SOLAR TODAY - July/August 2009

crunch the Solar numbers

• California Solar Statistics: californiasolar statistics.ca.gov

• Clean Power Estimator, the GoSolar California online calculator for photovoltaic systems: consumerenergycenter.org/ renewables/estimator/ index.html

• Environmental Energy Technologies Division at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, cost and economic analysis reports: bleer.lbl.gov/?s=pv

• “The Value Proposition of Solar Water Heating In California,” published by the California Solar Energy Industries Association: calseia. org/ solar-water-heating-value.html

• OnGrid Solar Energy Systems, for financing and economics courses and articles: ongrid.net

Inventor Saul Griffith, Ph.D., estimates
that making a difference in the fight against
climate change means installing 100 square meters
of photovoltaics every second for 25 years.

model of centralized generation and command-control grid technology. But retrofitting solar into existing buildings will require standardizing the patchwork of local permitting procedures and utility interconnection standards. That’s no small task, considering that the solar industry itself is still developing common standards and protocols for communicating system production and project economics.

The regulatory landscape is continually shifting. Employers that must navigate these regulatory challenges appreciate job applicants who understand the basic issues. Or perhaps you’ll invent the widget, software or business model that alleviates a regulatory barrier.

ning different project variables through these systems to note how the financial returns and CO impacts change. Download the free Solar

2

Advisor Model software from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and practice building your own estimates for solar electric, solar thermal and utility-scale projects: nrel. gov/analysis/sam.

Finally, learn about the various mechanisms for project financing through articles or distributor websites. These mechanisms include power purchase agreements, system leasing and property-tax and/or bond-funded financing through local governments.

Learn the economics

At the project level, the financial picture starts with equipment prices. At least half of a PV system’s cost is based on module prices, which is one reason the industry has a goal of being able to price modules at less than a dollar per watt (DC).

Representing almost three-quarters of PV sales activity in the United States, California offers a good benchmark for industry economics. One of the easiest ways to analyze price trends and equipment sales is using the California Solar Statistics database (california solarstatistics.ca.gov). This searchable database provides information on project costs, equipment used and more.

You can also learn a lot by studying project economics using the free online project calculators used by solar customers. Try run-

click for

Regulatory updates

• “California Feed-in Tariff Policies and Legislation,” published by Solar Tech in April: solartech.org, click on Publications

• Solar America Board for Codes and Standards: solarabcs.org

• Solar Electric Power Association: solar electricpower.org

• Interstate Renewable Energy Council: irecusa.org

Participate in the Solar Movement

Learning about solar industry resources is where you begin to demonstrate your commitment and build the network essential to launching your new solar career. The U.S. industry is still fairly flat and easy to approach, and there are many ways to get involved. Here are just a few.

• Organizations: The American Solar Energy Society ( ases.org) and its chapters, the Solar Energy Industries Association (seia. org) and chapters, Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA), Florida Solar Energy Center, Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC), VoteSolar, Solar Nation.

• Clicks: SolarBuzz.com, Renewable EnergyWorld.com (REW), PV-Tech.org,

GreentechMedia.com, PVResources.com. Subscribe to the e-newsletters and listen to weekly podcasts.

• Events: Attend the annual ASES National Solar Conference along with events produced by SEIA, SEPA, REW, IREC and the ASES and SEIA regional chapters.

• Reads: SOLAR TODAY, Home Power, Photon, Solar Pro and Renewable Energy World magazines.

• Volunteer Efforts: Get involved in solar tours, help produce newsletters, educate local business groups, bring pro-solar policies to your community, produce You Tube videos on solar, help install through Habitat for Humanity or other building nonprofits, raise money to install solar on your local schools or help teachers use solar curriculum in the classroom.

• Projects: Build your own solar installations — from water fountains to whole-house systems.

Like other segments of the economy, the solar industry has experienced consolidation as a result of the global economic recession. Overseas players are also moving aggressively to win U.S. markets. But we have many reasons for optimism.

As industry expert and project lawyer Ed Feo stated on a recent RenewableEnergy-World.com podcast, “[Y]ou’re starting to see these little buds come out of the ground, of term sheets being circulated and people being interested in doing financing.” This year we are benefitting from various types of support, including a 10-year, 30 percent federal tax credit available to all customers, stimulus funding for project grants (in lieu of tax credits for applicable commercial projects) and falling module prices. Congress may soon act to put a price on carbon emissions so that green power is even more price competitive.