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Fact Finding Missions
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Each year, SEPA takes a group of utility decision makers outside the United States to gain international perspectives on solar technology, policy, and grid integration. In 2011 SEPA is hosting the first U.S. Fact Finding Mission enabling utilities to learn and share the experiences of their colleagues in other states.
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About • Upcoming FFM: Germany 2012 • New York/New Jersey 2012 Past FFM: Southern California 2011 •Italy 2011 • Japan 2010 • Spain 2009 • Germany 2008
About SEPA's Fact Finding Missions SEPA's Fact Finding Missions have quickly established themselves as one of the best resources to get hands-on experience with solar technologies, programs and policies. Trip objectives:
Contact Cynthia Hunt Jaehne at 202.595.1148 or cjaehne@solarelectricpower.org, to find out how you can participate in an upcoming SEPA Fact Finding Mission.
Upcoming Fact Finding Missions International Fact Finding Mission to Germany: June 24-30, 2012 For our fifth International Fact Finding Mission, SEPA returns to Germany, the site of our first mission. Although its solar resource is on par with that of Anchorage, Alaska, Germany continues to lead the world in solar capacity. Of Germany's 17 GW of solar, most has been installed in the past five years. The drivers for this dramatic growth are supportive national policies that incentivize solar investment and include a feed-in tarrif (FIT). U.S. utility executives and managers will learn how the FIT has evolved, how successful it has been in achieving its goals, and how German utilities are coping with the integration of large amounts of distributed solar into their systems. Event participation is limited to utilities only. There are a number of contribution opportunities available for solar industry members. Contact Jessica Sliva at jsliva@solarelectricpower.org for more information. U.S. Fact Finding Mission to New York and New Jersey: October 2012 In 2012, SEPA will head east for its second annual U.S. Fact Finding Mission. The one-week tour will bring utility executives and managers to solar sites in the greater New York City region. The emphasis of the tour will be on a first-hand observation of how utilities in the region are designing and managing solar porgrams for customers, investing in utility-scale projects, and handling interconnections and grid integration issues. This tour will include an inside look at New Jersey - one of the most dynamic solar markets in the U.S. In addition, we will explore the challenges of incorporating solar into urban grids, discuss and observe the development of solar at brownfield sites, and learn about innovative business models linking utilities with non-profits, community organizations and industrial customers.
U.S. Fact Finding Mission to Southern California: November 13-18, 2011 For the first time, SEPA brought its Fact Finding Mission (FFM) to the United States. The purpose of the program was for utilities to learn from one another's experience and to gain perspectives on solar technology and policy first-hand. In the U.S., solar has grown rapidly and is becoming more popular across the country. California, where the largest growth started and still continues, was a natural choice for the debut of a domestic Fact Finding Mission. Participants spent a week engaging with Southern California utility counterparts, government officials and solar industry representatives. They also saw first-hand examples of how the region is developing a sustainable solar market and how they are preparing technically for even greater solar integration in the future.
Left: Workers install modules during construction of the 21 megawatt Blythe PV Solar Power Plant. Right: Aerial view of completed Blythe facility. Both photos courtesy of First Solar.
The SEPA delegation traveled to Italy and learned:
This was an invaluable learning experience and an unparalleled opportunity for the utility delegates to network with their peers. The group met with key utility players as well as representatives from the Italian government, the solar industry and the solar and utility associations. They also met with other solar stakeholders and visited several solar power plants as they traveled through Italy with stops in Milan, Venice and Rome. Click here to view the report.
Each year, SEPA leads a group of utility leaders beyond the U.S. border to learn about solar market development in another country. In July 2010, SEPA took a group of 18 utility executives and managers to Japan. The “Land of the Rising Sun” has been an early leader in solar technologies with a sustainable long term rooftop PV market, and currently has ambitious goals to regain its leading position that it lost to Germany in 2004. With a strong focus on developing solutions for the integration of high penetration level of PV into the grid and a national policy that sets a clear direction for the future of Japan’s energy supply, Japan has provided an excellent learning environment for the SEPA delegation. The Post-Trip report is avaialable here or you can view SEPA's press release on the Fact Finding Mission here.
In May 2009, SEPA took a group of 16 utility executives and managers to Spain. In 2008, more than 3 gigawatts of solar electricity was integrated into the Spanish grid, resulting from a high feed-in tariff with no market limits; 98 percent of the installations were ground-mounted and only 2 percent roof-mounted. Spain provided an excellent learning environment for the SEPA group, which explored both photovoltaics and concentrating solar thermal electric installations during the trip. Upon returning from the trip, SEPA hosted a webinar to share lessons learned with all its members who weren't able to make the trip to Spain. The MP3 of the webinar is available for download by members.
In June 2008, SEPA took a group of 31 utility executives and managers to Germany. Germany is one of the top photovoltaic markets in the world, largely due to its long-established feed-in tariff program. The country has developed both rooftop and ground-mounted PV market segments, as well as a strong manufacturing base. A summary report of the trip and its findings is available to members and non-members |
Quotes from Participants
Below are testimonials from four participants on SEPA's 2011 International Fact Finding Mission to Italy.
“An extraordinary opportunity to understand the challenges and opportunities for solar development in the U.S. and the key role utilities can play in the transition to renewable energy.” – Robert Revelle, Vice President, Atlantic City Electric “The SEPA fact finding mission provides a great opportunity to explore how other countries are developing energy policies and strategies to promote renewable generation. The mission provides an open forum to learn from others’ experience.” – Lonnie Carter, President & CEO, Santee Cooper
“In the 26 years I've worked at my utility, I've been to a lot of meetings and events. This is by far the best industry event I've ever attended.” – Glenn Moore, Vice President, Delmarva Power
"Before the trip, I looked at solar only from the immediate concerns of my utility. This experience has given me a new perspective - solar has a global significance." - Ali Yari, Director, Electric T&D Engineering, San Diego Gas and Electric |
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In 2009, Italy became the second fastest growing solar market in the world. With SunEdison's completion of the 70 MW Rovigo solar plant, Italy is now home to the largest single PV power plant in Europe. Supportive policies and (more recently) efforts to improve the authorization process have contributed to this explosive growth.
