Posted by Walter Rumpf on Wed, May 22, 2013 @ 09:00 AM
The utility solar market grew more than any other sector in 2012 seeing a 134% growth from 2011. Like its name implies, utility scale PV solar refers to very large-scale solar systems that are implemented by electric utilities to generate large amounts of electricity for use on their grid. Utility scale solar is often defined as anything over 500kW in size, which is enough to power 100-150 average homes and is about 2000 solar panels. Many of the projects we are seeing come online today are 20-100 times larger between 10-50mW. The most defining characteristic of utility-scale solar is that the power generated is fed directly into the established electricity transmission grid. In commercial and residential solar the power feeds into the home or business to meet the building’s electrical needs before going back into the grid.
In most cases utilities have agreements similar to what solar companies like Syndicated Solar offer their customers, where they buy the power from the solar company at a set price. In the case of utilities they buy the power from a developer or a finance company. Some utilities, such as Duke Energy who provides power across the eastern United States, have opted to build or buy their own large solar plants in favor of offering rebates and incentives to customers. Price declines continue for utility solar which is able to capitalize on economies of scale; the average price for installations at the end of 2012 was $2.27/watt down almost 30% from the final quarter of 2011 ($3.20/watt). Utillities are favoring solar in order to meet the renewable energy mandates set forth on them to acheive a smaller environmental footprint. For the utilities, solar offers lower costs, less risky technology and large PV projects can be ramped up and brought online quickly.
Unlike residential solar and commercial solar which use flat-plate mono and poly-silicone panels, a utility scale solar project (aka farm or array) utilize solar collectors from a variety of technologies. Many utility-scale installations are concentrated solar arrays that use parabolic trough technology, concentrating lenses, and dual axis tracking to track the sunlight throughout the day to optimize the capacity and conversion efficiencies of sunlight to electricity. Some more recent utility scale developments have gone the other way using thin-film solar technologies which are not as efficient but are cost-effective. In some areas in the United States thin film power plants already offer electricity prices cheaper than building fossil fuel resources. Many of these very large utility scale solar projects and plants are located in the western and southwestern desert states including California, Nevada and Arizona. First Solar recently installed a thin-film solar plant in New Mexico, which costs the utility 30% less per unit of power than their current costs to produce energy using coal. With savings like this it is easy to justify using a couple more panels and using a little more area.
Utility scale solar is growing quickly thanks to several factors. Technology breakthroughs, renewable energy mandates enacted by several states, and the availability of federal and state grants, along with tax incentives have provided the impetus to develop more utility scale solar energy plants. Utilities are also realizing substantial benefits from having increased power supply in the middle of the day charged to them at a fixed cost when demand is at its peak and fossil fuel costs are highest, especially in the summer.
Eight of the ten largest PV projects operating in the US came online in 2012. Due to the size if the installations (one utility project equals 200-10,000 solar homes or businesses) the largest amount of solar coming online in 2012 was from utility scale developments with 1,781mW, almost half (874mW) came in Q4 showing promise for larger scale developments moving into 2013. There are more than 4,000mW of utility solar projects currently under construction and another 8,000mW of projects with Power Purchase Agreements that have not begun construction.
Solar power is no longer limited to rooftops. It is fast becoming a major source for electric utility transmission and generation. This can be seen as positive news, everyone would probably much rather see a 50mW solar project brought online instead of a 50mW coal power plant. Additionally if prices for power are already cheaper utility solar definitely seems like the most economical approach. From the consumer standpoint though, one of the biggest advantages solar power offers is the ability to break away from the current monopolies that many utilities operate under. Adding a solar system to a home or business provides consumers their own source of power at a predictable and reliable cost to them whether that is through system ownership or a third party agreement. If this benefit is available wh If utilities own all the solar on their grid there is a chance that those cost savings will not be passed down to the consumer and they may still be subject to rising utility rates. If you are interested in learning more about how you can benefit of solar for your home contact Syndicated Solar at 888.410.3883 or visit our website.
Posted by Walter Rumpf on Wed, May 15, 2013 @ 09:00 AM
One of the reasons that many consumers decide not to go solar is they feel the technology is too primitive and still needs to be developed further before they will consider. Like any technology, progress is made steadily but slowly. Think about TV’s, cell-phones, computers, all have seen significant progress over the past twenty years but it wasn’t without much research and testing being done with minor advancements at a time. Those products are now seen as a necessary item and now they are in almost every US home. As prices for electricity continue to rise, the need for home power generation will become more realized. So if you are waiting for that new technology, know that you are going to be missing out potential energy savings now and in the future. With that said, here is a look at what could be some of the recent breakthroughs and potential solar technologies of the future.
Pentacene Solar Cell Coatings Breaking Barriers
Up until now, a fundamental barrier referred to as the Shockley-Queisser limit has held that solar conversion of sunlight into energy cannot exceed an efficiency level of 33.7% but a team of MIT researchers has finally disproven that theory. The team was successfully able to demonstrate “singlet exciton fission” in which a solar cell coated with pentacene was able to make a photon knock two electrons loose instead of one electron in a typical solar cell currently being used. The ability to knock loose two electrons instead of one would reduce the amount of sunlight wasted as heat instead of being converted into electricity meaning greater efficiency levels.
According to early research this technique will allow solar cells to surpass the Shockley-Queisser limit. The pentacene is an organic compound capable of generating two electrons from a single photon. The pentacene covered solar cells double the number of electrons, and energy, that can be harvested.“We think it’s an exciting direction for solar to improve its efficiency” said Marc Baldo, engineer and co-author of the study.
The process of singlet fission has been around since the 1960’s when it was first discovered but the process has never before been harnessed in solar cells. The team at MIT confirmed that pentacene was in fact producing two electrons for every photon of light. In the next step they coated the top of a silicon cell to see if the cell could harness more energy and discovered that the test solar cell did exactly that. It increased the amount of energy harvested from the blue and green light spectrum. The pentacene coating only works on blue and green wavelengths of light though, not the entire visible spectrum.
Nonetheless, the study is the first to demonstrate that pentacene can be used in a solar cell to make more energy. It represents a step towards creating solar cells that could become significantly more efficient than current silicon solar cells.
Solar PV Cells Achieve New Levels of Efficiency Using Nanoscale Structures
At the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems, along with current research on nanotechnology in the science world, a new nanowire configuration using indium and phosphorous was able to deliver as much electricity as traditional indium phosphide thin film solar cells even though the nanowires covered only12% of the device.
Physicist Magnus Borgström of Lund University in Sweden led the research. When a solar cell employing nanowires was exposed to sunlight the cell was able to convert 14% of the incoming light to electricity, which is a new record. These results open up the possibility for cheaper and more effective solar power. Borgström believes these nanowire solar cells could be cheaper if the process can be industrialized.
The nanowire solar cells use a novel semiconductor that is a combination of indium and phosphorous. The semiconductor is capable of absorbing much of the light from the sun (the common term for this is band gap). Currently, it absorbs 71% of the light above the band gap and Borgström believes that can be further increased.
The possibility is strong that these nanowire cells could even be built into mutijunction solar cells which are compound devices that include several different types of semiconductor material that are arranged in layers so they can absorb as much of the sunlight’s energy as possible. Multijunction cells have converted up to 43% of the energy in sunlight into electricity making multijunction cells the most highly efficient photovoltaic devices in the world.
Multijunction solar cells are the most expensive type of photovoltaic devices but Borgström believes they can be made cheaper by combining with low-cost lenses to concentrate the sunlight onto smaller versions of the cells (nanowire cells).
It is an exciting development that holds great promise to increase solar cell efficiency at cheaper prices. Both of these breakthroughs are proof that innovation will continue within solar efficiency and technology. Syndicated Solar currently uses the latest in state of the art solar technology. We make sure to stay up to date and has tabs on all of the newest improvements that are in NEC testing and approval that will be available in the next five years. If you are interested in finding out more about upcoming technologies please visit us online or call us at 888.410.3883 and we will be happy to work with you.
Posted by Walter Rumpf on Fri, May 10, 2013 @ 10:13 AM
The solar outlook for 2013 is very promising. 2012 saw huge rises in solar installations across the country. So much so that solar energy is now the fastest growing source of electricity in the US-surpassing wind generation. During 2012, approximately 14 million solar panels (3,313 MW) were installed in the US, a 76% growth from 2011. 11 states added 50mw or more of solar capacity, representing a huge growth from 2010 when only 5 states added that amount of solar capacity. Specifically on the residential side over 82,000 homes installed solar further demonstrating US consumers belief that not only is solar here to stay but that it is a great investment for a homeowner to make.
Seven out of 10 Massachusetts residents surveyed earlier this year felt solar was the best investment a homeowner could make compared to renovating your home or buying a new car because it provides a better return on your investment. Their primary justifications for adding solar were reducing energy costs, environmental benefits, and the long term value added to your home. These results are in line with many other surveys that have been taken.
The typical return on investment for a residential solar system averages anywhere from 13-17% depending on your location, the cost of power, and available rebates and incentives. What makes the investment in solar much different is the extremely low risk that is associated with this number, unless the cost of electricity decreases or the sun stops shining you are guaranteed to see those types of returns.
To give a better idea of ROI, let's look at solar compared to a home improvement or purchasing an automobile, many consumers feel they are better off investing in a solar system for their home. Cars only depreciate in value and therefore you only lose money on them-you can’t earn a return on buying a car. Home renovations certainly can add value and provide a high return on the investment but unlike adding solar power they can’t compete when it comes to generating income. One often-overlooked benefit of solar panels on your home is the increased home value from having your own power producing plant on your roof. By adding solar panels, homeowners decrease the operating costs of their home, which is appealing to almost anyone today. Studies from California (the US state with by far the most installations to date) have shown that not only do homes with solar sell for more, they also sell much faster.
Resident Eric Fix had this to say “solar yields immediate, no-maintenance dividends and boosts the home’s value. Renovations can be hit or miss.”
The most cited reason for installing solar is saving energy with helping the planet and increasing national energy independence cited as the second and third choices for installing solar.
The federal tax credits available for installing renewable energy continue to be a primary driver for installing rooftop solar. Most residents concurred that owning their systems outright provided the quickest pay back making the system cheaper in the long run because all of the savings go back to the owner and not to a middleman like in a lease arrangement.
With the continuing decrease in solar module prices and federal tax incentives the ability for more homeowners to own their own system is increasing. The continued growth of the American solar market will continue to depend upon pro-solar and pro-renewable energy governmental policies and programs, innovative financing programs and tax friendly investment vehicles for solar. Finding ways to reduce start –up costs is crucial to increasing the number of solar installations. Solar leases and power purchase agreements help more enter the market but the real benefit for homeowners is in owning their solar systems.
Posted by Walter Rumpf on Mon, May 06, 2013 @ 05:13 PM
National Parks are looking for ways to help reduce energy costs and many are turning to solar energy as a way to provide energy cost protection in the coming years. With dropping solar PV prices, National Parks see solar energy as a way to save money and close the gaps left by decreasing park budgets.
Death Valley National Park’s Furnace Creek Resort in California is an example of the cost savings parks can achieve. The park’s 1MW solar PV array reduced the amount of energy the park resort had to purchase by 30% since it was installed in 2008. According to EPA estimates the system has offset 665,000 tons of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide emissions, the equivalent to 690,000 driving miles. The 1 MW solar installation at Furnace Creek, is owned by Xanterra Parks & Resorts. The installation covers a 5-acre area and has resulted in a 60% reduction in electricity usage.
Likewise, Yosemite National Park is reducing energy bills by $50,000 a year with a solar array of 672KW. A smaller installation at Arches National Park Devils Garden campground has reduced electricity costs by $10,000 annually and reduced the time generators run, from 24 hours a day, down to less than 4 hours a day.
The benefits of installing solar power in national parks extend beyond saving energy costs. Many of these parks are located in remote areas and solar is not only less expensive to install than running power lines out, it is less intrusive to the environment than installing power lines, and cheaper to run than diesel generators. Environmental benefits are high on the list of national park concerns. Making the parks more climate friendly is a goal for the National Park Services. The goal is to reduce their carbon footprint back to 2008 levels by 2016. Solar power is contributing a big part of their green operations goal.
With the decreases in solar module costs and federal financial incentives and support, solar is able to make electricity more available to rural, remote locations. It also saves National Parks money in the process as well as reducing environmental impacts. It is a win-win situation for the Parks, the environment and for the solar industry.
Posted by Walter Rumpf on Thu, Apr 25, 2013 @ 05:12 PM
News and media coverage is often quick to jump on stories of big solar companies demise. In 2011, there was a lot of attention given to American panel manufacturer Solyndra defaulting on it’s $535 million government-backed loan. A year later in 2012, Colorado solar manufacturer Abound Solar declared bankruptcy, they had received $400 million in government-backed loans. Both of these companies had unique solar products that used different less efficient technologies and that was the biggest reason why they failed. In 2013 though we saw what was at one time the worlds largest solar manufacturer, Chinese based Suntech, default on a combination of Chinese and US loans and is now going through the Chinese equivalent of bankruptcy.
The list of solar companies who have not succeeded is long, Greentech Media recently put together a artilce titled, “Rest in Peace: The List of Deceased Solar Companies.” In the articled GTM Editor in Chief Eric Wesoff notes that “We listed the more than 200 VC-funded solar startups back in 2008. We knew that we'd be writing about most of them on their way up—as well as on their way down.” An IMS Research report in late 2012 predicted “As 2012 comes to a close, fewer than 150 companies will remain in the photovoltaic upstream value chain, down from more than 750 companies in 2010.” Looking forward into 2013 it predicts, “Most of the consolidation will involve companies going out of business entirely. Many integrated players, particularly those based in China, will fold up shop in 2013.” With many Chinese companies expected to be going out of business there will be a lot less solar panels being manufactured which could be seen as a potential problem with the growing worldwide solar market. But a strong case can be made that these companies are one of the root causes of a lot of the solar industries recent problems. We can thank these companies for helping to drive down prices but with their departure there will be more stability and less artificial pricing.
Simultaneous with companies failing, there are numerous other companies that are doing extremely well and show great promise for the future. Smart investors are also backing the solar industry in the right ways. Namely buying large solar farms that provide steady reliable income over a long period of time. So far 2013 shows a very positive outlook with many of these successful companies beginning to turn a profit. These remaining companies will benefit from their solid business practices and will benefit as the energy market begins to realize that adding 1mW of renewable energy, such as solar, is much more cost effective than building a new 1mW fossil fueled power plant.
When we look at solar, we need to compare it to other new technologies that we have seen emerge in the past. The automobile industry, the telecom industry, computers. In every case you see a lot of companies enter at the beginning competing to gain market share and over time some companies fail, some companies are bought out by larger companies and the best companies start to stand out from the pack. You will notice as well that none of the industries saw a sharp increase or decrease in their growth, they all have grown gradually over time and still continue to grow and consolidate to this day. So when you see a news story that another solar company has gone under, know that there are many other companies that are thriving and advancing the industry forward.
What it means for consumers
It’s hard to predict what companies are going to be in business and which are going to fail, just over two years ago Solyndra was being installed on roof’s all over America and at the same time Suntech panels were going in all over the world. There are many home and business owners with these panels that are now in an interesting position, in most cases such as Suntech, these companies often have separate entities set up to provide their warranties, or the company has an insurance policy in place to cover or the warranty is shifted to another company. In almost all cases these customers will be taken care of if something malfunctions in their system ten years from now. They will either receive replacement equipment or financial compensation.
If you are interested in adding solar to your home and have a little unease about solar companies going bankrupt make sure you are doing your research not just on the company that you are working with but also the products that they carry. Look at those companies and see how long they have been in business for, what are their other core competencies, what does their past financial record indicate. Syndicated Solar makes it a point to only work with the best and most solid performing companies in the industry for their solar equipment.
If you would like to learn more about solar equipment and see if a system is right for you, contact Syndicated Solar at 888.410.3883 or visit us at syndicatedsolar.com
Posted by Walter Rumpf on Tue, Apr 09, 2013 @ 10:32 AM
Guest Blog Post
By Solar Reviews
Across the nation, rural electricity cooperatives are including renewable energy sources in their portfolio, and Colorado is no exception. While many rural co-ops have been gradually incorporating clean energy, legislation introduced on April 3 would increase the percentage of retail electricity sales that must be generated from renewables – mainly wind and solar.
The bill, SB 252, will require some of the Colorado’s largest rural cooperatives to obtain 25 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2020. Sponsored by Senate President John Morse (D-Colorado Springs) and House Speaker Mark Ferrandino (D-Denver), SB 252 would more than double the current 10 percent requirement that was adopted in a 2007 bill.
Bill supporters are enthusiastic, as this would expand access to clean energy for more Coloradans and move the state toward a more all-encompassing alternative energy strategy. It is also expected to create jobs.
“In a number of ways, our state is defined by our diverse environment. It sustains us, and provides Coloradans with work in farming, water projects, outdoor sports, and several other areas,” Morse said. “This legislation builds upon that, and will provide new jobs in the energy sector.”
Pete Maysmith, executive director of Conservation Colorado, supports the bill because it will help decrease our reliance on dirty fossil fuels, create good-paying Colorado jobs and move the state toward a clean energy future. "This legislation is the next step forward for Colorado's renewable energy legacy,” Maysmith said.
Critics such as Tri-State Generation & Transmission Association, one of the co-ops at which the bill is aimed, argue that compliance could cost billions since SB 252 was introduced late in the session. The energy co-op feels the increased renewable standard is “irresponsible” and the “wrong direction to go,” Tri-State spokesman Lee Boughey tells the Denver Business Journal.
Despite unfair assertions, Colorado legislature has been mindful in establishing different renewable standards for large, metropolitan, investor-owned utilities (IOUs) like Xcel Energy, and rural electric cooperatives.
SB 252 would also require rural electricity co-ops to generate a small amount of its existing clean energy requirement from local projects. This would encourage local and home-grown energy projects centered on solar, biomass, geothermal and wind energy. Another provision of SB 252 would increase opportunities to capture vented methane gas from coal mines (both active and inactive). This would help diversify Colorado’s energy sources while creating new jobs in rural areas.
While the Colorado renewable industry employs nearly 100,000 residents, there are still barriers to future industry growth, reveals Interwest Energy Alliance Director Sarah Propst. “Passage of this bill will ensure that Colorado remains a vibrant place to do business for the clean energy industry," she said.
For Syndicated Solar, a company that is based out of Colorado, this has a significant impact for electric consumers in many markets they serve. For customers of Intermountain Rural Electric Association (IREA), United Power and Grand Valley Power, solar programs will be required by the state. Although these utilities are reluctant to offer solar rebates and incentives, many of their customers have no problem supporting these programs if it means access to renewable energy and cleaner sources on their grid. If you are a customer in Grand Valley Power, United Power, IREA or any other electric Co-op in Colorado contact Syndicated Solar at 888.410.3881 and we will keep you updated to help you take advantage of these electric co-op solar programs as soon as they become available. If you know someone who is a part of one of these utilities (Grand Valley Power, IREA, United Power) you can receive $500 for registering them through our Friends of Solar program when they install their system. Click the link below to get started.
Posted by Walter Rumpf on Thu, Apr 04, 2013 @ 05:17 PM
The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), in partnership with Green Tech Media (GTM) Research, released the 2012: The Solar Year in Review report in March. The report analyzes data of solar installations from the previous year to recap and report the SEIA annual findings. The report also analyzes the markets for 2013 to determine which areas will experience the most growth the following year and leading up to 2016. Solar power is quickly growing as a popular power source in the United States with the industry growing 76% over 2011 totals. This equal an additional 3.3 GW… enough energy to power 750,000 homes. SEIA predicts growth to continue in 2013 and is anticipating 4.3GW of additional capacity to come online.
The price to install solar continues to come down making solar more affordable, and easier for Americans to take advantage of this natural energy source. Combined with increased pricing for electricity rates in many states, solar is becoming more competitive price-wise when compared with conventional methods of receiving electricity in homes and businesses. In these markets, SEIA and GTM provide an in-depth look at the top states in 2012 and give some insight on what will be some key markets moving forward.
Record Highlights
With over $11.5 billion worth of solar system installations, 2012 was a big year for solar power. Many states saw record growth in their local solar industries from previous years. A large part of the increase is due to affordable solar that is available in many states. This is especially true for residential solar. The residential market grew 63% from 2011 with 48 mW coming online in 2012. A major driver for the increased solar capacity in the solar residential sector is the adoption of third-party ownership, which allows systems to be installed for little to no money down and provides customers with immediate savings on their monthly electricity costs.
During 2012 in Arizona, over 90% of the new systems that came online were through a third-party finance company. Colorado was second with close to 90% of new residential installations being done through a third-party PPA or Lease agreement. The smallest industry growth came in the non-residential sector with an 8% increase from 2011. The growth is primarily attributed to a slight increase in business installations. These included government and non-profit agencies, especially those that were able to realize a large cost savings. By far the largest growth for the entire industry came in utility-scale system installations with a 94% increase from 2011. Many of the large utility projects that have long been in planning and development finally came online in 2012.
The industry report also credits decreasing price as major factor contributing to the growth of solar. Prices have shifted from $11 per watt in 1998 to $8 per watt in 2006 and reached prices below $4 per watt in the last quarter of 2012. Surprisingly, the decrease in price shows an exponential relationship in price decrease relative to the actual capacity that is being added. Price declines have been predicated primarily on the falling price of photovoltaic (PV) panels in addition to other system equipment such as the inverters and racking. PV equipment and components manufactured in the US saw their costs decrease 30% from the beginning of 2012 showing that the solar manufacturing market is also very strong and competitive with the rest of the world. Prices for equipment and components began to stabilize more in the latter half of 2012 and it is expected that they will continue to stabilize further in 2013. Additionally, the market has seen a consolidation of smaller companies merging with bigger companies, which leads to direct competition between more-established companies and forces them to tighten up their prices to win more projects.
The Top States
California and Arizona top the charts for growth in solar power installations, mostly due to the stark drop in prices (with many dropping as much as 20 percent). Year-in and year-out California leads the country with solar installations. After so many years of being the number one market, California now has more cumulative solar installed than the next four largest markets combined (Arizona, Hawaii, New Jersey and Colorado).
This year, California again was the market leader was the first state to break the 1,000 MW barrier for capacity installed. Arizona had the second most installations in 2012 with more than 750 MW being installed. From there, New Jersey was 3rd installing over 400 MW installed and then Nevada came in at just under 200 MW installed.
Hawaii showed the largest growth in solar from 2011 with the addition of net metering and very high electricity rates. In some cases in Hawaii, certain grids receive more than 100% of their power from PV at certain times.
On the non-residential side, New Jersey was the leader in 2011. In 2012, California was the leading non-residential market much of which was driven by school programs and other municipal organizations looking to reduce their operating costs. Massachusetts showed the largest growth in 2012 but is expected to see a slow in non-residential installations similar to what New Jersey saw last year. It is expected that New York will also see a large growth in non-residential installations.
Growth in the solar market is expected to continue in 2013, thanks in part to the new mechanisms that are in the works to make solar even easier to obtain, as well as more cost efficient, for homes and businesses. Moving forward, it is forecasted that California will continue to remain the largest residential market even after the rebate offerings come to a close. Arizona will also continue to grow as electricity rates rise despite incentives being exhausted. Two states that are expected to become major players in 2013 moving forward are New York and Texas., New York announced its New York Solar Initiative and instituted net metering. Texas has a great resource and continues to provide streamlined operations to bring projects to fruition.
Overall, SEIA expects that residential solar will continue to grow steadily. It will be important to keep an eye on states where “retail rate” parity is reached. This is where the price that utilities charge for electricity is actually more expensive than what it would be to use solar…and this is already happening in states like California, Hawaii and some areas in Arizona. If you are interested in reading more about the information in this report you can download the executive summary for free here.
If you are interested in learning more about the solar market or have further questions about the information presented in this blog, please email marketing@syndicatedsolar.com. Syndicated Solar is a full service solar solution company providing customers with the opportunity to get their electricity for less. If you are interested in learning more about how you can join the solar revolution and lowering your electricity give us a call at 888.410.3883 or visit us online at www.syndicatedsolar.com
Posted by Walter Rumpf on Mon, Mar 25, 2013 @ 10:01 AM
Guest Blog Post
By Chris Meehan, writer for SolarReviews Last week GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) released the
U.S. Solar Market Insight: Year-in-Review 2012, an annual report that tracks growth in the solar industry. The report was largely positive, with the U.S. experiencing 76% growth over 2011 and fully 3.3 gigawatts of solar installed throughout the country. It also projected that more, 4.2 gigawatts of solar, will be installed in 2013. Both photovoltaics and concentrating solar power experienced record growth across the U.S. last year. But during a conference call discussing the report, SEIA CEO Rhone Resch highlighted some clouds that could slow the powerful movement towards more solar. As it’s become an increasingly popular energy source, its fossil fuel foes are fighting back by promoting legislation at the state level that would make solar more expensive and shrink markets for solar. Already such legislation was introduced in Ohio, North Carolina and Vermont.
"There are a lot of challenges that are occuring to RPS's (Renewable Portfolio Standards) and we're finding that most of these are occuring from frankly conservative think-tanks, like Goldwater in Arizona and the Heartland Institute. Obviously these are funded by fossil fuel interests; some in part by Koch brothers. And this very conservative approach is focused on these states and introducing legislation that frankly goes completely against what the voters want," Resch said.
An overwhelming majority of the public—over 90% of voters of all stripes want more solar, according to Resch. They also want more wind and geothermal energy. And in more states, solar energy is becoming a more significant part of states‘ economies. This includes states like Arizona, California, Colorado, New Jersey, North Carolina and Ohio, for instance. “We are now starting to become a significant part of the new energy generation in these states and they’re recognizing us as a threat,” he said. “So you have a huge funding source coming from the fossil fuel industry trying to roll these back because we are now starting to gain hold … So their technique that they're going to use is to dump millions of dollars into trying to roll back RPS's across a large number of states.”
Resch cited actions in Ohio and North Carolina. “Those states have made huge economic strides in the solar industry. In Ohio both with manufacturing as well as in development. And in North Carolina there's a pipeline of over 400 megawatts of projects to be developed this next year,” he said.
Legislation introduced in North Carolina last week, House Bill 298, "The Affordable and Reliable Energy Act," would eliminate the state’s RPS, which has been responsible for much of the renewable energy growth in the state, including biomass, solar and wind energy generation. The legislation was proposed by a group of Republican Representative: Representatives: Mike Hager, Jeff Collins, Marilyn Avila, George Cleveland and Justin Burr and would give monopolistic utilities in the more control, according the
North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association (NCSEA). “This monopoly control of our utilities limits innovation and market competition; however, the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard, the portion of Senate Bill 3 that House Bill 298 attempts to eliminate, was the first real opportunity for clean energy companies to compete with the utilities and offer consumers a choice,” said NCSEA’s Director of Government Affairs Betsy McCorkle. Since introduction the legislation was sent for discussion in four committees, which should slow it down—if not kill it entirely.
If you have any questions about this piece or would like to get involved to combat these recent actions, Syndicated Solar recommends writing your local representative. Many Solar Energy Associations, such as NCSEA have petitions and ways to take action listed on their website.
Posted by Walter Rumpf on Tue, Mar 19, 2013 @ 05:43 PM
Ameren UE in Missouri created the Trade Ally network in order to provide businesses and residential customers with a group of trusted organizations to implement energy efficiency programs. Ameren has a variety of rebates available to create incentives for customers to use less energy more efficiently. For Ameren, their costs and loads are decreased when customers are using more sustainable technologies, especially at peak usage times. Utilities have found success in not only lowering carbon emissions, but also costs through similar programs. The largest programs include cash incentives for making energy efficiency upgrades to help your home or business run more efficiently. These changes benefit both the consumer and the environment as less energy is used, the consumer pays lower utility bills; it’s a win-win situation. The expense of making these changes can be offset by the incentives, making it possible for more homes and businesses to make the change.
Syndicated Solar has been approved as an Ameren Trade Ally partner in Missouri to be a provider of energy efficient incentives. The cost-effective energy efficiency programs provide customers with the ability to add energy efficient products to their home or business through the use of energy incentives. It also offers various programs to encourage energy efficiency throughout homes and businesses that can help to decrease the energy output in homes and businesses over the next few years, despite the growth in population.
For businesses, Ameren is offering cash rebates for the following electric efficiency measures:
- CFL Fixtures: $2-$11
- Occupancy Sensors: $15 - $45
- Exit Sign: $12
- A/C Units: $10/ton
- Commercial Heat Pump Water Heater: $846 - $16,925
- Commercial Freezers/Refrigerators: $25 - $387
- Ice Machines: $69 - $254
- Steam Cooker: $450 - $800
- Strip Curtains: $0.50/sq. ft.
- Anti-Sweat Heater Controls: $80
- Vending Machines/Controls: $25 - $100
- LED Case Lighting: $20/door
- Custom Incentives (Lighting): $0.06/kWh
- Custom Incentives (Non-Lighting): $0.07/kWh
- Retro-Commissioning Incentive: $0.07/kWh
- Retro-Commissioning Technical Analysis Study: Up to 100% of cost
For residential customers, Ameren is offering rebates and discounts for the purchase and installation of energy efficient measures:
- CFLs: In-store discounts, Online Store
- Refrigerator/Freezer Recycling: $50
- Air Source Heat Pump: $300 - $650
- Central AC: $150 - $425
- Electronically Commutated Blower Motor: $50 - $100
- Geothermal Heat Pump: $600
- Diagnostic Tune-Up: $75
- Programmable Thermostat: $25
- Electric Storage Water Heater: $25
- Heat Pump Water Heater: $300
- Room AC: $20
- Income Qualified Multifamily Program: Direct install in qualifying units
- New Homes Builder Incentive (Tier 1):$500/high performance home
- New Homes Builder Incentive (Tier 2): $800/ENERGY STAR® certified home
In 2010, Ameren introduced a separate solar rebate program for residential solar savings programs as well as commercial solar programs. Ameren currently offers customers a $2.00/watt rebate for solar installations up to 25kW ($50,000) which covers approximately half of the system's cost. An additional 30% is taken off through the federal tax credit which makes the cost of going solar in Missouri extremely lucrative. As an Ameren Trade Ally, Syndicated Solar is a trusted partner to help coordinate these rebates to provide our customers with even more cost savings on their energy bills, as well as educational opportunities to help everyone learn how they can do their part for the environment.
Through the Ameren Trade Ally program, our employees have received extensive education on energy efficiency and how each home and business can benefit. If you are interested in learning more about the simple steps you can take to help lower your monthly energy costs, contact Syndicated Solar at 888.410.3883 and one of our representatives will be happy to work with you. You may be able to not only reduce your electricity bill but actually eliminate it completely.
Posted by Walter Rumpf on Wed, Mar 13, 2013 @ 06:10 PM
Several states have taken up strong leadership roles to promote solar energy and provide it time to establish its footing in the renewable energy market. The federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) offers a personal tax credit of 30 percent of the costs of consumer energy efficiency products, including solar energy systems, on principal residences, second homes, and businesses through 2016. The ITC has been under attack by uneducated renewable energy opposition saying that its wasteful government subsidization, but the truth is that the government makes money with this tax credit by way of increased tax and payroll revenue from all of the jobs created, yet another example of the win-win value of solar energy. There are also state-sponsored tax incentives and solar rebates that follow this effort that not only help consumers take of advantage of affordable solar electricity, they also provide a hedge against the rising cost of electricity from your utility company! Each state, and city, has specific incentives, and origination of those incentives, more can be explored here
With effective legislation and ballot based initiatives, municipalities, state governments and utility companies now offer similar commitments with such performance based incentives as Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs) and Feed-In Tariffs (FITs). These vehicles represent society’s strong and determined efforts to make the growing Photovoltaic (PV) industry part of tomorrow's economies.
European Rebate Models
Since passage of its Renewable Energy Law in 1999, Germany has led the world in adapting the FIT economic model to move into solar energy. Today, over 40 countries use the model. Freiburg, Germany stands as the Solar City of the world with a success that has been replicated in exemplary fashion by Gainesville, Florida. The FIT model simply which obligates providers to buy all the electricity produced by small suppliers, such as homes, for a fixed price over a term of 10 or 20 years.
Utility companies mandated to supply customers with clean energy
Many states (or voters within certain states) have placed their electrical producing utility companies - and the load serving entities that supply them - under ordinances of Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) to meet future mandated standards. The utilities are mandated to produce a certain percent of electricity from renewable sources within a certain time period or face fees or fines to compensate for their pollution and emissions. To offset the millions of metric tons emitted into our atmosphere, utility companies and the like, are able to purchase clean Renewable Energy Credits (REC) in order to maintain environmental compliance. REC's are generated from a number of sources, including wind, hydro, biomass, solar, and more.
A look at Syndicated Solar’s Primary Markets
The primary states that Syndicated Solar serves - California, Missouri and Colorado - provide various packages of PV incentives that enable homeowners and businesses to step into the future of renewable energy and begin slashing their electrical energy costs. Missouri allows a personal tincome tax deduction of $1,000 per individual with a cumulative limit of $2,000 per individual or joint taxpayer. The funds may cover Home Energy Audits and eligible improvements. For 2013, the electrical utility Ameren Missouri's Photovoltaic Rebate Program offers a SREC contract of $5 per SREC on 10-year contracts.
The Colorado solar market has several local PV rebate programs and has had initiatives in place for several years to help drive energy efficiency. One of the largest local utility companies, Xcel, purchases REC’s from it’s customers through their Solar Rewards Program in order to meet compliance with HB 1001 and Amendment 37. They have also created a pilot solar gardens, which allows consumers to buy parts of a large off site solar field and receive billing credit for the production of the solar almost as if it were on their own roof.
California offers 100 percent of Solar Energy system value to be used as Property Tax Exclusion. Marin County and San Francisco offer solar rebates of $500 and $2,000 to $2,750 respectfully, the latter incentive increasing for low-income homes. The California Solar Initiative program offers rebates to customers from several of the state's major utility companies. The solar rebates are based on performance levels of the PV installation. California can also be seen in leading the nation - with various localities such as Palo Alto and Los Angeles - in following the FIT model.
If you are interested in learning more about what solar rebates are available to you and most importantly how you can take advantage of them, call Syndicated Solar at 888.410.3883. Syndicated Solar serves to save money and secure the future of their expenditures for energy.