Go Solar, Join Together, Fight for Your Solar Rights

• Non-profit • 12 States • In Virginia Since 2014

How Does Solar Work?

Solar photovoltaic (PV)

Converts solar energy to electricity

Solar thermal / solar hot water

Uses solar energy to heat air or water

System components: Panels

Part 1: Solar Technology

Panel / ModuleImage Source: DuPont

Solar Array

System components

Racking system

Inverter

Solar Technology

How a solar PV system works (grid tied)

Solar technology

Net metering

• Annual Billing Cycle

• Daily or Seasonal Surpluses

• Percentage of Annual Offset

Solar technology

Solar PV Pricing (GTM Research)

• 700 + MW Installed Ranking 17th (10th in 2017)

• < 1% of energy mix, but over 7,000 Individual PV Systems

• Solar Jobs: 3,565 –Most (84%) in distributed “rooftop” solar, s 199 (16 Manufacturers, 85 Installers/Developers, 98 Others)

• Total Solar Investment in State $777.58 Million

• 47% price drop over the last 5 years: Projection: 2,293 MW over the next 5 years (ranks 9th)

Virginia Snapshot (SEIA & DMME Data)

Trends: Opportunities in All Segments

*SEIA VA Snapshot

Who the Hell is This?

DISTRIBUTED “ROOFTOP” SOLAR VALUE

Batteries: Similar to Generator

(for now)

Source: alarmcentralsecurity.com

Source: Sonnen

Other Applications of Storage

Peak demand

reduction, grid support

(mostly non-residential)

Time of use (arbitrage)

Other Value Streams

Battery Prices: Dramatic Declines

Bloomberg New Energy Finance

• Roof space, MACRS, battery opportunities

• Branding

• Installers love these Jobs

• Barriers: Admin/price paid per kWh/3rd party

C&I Barriers and Opportunties

• Limits and size caps• 1% Net Metering

• System sizing limitations (10%/20 KW/1MW)

• Stand by charges

• Market access barriers• Third Party Ownership (PPA’s )

• Real Community Solar

• Lack of Proactive/Production Incentives• SREC’s, Tax Credits

Barriers in VA (besides ‘inexpensive’ electricity)

• Two-way democratic energy system directing control and benefits back to local communities

• Energy vs. Power

• Build Constituency

• Policies to support• Sierra Club Solar Freedom act

• Rubin Group

• DG industry Voice

Time to Get to Work

A few considerations

• Solar is priced by the watt (not by panel)

• Solar is long-term

– No moving parts & 20-25 year lifespan

• Average residential utility rate

• Rising energy prices

– Dominion: 30% rate increase in last 10 years

Adenda: Solar economics

Pricing and investment

• Average 9 – 13 year return on investment

in Virginia

– Depends on site and pricing

• Expect around $15k

– Small systems under $9k

– Large systems over $20k

Adenda: Solar economics

Useful Resource