Despite low periods of sunshine and high average annual snowfalls in Michigan, high electricity rates makes Upper Peninsula some of the best places in the country for going solar. Using his experiences with Solarizing Houghton, Abhi identifies the barriers for widespread solar deployment, and how church groups can help their communities understand why solar makes $ens$e. Talk sponsored by Michigan Interfaith Power and Light, Michigan Environmental Council and Superior Watershed

1. Michigan Solar Market Potential
Abhilash “Abhi” Kantamneni| Michigan Technological University

2. Houghton Winters
Source: Mining Journal
Source: Mining Journal
Source: Mining Gazette
Source: Michigan Tech Alumni
Source: boniashburn.com

3. OCREA
ALGER DELTA
UPPCO
PRESQUE ISLE
WEPCO
GREAT LAKES
DTE ELECTRIC
ALPENA POWER
CONSUMERS
TRI-COUNTY
CHERRYLAND
MIDWEST…
THUMB
CLOVERLAND
XCEL
WPS
AEP
MI Average: $0.14/kWh
Source: MPSC Utility Company Annual
Reports 2013
MI AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL ELECTRIC RATES 2013
[$/KWH]

4. Average Residential Electricity Retail Rates
by State (2013)
State
Average Price
[$/kWh]
Hawaii $0.37
Houghton $0.21-$0.24
New York $0.19
Alaska $0.19
Connecticut $0.18
Vermont $0.18
New Hampshire $0.17
California $0.16
New England $0.16
Middle Atlantic $0.16
Massachusetts $0.16
New Jersey $0.16
Michigan $0.15 Source: www.eia.gov

5. Michigan Tech KRC Photovoltaic Research Center

6. Location: Tree Cover and Solar Window
Image Source: www.solarfeeds.com
Best Summer Angle: 30*
Best Winter Angle: 60*
Best Average Angle: 47*

7. Advantages of High Module Tilt: Albedo
Source: nsidc.org
500,000
450,000
400,000
350,000
300,000
250,000
200,000
150,000
100,000
50,000
0
Solar Irradiation and Albedo
S_Horizontal (W/m^2) Albedo (W/m^2)
1
13
25
37
49
61
73
85
97
109
121
133
145
157
169
181
193
205
217
229
241
253
265
277
289
301
313
325
337
349
361
W/m^2
Day of the Year
Source: MTU KRC

8. Advantages of High Module Tilt: Snow Shedding
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
1
107
213
319
425
531
637
743
849
955
1,061
1,167
1,273
1,379
1,485
1,591
1,697
1,803
1,909
2,015
2,121
2,227
2,333
2,439
2,545
2,651
2,757
2,863
2,969
3,075
3,181
3,287
3,393
3,499
3,605
3,711
3,817
Energy Produced (Wh)
Hours since 12:00 Am Nov 1 2013
PV System Output Under Snowy Conditions
45* 30* 15*
Shedding from 45*

9. Nov-Feb total irradiance = only 8% year total.
Average Sun Hours/Day = 3.8

10. Source: www.nrel.gov

11. Simple ROI Calculation

12. Currently all MI utilities are on track to
meet RES Compliance*
Phased integration of renewables 50%
cheaper than new coal generation
facilities.
*Source: MPSC Report on RES Compliance
*Figure: MIRECS 2009-2013 Credits by Energy
Source
Impact of MI PA 295

13. Benefits of Renewables
 Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth Report on
Green Jobs says renewable energy sector job creation = 3% of all private
sector employment in state
 International Energy Agency Report on Energy Security says renewable
energy systems reduce supply disruptions and reliance on imported fuel.

14. Actual Quote: “The only green that matters,
is the color of my $$$$$”
(Obviously, not a philosopher)

15. PV Market Opportunity by Utility Electric Rates
OCREA
MI AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL ELECTRIC RATES 2013
ALGER DELTA
UPPCO
PRESQUE ISLE
WEPCO
GREAT LAKES
DTE ELECTRIC
ALPENA POWER
CONSUMERS
TRI-COUNTY
CHERRYLAND
MIDWEST…
THUMB
CLOVERLAND
XCEL
WPS
AEP
[$/KWH]
MI Average: $0.14/kWh
Source: MPSC Utility Company Annual
Reports 2013

16. PV Market Opportunity by Utility Electric Rate Increases
OCREA
ALGER DELTA
MI AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL ELECTRIC RATE
UPPCO
PRESQUE ISLE
WEPCO
GREAT LAKES
DTE ELECTRIC
ALPENA POWER
CONSUMERS
TRI-COUNTY
CHERRYLAND
MIDWEST ENERGY
THUMB
CLOVERLAND
XCEL
WPS
AEP
INCREASE 2001-2013
MI Average: 74%
Source: MPSC Utility Rates Summary

17. PV Market Opportunity by Average Annual Consumption
MI Average: 8MWh/Year
OCREA
ALGER DELTA
UPPCO
PRESQUE ISLE
WEPCO
GREAT LAKES
DTE ELECTRIC
ALPENA POWER
CONSUMERS
TRI-COUNTY
CHERRYLAND
MIDWEST ENERGY
THUMB
CLOVERLAND
XCEL
WPS
AEP
MI AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL ELECTRIC
CONSUMPTION 2013 [MWH/YEAR] Source: MPSC Utility Company Annual
Reports 2013

18. PV Residential Solar Market Potential
Utility Rank by rates
Rank by rate
Increase
Rank by Consumption Aggregate Rank
OCREA 1 1 1 1
ALGER DELTA 2 3 2 2
UPPCO 3 2 4 3
WEPCO 5 4 6 4
PRESQUE ISLE 4 12 3 5
ALPENA POWER 8 9 5 6
DTE ELECTRIC 7 8 9 7
GREAT LAKES 6 11 7 8
CONSUMERS 9 5 11 9
MIDWEST ENERGY 12 6 16 10
XCEL 15 13 8 11
CHERRYLAND 11 14 13 12
WPS 16 10 12 12
AEP 17 7 15 14
TRI-COUNTY 10 15 14 14
CLOVERLAND 14 16 10 16
THUMB 13 17 17 17

19. Utility
PV Commercial Solar Market Potential
Rank by Available
Capacity*
Rank by rates
Rank by rate
Increase
Rank by Average
Consumption
Aggregate Rank
ALGER DELTA 12 2 1 3 1
OCREA 12 1 2 4 2
MIDWEST ENERGY 5 8 3 7 3
WEPCO 5 4 4 14 4
ALPENA POWER 8 6 5 8 4
UPPCO 7 3 8 12 6
TRI-COUNTY 12 5 11 2 6
GREAT LAKES 12 7 12 1 8
CLOVERLAND 6 12 9 6 9
CONSUMERS 2 9 7 16 10
WPS 9 14 6 9 11
PRESQUE ISLE 12 10 14 5 12
DTE Electric 1 13 13 17 13
AEP 3 17 10 15 14
CHERRYLAND 12 11 16 10 15
THUMB 11 15 17 11 16
XCEL 10 16 15 13 16

20. Removing Barriers : Solarizing Houghton
Q: Does it
make
$en$e?
A: ‘Solar
Calculator’

21. Simple Online Free Solar Calculator using Local Data
Collected Across Michigan:
You Enter:
1. Enter Monthly Electric Bill
2. Utility Name
Calculator shows:
• Monthly Bills Before and After Solar
• Size and Cost of Solar System
• Payback Period
• Annual Loan Payments
• Return on Investment
• Environmental Impact
http://abhilashkantamneni.com/solar/

22. And more!!!

23. Contact Information
Abhilash Kantamneni
www.cs.mtu.edu/~akantamn/
akantamn@mtu.edu
www.SolarizeHoughton.org