The 'solar 101' presentation made at the Solar Challenge meeting held in Franklin, MA on Aug 20, 2014

1. 1
Solar 101
Presented by:
Massachusetts Clean Energy Center
August 20, 2014

2.  Introduction
 Solar PV Basics
 Solar PV Incentives and Economics
Outline

3. MassCEC Statutory Mandate
Advance Clean Energy Technology
Create Jobs
Develop a Trained Workforce
Accelerate Deployment of Clean Energy

4. 4
Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Basics

5. 2 – 6 per year
COAL 1,8
Uranium 1,9
900
Total reserve
90-300
Total
Petroleum 1,8
240
total
Natural Gas 1,8
215
total
WIND1,2
Waves1,3
0.2-2
25-70
per year
OTEC1,4
Biomass 1,5
3 -11 per year
HYDRO 1,6
3 – 4 per year
TIDES 1
Geothermal1,7
0.3 – 2 per year
0.3 per year
16
FINITE ENERGY
RESERVES
RENEWABLES
ANWR
© R. Perez et al.
World energy use
16 TW-yr
per year
~ 475 exajoules
~ 460 Quads

6. 2 – 6 per yearWorld energy use
16 TW-yr
per year
COAL 1,8
Uranium 1,9
900
Total reserve
90-300
Total
Petroleum 1,8
240
total
Natural Gas 1,8
215
total
WIND1,2
Waves1,3
0.2-2
25-70
per year
OTEC1,4
Biomass 1,5
3 -11 per year
HYDRO 1,6
3 – 4 per year
TIDES 1
SOLAR10
23,000 per year
Geothermal1,7
0.3 – 2 per year
© R. Perez et al.
0.3 per year
ANWR
COAL 1,8
Uranium 1,9

7. Power from the Sun
 Every 88 minutes, enough sunlight reaches
the Earth’s surface to power the world for a
year
 Every 112 minutes, more sunlight reaches the
Earth’s surface than is stored in all the proven oil,
coal, and natural gas reserves in the world

8. Is There Enough Sun In MA?

9. 9
2.00
3.00
8.00
13.00
18.00
23.00
28.00
33.00
38.00
HI
AK
NY
CT
VT
NH
NJ
CA
MA
ME
RI
MI
DE
WI
MD
PA
DC
US
NV
SC
OH
CO
FL
AL
IL
NM
MN
AZ
KS
GA
VA
TX
NC
IA
IN
MS
MO
TN
MT
SD
NE
UT
WV
WY
OR
OK
KY
AR
ND
ID
WA
LA
2012 Avg Residential Electricity Prices
(cents per kWh)
Massachusetts Residential Electricity Prices
Sources: EIA 2012 Data
MA homeowners had the 9th highest
average electricity prices in 2012.
MA
US
0
0.02
0.04
0.06
0.08
0.1
0.12
0.14
0.16
0.18
0.2
$/kWhPrice
Residential Electricity Rates

10. 10
Residential Project Trends
$-
$2.00
$4.00
$6.00
$8.00
$10.00
$12.00
$14.00
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
InstalledCost($/watt)
NumberofProjects(15kW&smaller)Installed

11. 2006

12. 2013

13. 13
What makes a good site?
http://energy.ltgovernors.com/solar-energy-pv-systems-self-generation-make-your-own-power.html
• Southern exposure
•PV panels angled 30˚ – 45˚
• At least 4-6 hours of direct
sunlight
• Open roof area of ~100 sq ft
per 1 kW
• Open space for a ground or
pole mounted system

14. How Does Solar a PV System Work?
 Grid-connected projects can apply for Net Metering (utility meter spins backwards)
 Power outage: Inverter shuts down, unless a battery-back up system is installed

15. 15
Shading of Solar PV Systems
 Initial site feasibility can be
determined online through
aerial images
 A shading analysis should be
performed for each feasible
project site
 Solmetric SunEye
 Solar Pathfinder

16. 16
Aerial photos
4.
1. 2. 3.
5.

17. 17
What adds costs to an installation?
Structural
• Reinforce
Rafters
• Split Arrays/
Multi Roof
• Metal Roof
• Steep Roof
Electrical
• Service Change
• Supply Side Tap
Other
• Ground-
mounted System
• Data Acquisition
System
• Extended
Warranty
• Increased
shading
 Common Cost Adders

18.  Introduction
 Solar PV Basics
 Solar PV Incentives and Economics
Outline

19. High electricity prices + Reduced Solar PV Costs +
Numerous Incentives = Economical solar projects
Solar Incentives in Massachusetts
www.house-power.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/iStock_000009001180XSmall.jpg
Incentives
Tax Incentives:
Federal (30%)
State (15% up to $1,000)
Rebates from MassCEC
Net Metering
SREC Sales
Low/No money down options

20.  Quarterly funding blocks
 $1.5 million available
 Residential, commercial, non-
profit & public solar PV
systems ≤ 15 kW
 Rebate capped at 5 kW
 Proposed rebate ranges from
$1,250 to $3,500 for 5kW
system
 Rebate covers ~5% of Installed
Cost
Commonwealth Solar II Rebate Program
Block 19 Rebate Levels ($ per watt (DC @ STC))
Base Incentive $0.25
PLUS:
Massachusetts Company Component Adder $0.05
Moderate Home Value Adder OR Moderate
Income Adder ≤ 120% of MA median income
(only residential projects eligible)
$0.40
Natural Disaster Relief Adder $1.00
Go to www.MassCEC.com/solar to learn more.

21. MassCEC Rebate Program (cont.)
County Property Value
Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire ≤ $300,000
Bristol, Suffolk, Worcester ≤ $350,000
Barnstable, Duke, Essex, Middlesex, Nantucket,
Norfolk, and Plymouth
≤ $400,000
Income Category Income Levels
Individual Income ≤ $75,810*
Domestic Unit Income ≤ $95,420*
Moderate Home Value Adder Criteria
* 120% of median household income as determined by the US Census Bureau
Moderate Income Adder Criteria

22.  Experienced Installer
 Minimum Technical Requirements
 Equipment must meet certain standards
 Required warranties
− Panels have 20 year warranties
− Inverters have 10 year warranties
− 5 year workmanship warranty
 80% of optimal system production
MassCEC Rebate Program (cont.)

23. Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs)
Electricity Pathway
• Electrons from all
generation sources are
physically the same
• Cannot be tracked
independently on the
grid
SRECs Pathway
• SRECs represent the
“green” attributes of the
renewable generation source
• Utilities are required to
purchase SRECs every year
• 1 SREC = 1,000 kWh
• Verified SRECs ensure
that only one buyer can
claim each SREC
Electricity and SRECs can
be, and often are, sold
separately

24. 24
SRECs (cont.)
 Will be able to sell SRECs for 10 years
 Likely sell from $285 - $199 per SREC
 Work with aggregator or broker to help with the sale
 Monthly production reported to MassCEC’s
Production Tracking System (PTS)
 SREC II Program began accepting new applications in
early May 2014

25.  Outright purchase
 Third party ownership
Ownership Models

26. Elizabeth Youngblood
Project Manager, Solar Programs
EYoungblood@MassCEC.com
Learn more at
www.MassCEC.com
Thank You! - Questions?