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Most Recent / Recommended

 

May 2012 - Centralized Solar Projects and Pricing Update Bulletin (Q1 2012)

March 2012 - Utility Solar Tax Manual

February 2012 - Community Solar Program Design: Working Within the Utility

February 2012 - Centralized Solar Projects Update Bulletin (Q4 2011 & Year in Review)

January 2012 - US Fact Finding Mission Briefing

January 2012 - Heating Up: The Impact of Third-Party Business Models on the U.S. Market for Solar Water and Space Heating

 

Customer Programs

 

Photovoltaic Incentive Programs Survey: Residential Participant Demographics, Motivations and Experiences - November 2009

In coordination with SEPA, an electronic survey was developed and distributed by U.S. utility and state PV incentive program managers to consumers who installed PV systems and received a rebate to offset the cost. The survey asked about the participants' satisfaction and experiences with the installation, incentive, interconnection, and ongoing maintenance of their systems. The resulting report analyzed the data across geographies to draw distinctions and parallels across the country.  

Members & Non-Members: Full Report (Free) • Executive Summary • Slide Deck

 

Residential Photovoltaic Metering and Interconnection Study - March 2008
Utilizing data from a survey of 63 U.S. utilities, this report establishes a baseline of utility practices related to residential grid-connected solar photovoltaic metering and interconnection practices.   

Members & Non-Members: Full Report (Free)

 

 

Policy & Regulatory

Decoupling Utility Profits from Sales: Issues for the Photovoltaic Industry - February 2009
The reduced sale of electricity creates an inherent problem for electric utilities in maintaining long-term operating revenue, especially as the solar industry expands.  Decoupling is a regulatory policy option that can change the way utilities recover revenues to adjust this disincentive.  This decoupling white paper introduces the concept into the solar community, explaining what decoupling is, and defining the different types. It includes a case study showing how solar market development in the future might affect utility rates under decoupling.  

Members & Non-Members: Full Report (Free)

 

Distributed Photovoltaic Generation for Regulated Utilities - February 2009
This analysis looks at both the regulatory and practical issues surrounding the installation and ownership of distributed generation photovoltaic systems by electric  utilities, including an overview of the regulatory process, the standards utilities must demonstrate to regulatory for approval and various configurations of utility ownership. 

Members & Non-Members: Full Report (Free)

 

 

Procurement & Development

 

Utility Solar Tax Manual - March 2012
This manual provides detailed explanations of solar related federal tax provisions , as well as exploring other tax issues such as Clean Renewable Energy Bonds, and unique business tax structures and issues.  This is the third update of the Utility Solar Tax Manual  Major updates to the report include setions on the investment tax credit, treasury cash grants, depreciation, manufacturer credit, special tax issues, and other tax nuances.  

Members: • Full Report

Non-Members: Preview (Free) • Purchase Full Report

Centralized Solar Projects and Pricing Quarterly Bulletin (Q1 2012) - May 2012
SEPA's members-only quarterly solar projects bulletin will provide a summary and commentary on the centralized PV and CSP projects activity in the United States.  In the latest installment of the Quarterly Centralized Solar Projects and Pricing Bulletin for the 1^st Quarter of 2012. SEPA teamed up with Navigant Consulting to add a brand new pricing section to the bulletin that makes centralized PV and CSP economics more transparent. It includes installed costs ($/watt), including component costs as well as state-level PPA prices ranges (¢/kWh) for PV.  The pricing section will be released two times a year, in May and November, to give utilities and the solar industry better information about large-scale pricing in the rapidly changing solar market.  Non-members will be able to either purchase the individual bulletins or purchase a yearly subsciption.

Members: Full Report

Non-Members: Purchase Report

Past Issues (Members Only): Q4 2011 • Q3 2011 • Q2 2011 • Q1 2011 • Q4 2010 & Year in Review

Buy versus Build: A Qualitative Comparison of Financial, Tax and Regulatory Issues Influencing Utility Solar Procurement - December 2011 
It is of little surprise that utilities are looking to add solar to their generation portfolios given the expansion of renewable portfolio standards (RPS) and the significant decline in installed PV costs.  This report explores a utility's two solar procurement options - ownership or contracting.  The analysis considers financial, tax and regulatory implications that impact a utility's decision whether to buy (PPA) or build (own) solar generation.

Members: Full Report

Non-Members: Preview (Free) • Purchase Report

Normalization of Solar Investment Tax Credits - June 2011 (updated 1/2012)

In 2008, the solar investment tax credit (ITC) was expanded to include electric utilities, creating an interest in utility ownership of solar assets. To date, utilities have announced or are implementing over 900 MW of utility-owned projects, which is a growing and important fraction of the overall solar market over the next five years. However, the IRS code contains certain provisions, called 'normalization rules,' which can have adverse effects in utilities' use of the ITC and the resulting project costs. This brief describes the issue of normalization in more depth and offers case studies of utilities as they relate to normalization of solar ITCs.

2012 updates on normalization requirements included.

Members: Full Report

Non-Members:  Preview (Free) • Purchase Full Report

International Utility Survey: Utility Procurement Influences & Practices - August 2010

Gartner and the Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) conducted a survey of 134 utilities in Europe and the United States to understand their requirements and objectives for implementing photovoltaic (PV) technologies in their energy generation portfolios. This telephone survey was complemented, in the U.S., by an online survey.

Members: Executive Summary • Full Report • Webinar Recording • Slide Deck

Non-Members:  Executive Summary (Free) • Purchase Full Report

 

Utility Solar Procurement Study - January 2009
This report identified best practices for traditional utility solar procurement (RFPs/PPAs) and innovative new acquisition methods that may present cost or efficiency solutions for both utilities and the solar industry.  

 Members & Non-Members: Full Report (Free)

Special Report: Electric Utilities and Solar, A Market Review - September 2008
In the last year, U.S. electric utilities' engagement with grid-connected solar electricity has increased significantly, with major photovoltaic (PV) and concentrating solar thermal (CST) announcements by utilities, their customers, and third-party solar developers. This executive review of utility activity, rankings and future announcements provides a concise summary of current and future utility solar activities.   

Members & Non-Members: Full Report (Free)

 

 

Resource & Technology

 

SEPA/EPRI Brief - Solar Augmentation of Fossil-Fired Power Cycles - September 2011
Authored by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), the brief looks at the current state of research and deployment for solar augmentation with traditional fossil fuel power plants, i.e. concentrating solar power (CSP) hybrid configurations. CSP plants have thus far been largely designed and developed as stand-alone solar projects but pairing them with existing and new natural gas and coal plants can potentially offer more cost effective deployment. 

Members: Full Report

PV Technology Characterization Review - September 2010 
The PV market continues its explosive growth and simultaneously a wide array of commercially available PV technology and application options are emerging. This SEPA report provides a comparative understanding of the PV technologies along with pertinent metrics, from the manufacturing process through deployment in the field across a broad range of upstream and downstream metrics, including manufacturing processes, feedstock and materials availability, module physical and operating characteristics, market applications and environmental characteristics. 

Members:  Executive Summary • Full Report •  Webinar Slides

Non-Members:  Executive Summary (Free) •  Preview Report • Purchase Full Report •

 

Photovoltaic Capacity Valuation Methods - May 2008
This report catalogues the statistical methods used to measure the relationship between peak electricity and solar PV output, compares all the methods in three case studies for three electric utilities, and documents the results from a 2007 workshop on the topic with utilities, industry, and other stakeholders.   

Members & Non-Members: Full Report (Free)

 

 

Strategic Planning

 

2011 SEPA Utility Solar Rankings - April 2012

The fourth annual Utility Solar Rankings report ranks U.S. electric utilities based on the solar megawatts and watts-per-customer in their solar generation portfolios.  The top ten rankings include national, regional by utility-type rankings. The report further examines key utility solar trends.

Members & Non-Members (free): Executive Summary • Full Report (Coming in May) • Webinar (June 14) • Slide Deck • Dataset (coming in May)  

Previous Reports: 

2010 Utility Solar Rankings (Executive Summary • Webinar • Slide Deck • Dataset)   2009 Utility Solar Rankings (Executive Summary  • Slide Deck  • Webinar Recording) • 2008 Top Ten Utility Solar Rankings • 2007 Top Ten Utility Solar Rankings

 

Heating Up: The Impact of Third-Party Business Models on the U.S. Market for Solar Water and Space Heating - January 2012 
In recent years, a number of turnkey solar thermal providers have entered the US market. The report begins with a review of solar thermal market research for both residential and commercial sectors, including loan-centered models, solar thermal ESCOS, third-party leasing, third party shared revenue projects, and third-party energy services agreements. The last section looks at one critical, remaining question: How can SWH businesses attract the upstream financing they need to scale up turnkey solutions?  Breakthrough companies have learned how to attract necessary investment by achieving economies of scale and by mirroring the performance metrics of solar PV developers.

Members: Full Report

Non-Members: Preview (Free) • Purchase Full Report

Electric Utilities' Solar Employment Needs Brief- November 2011 
The rapid growth of solar electric markets has in-turn required electric utilities to adjust and increase their staffing capabilities to manage everything from distributed customer systems to centralized purchasing contracts to utility owned projects. SEPA's new brief, Electric Utilities' Solar Employment Needs, builds upon the recent analysis in the utility chapter in the U.S. Solar Jobs Census report to create a more complete and unique picture of the utility solar workforce.

Members: Full Report

Non-Members: Preview (Free) • Purchase Full Report

Previous Reports: 

Members and Non-Members (Free): National Solar Jobs Census 2010 • National Solar Jobs Census 2011

Utility Solar Business Models

Community Solar Program Design: Working Within the Utility - February 2012

Utility Solar Business Models (USBMs), given their often unique and innovative approaches, require cross-functional coordination within the utility for both their design and operation. 'Community Solar' programs are one type of business model that exemplify this innovation and that also have significant interest in the utility industry. This Technical Brief considers the point of view of the community solar design person or team within a utility and qualitatively explores the inter-departmental strategic needs that should be addressed as a community solar program is developed.

Members: Full Report • USBM Map and Database

Utility Solar Business Model Quarterly Bulletin: "Regulatory Considerations" - December 2011

This electronic bulletin is part of an ongoing collaborative research between SEPA and EPRI to document and examine the expanding range of utility solar business model activities in acquiring solar energy and owning PV assets. The fourth bulletin includes a regulatory considerations theme, highlighted in the featured article exploring the utility-regulator relationship and how regulators shape business models, two new case studies on utility programs that were revised after regulatory or stakeholder input, and an updated calendar of SEPA/EPRI events. 

Members: Full Report.

Previous Bulletins:

Community Solar - August 2011 • Utility Solar Asset Ownership - June 2011 • USBM Overview - February 2011

Hybrid Utility Solar Business Models Technical Brief - May 2011

U.S. electric utilities are developing solar projects that employ a variety of utility solar business models (USBMs), including utility ownership, customer programs, financing, or energy purchases. These developments have been well documented in SEPA’s prior 2008 and 2010 USBM reports (access here). However, utilities are now combining these approaches in customized ‘hybrid’ USBMs that combine two or more of these business strategies that are tailored to their specific regulatory and operating environments in ways that increase utility, industry and social benefits. This Technical Brief explores these hybrid USBMs strategies and considers whether it signals an important trend toward greater utility engagement in the solar business. 

Members: Full Report • USBM Map and Database

Utility Solar Business Models Phase II: Developing Value in Solar Markets - October 2010

Utilities, regulators, and solar companies have been thinking creatively about new Utility Solar Business Models (USBM) that better align utility interests with policies favoring solar development.  USBMs are distinct in that they offer present or future value to utilities, as well as to utility customers and society, to support utility actions that advance larger renewables and carbon reduction goals. To help in the development of USBM strategies, SEPA has also developed a decision mapping tool that can be used as a complement to this report, or as a stand-alone thought exercise.  The accompanying report and decision mapping tool represents the second phase of this project. 

Members: Executive Summary • Full Report • Decision Mapping Tool (Interactive) • Decision Mapping Tool (Static) • Webinar

Non-Members: Executive Summary • Preview Report • *Purchase Full Report (Report and Decision Mapping Tool)

Utility Solar Business Models Phase I Report - May 2008

While renewable market requirements are driving solar investment currently, business opportunities are beginning to emerge for utilities to become involved in the solar value chain. This report highlights emerging utility business models that provide value-added solutions for utilities, customers, and the solar industry.

Members & Non-Members: Full Report (Free) • Executive Summary

SEPA Event Summaries

 

US Fact Finding Mission Briefing: California's Solar Dream: Insights from the largest and most dynamic solar markets in the US - January 2012
In November 2011, SEPA traveled to Southern California to study the largest solar market in the country. The 4-day SEPA event, held from November 14-17, took participants to four solar facilities across Southern California and gave them the opportunity to learn from some of the solar-leading utilities in the country. This briefing provides an overview of the trip as well as some key takeaways for both the participants and those considering attending future fact finding missions. 

Members: Full Presentation

Utility Perspectives: SEPA's Utility Solar Conference Highlights - September 2011 
The Solar Electric Power Association's 2011 Utility Solar Conference was held in San Diego July 26-27 and gave utility planners, engineers and program managers a forum where they could learn in formal conference sessions, but also compare notes, explore what-if questions and brainstorm creative solutions to today's solar challenges with one another. Fourteen conference panels, two keynote addresses, an awards presentation, and several networking sessions followed over the next two days. 

Members: Full Report 

 

International Fact Finding Mission to Italy (2011): Assessing the Impact of Bold Policy Measures on the Development of a Sustainable Solar Market - July 2011
SEPA annually leads a group of utility leaders on a fact-finding mission to learn how solar markets are developing in different parts of the world. In May 2011, SEPA traveled to Italy to study the country's successes, current challenges, and future approaches surrounding the development and grid integration of distributed solar photovoltaic (PV) resources. The key takeaways from the SEPA fact finding mission are explored in this report.
 

Members: Executive Summary •  Full Report

Non-Members: Executive Summary (free) • Purchase Full Report

Previous Reports:

Japan (2010): Policy Changes Trigger Resurgence of Japan's Solar Market 

(Members: Executive Summary • Full Report • Non-Members: Executive Summary (free) • Purchase Full Report)

Spain (2009): SEPA Seminar: Solar Fact Finding Mission to Spain for Utility Decision Makers - Summary and Analysis (Webinar) 

Germany (2008): Fact Finding Mission to Germany for Utility Decision Makers 

(Members & Non-Members: Full Report)