SOLAR INSTALLATION
Bucks County Solar Installations Rise
Government incentives that pay up to 65% of installation costs combined with money earned by purchasing a Grid Tied PV system stands as a logical trend in Bucks County according to local solar installers.
The current solar price factors in results from a long standing PV Panel supply chain glut causing PV price to drop and customers are taking advantage of what looks like a buyers market.
Many buyers are motivated by strong commitments to the environment and to national security. Here in Bucks County we are fortunate to have a great population of families that care enough about the environment and their country and want to make this happen.
PA Sunshine Program
The rebate program for "Eligible Projects" as described in DEP4245 Rev 11/09 for Residential and Small Businesses. Specific rules and guidelines for successful projects are available on the DEP website and some highlights include the following.
Residential PV systems include those rated no less than 1 kW and up to 10 kW and where Larger residential systems may participate but will only receive rebates equivalent to the costs of the first 10 kW.
The rebate program will cover small business PV systems rated no less that 3 kW and up to 200kW. Larger small business systems may
participate, but will only receive rebates equivalent to the costs of the first 200 kW.
PV components and must be new equipment , with the exceptions, and must also be on the California Solar Initiative’s list of eligible equipment.
The design and installation must be in compliance with the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (for more information, see:www.dli.state.pa.us)
The system installer that you hire must be on the Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) list of approved installers as further described be. Solar shade analysis must be completed and a system performance calculation must show that the system will produce no less than ment and 80 percent of the annual output of a system with optimal place orientation. f.
Any new construction home that is including PV as part of, or simultaneously with, the initial construction process must be Energy Star qualified.
Solar thermal systems must meet the following requirements: a. The program will cover residential and small business solar thermal hot systems excluding those that are
used for heating swimming pools, hottubs etc
Eligible residential solar hot water projects may receive a maximum rebate of $2,000.
Eligible small business solar hot water projects may receive a maximum rebate of $20,000. Solar thermal systems must be new equipment, and solar collectors must be SRCC OG100 rated or equivalent. The design and installation must be in compliance with the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code.
The system installer must be on the DEP list of approved installers on DEP site.
Solar shade analysis must be completed and a system performance calculation must show that the system will produce no less than 80 percent of the annual output of a system with optimal placement and orientation.
Any new construction home that is including solar thermal as part of, or simultaneously with, the initial construction process must be Energy Star qualified.
All projects must be in compliance with all applicable laws. Construction projects receiving state rebates and having a cost in excess of $25,000 may be subject to Pennsylvania’s Prevailing Wage Act requirements.
Other Sunshine Program rules apply, find complete details@ www.portal.state.pa.us.
It is important to note that following rules is solely the responsibility of a rebate recipient to ensure the Act is followed if applicable.
Government incentives that pay up to 65% of installation costs combined with money earned by purchasing a Grid Tied PV system stands as a logical trend in Bucks County according to local solar installers.
The current solar price factors in results from a long standing PV Panel supply chain glut causing PV price to drop and customers are taking advantage of what looks like a buyers market.
Many buyers are motivated by strong commitments to the environment and to national security. Here in Bucks County we are fortunate to have a great population of families that care enough about the environment and their country and want to make this happen.
PA Sunshine Program
The rebate program for "Eligible Projects" as described in DEP4245 Rev 11/09 for Residential and Small Businesses. Specific rules and guidelines for successful projects are available on the DEP website and some highlights include the following.
Residential PV systems include those rated no less than 1 kW and up to 10 kW and where Larger residential systems may participate but will only receive rebates equivalent to the costs of the first 10 kW.
The rebate program will cover small business PV systems rated no less that 3 kW and up to 200kW. Larger small business systems may
participate, but will only receive rebates equivalent to the costs of the first 200 kW.
PV components and must be new equipment , with the exceptions, and must also be on the California Solar Initiative’s list of eligible equipment.
The design and installation must be in compliance with the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (for more information, see:www.dli.state.pa.us)
The system installer that you hire must be on the Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) list of approved installers as further described be. Solar shade analysis must be completed and a system performance calculation must show that the system will produce no less than ment and 80 percent of the annual output of a system with optimal place orientation. f.
Any new construction home that is including PV as part of, or simultaneously with, the initial construction process must be Energy Star qualified.
Solar thermal systems must meet the following requirements: a. The program will cover residential and small business solar thermal hot systems excluding those that are
used for heating swimming pools, hottubs etc
Eligible residential solar hot water projects may receive a maximum rebate of $2,000.
Eligible small business solar hot water projects may receive a maximum rebate of $20,000. Solar thermal systems must be new equipment, and solar collectors must be SRCC OG100 rated or equivalent. The design and installation must be in compliance with the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code.
The system installer must be on the DEP list of approved installers on DEP site.
Solar shade analysis must be completed and a system performance calculation must show that the system will produce no less than 80 percent of the annual output of a system with optimal placement and orientation.
Any new construction home that is including solar thermal as part of, or simultaneously with, the initial construction process must be Energy Star qualified.
All projects must be in compliance with all applicable laws. Construction projects receiving state rebates and having a cost in excess of $25,000 may be subject to Pennsylvania’s Prevailing Wage Act requirements.
Other Sunshine Program rules apply, find complete details@ www.portal.state.pa.us.
It is important to note that following rules is solely the responsibility of a rebate recipient to ensure the Act is followed if applicable.
Here's More Great Solar News!
September, 2009, The expected Solar PV market price drop was heavily discussed across the country for the last six months, experts say
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email info@buckscountyenergy.com
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email info@buckscountyenergy.com
A PICTURE IS WORTH A "KILO-WORD"
Declining
solar prices
The
Journal of New England Technology
A combination of increased labor costs and reduced rebates has eaten into the savings, and while panel costs are expected to fall further, solar integrators say now is the time to install before those price declines turn into increases.
“Module price decline is a nice one to have because it’s been so rapid, but module prices are not dropping as fast now,” said Brendan Neagle, chief operating officer for Borrego Solar in Lowell, which installs solar systems on commercial and government buildings. Neagle said the total installation cost in Massachusetts has dropped about 20 percent from a year ago.
While declining costs of solar panels may be a boon to integration firms, which install the panels, electrical components and mounting systems, it challenges panel makers to lower the cost of production to protect profit margins. Evergreen Solar Inc., the Marlborough solar panel maker, said in its second-quarter conference call that while it has been able to reduce its manufacturing cost to around $2.70 per watt from around $3.16 per watt in the first quarter, average selling prices declined just as fast.
“This market does not have the elasticity the most markets tend to have. So, people are dropping prices to move inventory not because of increasing demand. Until credit starts to flow, we don’t believe there is much more we can do,” said Terry Bailey, senior vice president of sales and marketing, in the call.
Overall, panel prices have declined from last year’s peak of $4.20 cents per watt to around $2.40 cents per watt today, according to London research firm New Energy Finance. Some analysts expect panel prices could fall below $2.00 in the near future. Panel prices make up roughly half of the total cost of installation, several integrators said.
Yet while installers say they pass on all of the price declines to the customers in the sales of systems, the nature of the tax credit and rebate system pegs rebates to the total cost of the systems.
Massachusetts officials recently recalculated the rebates for commercial and industrial applicants to its Commonwealth Solar program, cutting the rebate from between 50 cents and 90 cents per watt depending on the size of the system. State rebates have shrunk since the program was implemented early last year as cost declined and federal rebates grew
Solar Thermal Perspectives
A conversation with leading professionals in the solar heating, cooling and hot water space.
New York, United States [RenewableEnergyWorld.com]
The Ancient Greeks and Romans understood the value of solar for heating -- the two societies oriented entire cities to maximize sun exposure during winter months. Today, we orient houses any way we please, ignoring the value of the sun for heating (and cooling) applications.
After the mid-1980's, the industry was putting around 6,000 solar hot water systems online a year. Since 2006, companies around the country have seen the installation of 25,000-30,000 systems a year.
The same is true for water heating. From the late 1800's to the mid-1920's, solar hot water systems were extremely popular in western U.S. states, with some towns in California heating a third of residential hot water with such systems. In the 1940's, half of Florida's population heated their water with the sun.Why all this recognition of the importance and simplicity of solar thermal throughout history? Because in each of these cases, they were driven to use the sun for heat because of the scarcity of fuels like wood and natural gas. But also in each of these cases, solar thermal heating was replaced because of the availability of cheaper fuels.
In the late 1970's and early 1980's, the nation was again swept by a solar thermal boom. But a lack of quality standards for systems combined with the drop in fossil energy prices caused yet another drop in interest.
Today, as concerns over the environmental impact and availability of oil and natural gas rise, the industry is again starting to see rapid market growth. After the mid-1980's, the industry was putting around 6,000 solar hot water systems online a year. Since 2006, companies around the country have seen the installation of 25,000-30,000 systems a year.
Industry professionals are trying to ensure this new growth continues in a sustainable way by focusing on increasing quality standards, training a qualified workforce and educating the public about the benefits of various solar thermal technologies.
SOLAR NOW!
Northeastern U.S. takes advantage of "new" solar pricing as manufacturers are forced to reduce supply. Now is the time to contact your Solar Installer for prices that exceed expected market drop. The PV and Solar Hot Water rate September price drop is expected to flatten.
Bucks County Energy Solar Installation Services
Yes, I am interested in installing:
* Grid-Tied Photovoltaic Panels
* Off Grid Photovoltaic System
* Solar Hot Water
* Ground Mount System
* Solar Pool Heating System
email: info@buckscountyenergy.com
Northeastern U.S. takes advantage of "new" solar pricing as manufacturers are forced to reduce supply. Now is the time to contact your Solar Installer for prices that exceed expected market drop. The PV and Solar Hot Water rate September price drop is expected to flatten.
Bucks County Energy Solar Installation Services
Yes, I am interested in installing:
* Grid-Tied Photovoltaic Panels
* Off Grid Photovoltaic System
* Solar Hot Water
* Ground Mount System
* Solar Pool Heating System
email: info@buckscountyenergy.com
NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY LIBRARY
The NREL is the go to energy research organization if you want to understand policy, research and new building design processes as they relate to solar installations and more.
Building energy efficient building takes a new approach today and differs from the traditional method of building construction because it uses a "design team" to make all the design decisions rather than a single person.
Relying on the "Efficiency First" design philosophy calls for the establishment of an early stage design team acting as energy and materials project managers. Thier inputs from energy analysts, material and appliance manufacturers and others members of the design team ensure that buildings meet thier energy savings and environmental impact goals.
For more information go to nrel.org
