
The Freetown project demonstrates the strategic fit of shared solar to NRG’s integrated business model, leveraging NRG Home Solar’s ability to acquire and retain customers through its retail and residential solar businesses and NRG Renew’s ability to source, construct and operate renewable energy projects, combined with an investment by NRG Yield. NRG Renew partnered with Borrego Solar Systems to develop the Freetown site and construct the system.
SolarCity introduced a new solar energy service today that will make it possible for many small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) to pay less for solar electricity than they pay for power from their local utility for the first time. SolarCity will initially offer its SMB service to owner-occupied business locations in California, but expects to expand it to the east coast and other territories in early 2016. Based on an analysis of SMBs in California, SolarCity expects to make it possible for many to pay between 5 – 25 percent less for solar electricity than they pay for utility power with no upfront cost, depending on their own utility costs and usage. The service will also include fixed, flat solar payments for 20 years, so if the utility rates increase in the future, customers can save even more.
There are more than 28 million small and medium-sized businesses in the U.S. [1]—more than 99 percent of American businesses are SMBs—and very few have been able to use solar power affordably until now. SolarCity has achieved a solar cost breakthrough for SMBs by combining three innovations that leverage its unique experience in high-volume installation, technology development and structured finance:
Installation. While most commercial solar developers subcontract installation, which lengthens installation time and significantly increases cost, SolarCity leverages its vast network of local installation crews to install projects for SMBs at a lower cost than any other provider in the category. SolarCity expects to reduce the cost to install small commercial solar projects by more than 30 percent by using its own crews and technology.
Technology. SolarCity’s proprietary, lightweight solar panel mounting system—ZS Peak—allows SMBs to fit 20 to 50 percent more solar panels on each roof surface. ZS Peak also allows workers to install panels significantly faster than would otherwise be possible to reduce installation costs even further, and simultaneously increases solar energy production from each project.
Financing. Solar projects for small and medium sized businesses have traditionally been very difficult to finance because SMBs do not have the formal investment grade credit ratings of large corporations, and also have no commercial equivalent to the FICO scores that are often the basis of consumer financing. SolarCity has teamed with Renew Financial to create a unique financing option for SMBs that combines low cost SolarCity structured financing with Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE). The first rollout will be under the CaliforniaFIRST program. Under this offering, an SMB signs a standard commercial solar lease with SolarCity, SolarCity finances the upfront cost much as it would under a traditional solar lease or power purchase agreement, and in turn the PACE program allows the business to pay the solar payment on its property tax bill. Just as it does for other commercial customers under a lease or PPA, SolarCity coordinates solar financing and also handles installation, monitoring and maintenance for SMBs.
For the SMB market, SolarCity will initially design solar energy system sizes between 30 – 500 kilowatts of generation capacity to businesses that own buildings with approximately 5,000 – 50,000 square feet of available flat roof space.
This release contains forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, statements regarding cost savings, financing, future expansion and hiring. Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by, which such performance or results will be achieved, if at all. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward looking statements. You should read the section entitled “Risk Factors” in SolarCity’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q, which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and identifies certain of these and additional risks and uncertainties. We do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
