Community Solar Gardens
Lissa PawlischClean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs)UMN Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships & Extension
CERTs: We’re here to help
CERTs Mission: Connect individuals and their communities to the resources they need to identify and implement community-based clean energy projects
Partnership
Community Shared Solar: Cliff Notes
Point to yours!
Only Prerequisite Is…
Why Community Shared Solar?
Photo from: http://www.greenbeltsolar.com/solar_shading_article.html Photo from: http://www.forrent.com/apartment-community-profile/1019896.php, Rosedale Estates II
The Minnesota Solar Suitability App displays solar insolation and solar photovoltaic (PV) potential with 1 square meter resolution for the entire state of Minnesota. It was created using Lidar data and GIS technology.
solar.maps.umn.edu/app
Why Community Shared Solar?
Definition:
Centrally-located solar PV systemsthat provide electricity to participating subscribers
Community Shared Solar
• 1 garden • Max garden size = 1 MW • Minimum 5 subscribers per garden• No subscriber > 40% of garden output• Cover up to 120% of annual elec. usage
By the Numbers
Photo credits: www.solarpowerportal.co.uk
Location, location, location
The amount of electricity you use each year helps you decide how much solar to get. Your solar garden subscription can cover as little as 200 watts or up to 120% of your usage.
Designed to cover your needs
How does it work?Xcel Energy Program
OPERATOR: primary group running the solar garden
UTILITY: approves garden, tracks production, provides credit.
SUBSCRIBERS: individuals or groups to get solar power
3rd Party Operator develops & runs garden. Maintains relationship w/ subscriber for payment. Utility provides subscriber w/ bill credit.
Bill Credit Rates2015 Applicable Retail Rates
+ Renewable Energy Credit (REC) Payments ($/kWh)
REC PaymentResidential
ServiceSmall General
Service
General Service/ DemandMetered
None (Applicable Retail Rate)
0.12743 0.12431 0.09914
0.02 (> 250 kW gardens) 0.14743 0.14431 0.11914
0.03 (≤ 250 kW gardens) 0.15743 0.15431 0.12914
How does it work?
Pay Up Front / Pre-Pay Model
Subscriber purchases a subscription for a onetime fee that covers the life of the agreement.
Bill credit appears monthly over 25 year project timeline.
Lump sum subscription paid up front
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How does it work?Pay As You GoSubscriber pays in installments over time. Subscriber receives bill credit for their share of output on their energy bill the following month.
Two separate transactions each month. One is a bill credit. Another is a monthly subscription payment. Process is same over 25 year project timeline.
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AVAILABLE CSG PROJECTSCalculate your potential savings
AVAILABLE CSG PROJECTSCalculate your potential savings
AVAILABLE CSG PROJECTS
cleanenergyprojectbuilder.org
Find Subscriptions for You
Evaluating garden options
With whom do you want to work?
to credit: Wright Hennepin Coop
Where will the garden be located?
to credit: Wright Hennepin Coop
Who is funding the project?
Photo credits: www.usbank.com, www.bremer.com, www.nrco.coop, https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ1pOj8btOIk_d5exvQ_6LEnmgntg5OXbfmvw9Ye26Gf_7Cpxru, alliancepayroll.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/taxcredits.gif www.mpsutility.com/index.php/contact-mps, http://www.tubman.org/, http://mnipl.org/
CERTs Resources
23http://SolarGardens.MnCERTs.org
QUESTIONS?http://SolarGardens.MnCERTs.org
CERTs: Minnesotans Building a Clean Energy Future
