Making Solar Simple What is solarize? Developed in Portland, - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Overview for Installers

Making Solar Simple

What is “solarize?”

• Developed in Portland, Oregon in 2010, “solarization” is a

grassroots effort to accelerate residential solar deployment through:

• Community education
• Customer aggregation
• Lower prices
• Solarize campaigns work with contractors selected through a

competitive bidding process to offer a limited-time, discounted

• ffer for solar installations

Previous/ current solarization efforts

Metro/Neighborhood initiative. Statewide/Several Cities.

• Solarize programs can be

structured at the neighborhood, city, or metro level, with some states offering programs covering multiple cities

• Solarize Michigan would

be the first solarization project in Michigan, second in the Midwest

Why Michigan, why Great Lakes Bay, why now?

• Despite large solar industry,

Michigan is home to just 0.2% of national solar deployment

• The Great Lakes Bay region is the

home of the Michigan solar industry

• Strong, committed local partners
• Solid base of previous solar activity
• Federal ITC extended in Dec. 2015
• Greater certainty makes this ideal

time for this initiative

Benefits of Solarize campaigns

• Benefits to homeowners/ small businesses

– Save money on on energy costs – Satisfaction of generating some of their own energy

• Benefits to solar installers

– Customer acquisition and “lead” screening – Expands market by increasing visibility and “solar contagion”

• Benefits to the community

– Builds on and expands region’s reputation as leader in solar energy – Attract more jobs and investment

Solarize Michigan partners

Project Manager: Technical Consultant: Local Partners: Funded by:

Project Timeline

• Feb. 18 – Selection of partner installers
• Feb. 29 – Formal public launch
• March 1-31 – Community outreach

– Informational workshop in each target community – Webinars and other information presentation

• April – Begin enrollment of Solarize customers
• May 1-Oct. 31 – Installation time period
• Nov. 2016 – Project evaluation and publication
• f results

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The Roadmap to Considering Solar

Solar Electricity

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Key Things to Remember

• $/watt - all arrays are different in size, so the basic

unit of measurement is price per watt.

• A typical home needs between 5 and 6 kW.
• Solar is an investment, like any home

improvement project.

– Like other home improvements, financing is available

• You will still get the use the grid, ensuring the

lights will always come on.

Economics of Solar

• Over 8% a year return on your investment
• Pay back is site specific – Generally from 5 to 10 years.

Solar warranties are for 25 years. So a minimum of 15 to 20 years of free energy

• Pay back money comes from what you would have

paid the Utility anyway

• Hedge against inflation. Electricity costs continue to
• rise. (Consumers filed last month for an additional

$344 million increase in rates)

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Solar Installation Types

• Roof mount

– Lower cost – Panels face the same direction(s) as the roof

• Ground mount array

– Slightly higher install cost – Panels face true south at optimum angle

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Residential Pitched Roof Mount 4.275 kW

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Residential Raised Rib Metal Roof – 6.84kW

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Cass Tech 20kW

Steps to Getting Solar

• 1. Attend a solarize workshop
• 2. Sign up for a site visit at www.solarizemichigan.com
• 3. Contractor will work with you to determine your

solar system size and configuration

• 4. Get your price quote – decide to Go Solar!
• 5. Contractor coordinates permits and inspections
• 6. Installations should be timely
• 7. All workmanship and parts are warranted
• 8. Your energy supply is interconnected.
• 9. Save on electricity costs for years to come!

Relevant Property Questions

• What kind of property is it? Home or business?
• Do you own or rent?
• What is your monthly electric bill?
• Who is your electric utility?
• How old is your roof?
• How much roof shade do you get?

How to Make Solar Work for Your Budget

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Making Solar More Affordable

• Suniva will be offering

black on black panels at a discounted rate as the exclusive panels for the campaign.

• McNaughton McKay will

also be offering inverters and racking systems at a discounted rate.

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Federal Investment Tax Credit

• Extended in 2015 for 5 more years.
• Offers a solar investment credit equal to 30% of

the installation costs.

• You can take the federal credit over 2 years.
• You qualify once construction commences.

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Michigan Saves!

• Michigan Saves! is a nonprofit that helps lower

people’s utility bill through low-interest loans.

• Signing up is easy - working directly with your

contractor

• They can give you loans for up to 10 years, lasting

the length of the payback period

• Cash positive

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Other Financing

• Home equity loans and refinancing are also an
• ption.

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Net Energy Metering

• Allows you to produce your energy while ensuring

you can use the grid when you need it.

• When the sun is shining you get a credit for any

energy you don’t use

• At night or when the sun isn’t shining, your

credits offset the power you get from your utlity.

• Concept is to “net out” your energy billl over the

year.

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Thank you!

Stephen Wooden Program Manager, IEI stephen@instituteforenergyinnovation.org (616) 304-5555 www.solarizemichigan.com

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