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Wednesday, Jan 30, 2013

Financing Non-Residential Photovoltaic Projects: Options and Implications

Installations of grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) systems in the United States have increased dramatically in recent years, growing from less than 20 MW in 2000 to nearly 500 MW at the end of 2007, a compound average annual growth rate of 59%. Of particular note is the increasing contribution of “non-residential” grid-connected PV systems – defined here as those systems installed on the customer (rather than utility) side of the meter at commercial, institutional, non-profit, or governmental properties – to the overall growth trend.

Wednesday, Jan 30, 2013

Supporting Solar Power in Renewables Portfolio Standards: Experience from the United States

Among the available options for encouraging the increased deployment of renewable electricity, renewables portfolio standards (RPS) have become increasingly popular. The RPS is a relatively new policy mechanism, however, and experience with its use is only beginning to emerge. One key concern that has been voiced is whether RPS policies will offer adequate support to a wide range of renewable energy technologies and applications or whether, alternatively, RPS programs will favor a small number of the currently least-cost forms of renewable energy.

Wednesday, Jan 30, 2013

Implications of Wide-Area Geographic Diversity for Short- Term Variability of Solar Power

Worldwide interest in the deployment of photovoltaic generation (PV) is rapidly increasing. Operating experience with large PV plants, however, demonstrates that large, rapid changes in the output of PV plants are possible. Early studies of PV grid impacts suggested that short-term variability could be a potential limiting factor in deploying PV. Many of these early studies, however, lacked high-quality data from multiple sites to assess the costs and impacts of increasing PV penetration.

Wednesday, Jan 30, 2013

An Analysis of the Effects of Residential Photovoltaic Energy Systems on Home Sales Prices in California (2012)

Relatively little research exists estimating the marginal impacts of photovoltaic (PV) energy systems on home sale prices. Using a large dataset of California homes that sold from 2000 through mid-2009, we find strong evidence, despite a variety of robustness checks, that existing homes with PV systems sold for a premium over comparable homes without PV systems, implying a near full return on investment. Premiums for new homes are found to be considerably lower than those for existing homes, implying, potentially, a tradeoff between price and sales velocity.

Wednesday, Jan 30, 2013

Tracking the Sun V An Historical Summary of the Installed Price of Photovoltaics in the United States from 1998 to 2011

As the deployment of grid-connected solar photovoltaic (PV) systems has increased, so too has the desire to track the installed price of these systems over time and by location, customer type, and system characteristics. This report helps to fill this need by summarizing trends in the installed price of grid-connected PV systems in the United States from 1998 through 2011, with preliminary data for 2012.

Wednesday, Jan 30, 2013

Residential Photovoltaic Energy Systems in California: The Effect on Home Sales Prices (2011)

The Working Group III Special Report on Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation (SRREN) presents an assessment of the literature on the scientific, technological, environmental, economic and social aspects of the contribution of six renewable energy (RE) sources to the mitigation of climate change. It is intended to provide policy relevant information to governments, intergovernmental processes and other interested parties. This Summary for Policymakers provides an overview of the SRREN, summarizing the essential findings. The SRREN consists of 11 chapters.

Tuesday, Jan 29, 2013

Impacts of Regional Electricity Prices and Building Type on the Economics of Commercial Photovoltaic Systems

Business owners often have a choice between multiple electricity rate options. For businesses with photovoltaic (PV) installations, choosing the right rate is essential to maximize the value of PV generation. The complex interaction between PV generation, building load, and rate structure makes determining the best rate a challenging task. We evaluated 207 rate structures across 77 locations and 16 commercial building types and identified the impacts of regional electricity prices and building type on the economics of solar PV systems.

Tuesday, Jan 29, 2013

Maximizing the Value of Photovoltaic Installations on Schools in California: Choosing the Best Electricity Rates

Schools in California often have a choice between multiple electricity rate options. For schools with photovoltaic (PV) installations, choosing the right rate is essential to maximize the value of PV generation. The rate option that minimizes a school’s electricity expenses often does not remain the most economical choice after the school installs a PV system. The complex interaction between PV generation, building load, and rate structure makes determining the best rate a challenging task.

Tuesday, Jan 22, 2013

FERC's Small Generator Interconnection Procedures (SGIP)

FERC issued a notice of proposed rulemaking to update its SGIP. Among several changes, it proposes to modify the Supplemental Review process; making it similar to the California Rule 21 process - a 100% of minimum load screen along with two additional technical screens that evaluate a generators' impact on safety, reliability and power quality. FERC will host an additional workshop and provide an opportunity for written comments on the proposed changes before finalizing the rule.

Tuesday, Jan 22, 2013

OHIO PUC Proposes Interconnection Revisions

On January 16, 2013,  the Ohio Public Utility Commission staff issued proposed revisions to that state's interconnection procedures for comment. A supplemental review process with a 100% of minimum load penetration screen and two additional technical screens are among the changes proposed. Comments are due later in January with reply comments in February. Read the full text.

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