- How do I know if solar is right for me?
- You and other people say utility rates are going up (but maybe mine recently have not).
What documentation do you have of historical/recent prevailing/local utility rate increases?
- How does the solar project process work and what are its different components?
- What is a typical project's timeframe from assessment to completion?
- What size system would be installed on my facility?
- How much maintenance do PV systems require and who will be responsible?
1. How do I know if solar is right for me?
It depends upon the local/applicable PV Feasibility Variables:
- Utility tariffs
- PC incentives
- Solar insolation (resource)
- System type
- Financing method (for which you are eligible)
The first step to energy independence is determining whether solar power makes economic sense. Initial steps include:
- Assess in detail your energy usage patterns, the quantity of energy
your facility consumes, and the potential energy savings
- Conduct a rigorous, quantitative analysis of your historical
utility usage and billing data
- Perform a preliminary energy Site Audit to uncover and address any
hidden trouble spots that could diminish the ultimate yield of your system
- With the assistance of a solar energy expert, develop a Solar Savings
Strategy for your facility. This customized document includes an estimate of
your potential savings and the expected rate of return on your investment
Once you have derived this input, along with preliminary assumptions about solar energy system performance
and financing, you should be equipped to make a justifiable statement: "yes" solar is right for me or "no" solar is not right for me.
2. You and other people say utility rates are going up (but maybe mine recently have not).
What documentation do you have of historical/recent prevailing/local utility rate increases?
Utility rate escalation is often an area of contention, as there are many sources of data that measure
different energy indicators over different time periods. However, utility rates have risen over the last 30 years.
The US average went up 16% from 8.14 cents in 2005 to 9.46 cents in 2006 – the last year of released data (www.eia.doe.gov),
and the energy rates will continue to rise as international demand (driven by China and other areas undergoing high growth or
industrial expansion) continues to skyrocket and environmental regulations increase compliance costs.
In addition to increasing raw fuel costs and generating asset installation costs, local, national, and international policies
are driving energy prices higher. The US Department of Energy has historical rate data for states and utilities.
3. How does the solar project process work and what are its different components?
Implementing a commercial scale (10 kW to 5 MW) solar PV project can be broken down into the following seven steps.
- Assess An initial feasibility study by a qualified integrator or consultant will determine if
PV will make sense from a design and/or financial perspective.
- Design A preliminary design can be developed after a physical site visit, which will
allow the integrator to develop sufficiently accurate pricing to generate a proposal or bid.
- Purchase or Financing & Rebate Application Once the system installation price and
cash purchase economics are known, the integrator or customer can request quotes for a
Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), lease, or loan and apply for rebates.
- Engineering & Permitting Once all contracts are signed, the initial design can be
finalized, the engineering drawings can be prepared, and the appropriate building permits can be pulled.
- Procurement Once a final design is developed, the integrator can procure the actual modules,
inverters, mounting system, and other PV specific components can be sourced.
- Construction, Commissioning, & Rebate Request PV system installation can be quite
straight forward and qualified integrators will minimize impacts to customer operations.
- Operation & Maintenance Servicing A web-based monitoring system (often required
for incentives) and detailed O&M agreement (or plan) will ensure optimal system performance and life.
4. What is a typical project's timeframe from assessment to completion?
The typical timeframe from assessment to completion is 6-9 months.
5. What size system would be installed on my facility?
A typical system will require 750 square feet per $1,000 dollars of your electric bill.
A ground mounted tracking installation will require approximately 500 square feet per $1,000 of your electric bill.
6. How much maintenance do PV systems require and who will be responsible?
The most important part of operations and maintenance (O&M) is understanding what preventative measures
and repairs may need to be done and who will be responsible for each of them. If the system is financed with
a PPA or if the customer purchases a good O&M service plan, then the operation and maintenance of a
well-designed solar PV system should be the simplest part of this process – next to nothing. Most states
require integrators to offer at least a basic break-fix warranty, but all qualified integrators should
offer some type of service plan(s).
If the customer is responsible for O&M, then it is important to get some training from the integrator.
The integrator should provide an O&M package that clearly lists what maintenance should be performed when and how to do it.
The PV system has no moving parts, so simple visual inspections are the basic key to problem-free operations.
Maintenance can be as simple as periodic system inspection to look for damaged modules, corrosion or loose
electrical connections. Nearby brush or trees should be trimmed as needed to prevent shading.
Monitoring and data reporting are a key part of the O&M process. Many incentive programs and all PPA financiers
will require an internet based monitoring system that tracks system production and ambient weather.
In addition to alerting the system operator to underperformance, monitoring systems report system production
that is used by PPA financiers and incentive program administrators to calculate the appropriate
monthly bills or credits – similar to a standard utility meter.
