Photovoltaic Incentive Programs Survey: Residential
Participant Demographics, Motivations and Experiences - Nov
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. Download
Report.
Top Ten Utility Solar Integration Rankings - May
2009
Each year, SEPA conducts a nationwide survey of utilities
to find out how much solar electricity was integrated into their
service territories both annually and cumulatively. The resulting
report crowns the most solar integrated utilities in the United
States and discusses the large scale solar projects being planned
for the future. Download
Report.
Distributed Photovoltaic Generation for Regulated Utilities - Feb
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. Download
Report.
Decoupling Utility Profits from Sales: Issues for the
Photovoltaic Industry - Feb 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. Download
Report.
Utility Solar Tax Manual - Jan 2009
In 2008, Congress extended the federal solar investment
tax credit for eight years and removed the utility exemption,
allowing regulated investor-owned utilities to utilize the credit.
This manual provides detailed explanations of the tax provisions
related to the bill, as well as exploring other tax issues such as
Clean Renewable Energy Bonds, and unique business tax structures
and issues. Members: Download
Report. Non-Members: Download Preview
(Purchase Report).
Utility Solar Procurement Study - Jan 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.
Download Report.
Special Report:
Electric Utilities and Solar, A Market Review
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. Download
Report.
2007 Top Ten Utility Solar Integration
Rankings
In early 2008, SEPA conducted a nationwide survey of
utilities to find out how much solar electricity, e.g. PV and CST,
was integrated into their service territories through the end of
2007. The resulting report, which will be released annually, crowns
the most solar integrated utilities in the United States and
discusses future solar market development issues that have arisen
recently. Download
Report.
Fact Finding Mission to Germany for Utility Decision
Makers
Thirty-five US utility decision makers traveled with SEPA
to Germany in June 2008 to examine how they can emulate the success
of German utilities in integrating large quantities of solar
electricity into a national utility grid without creating
transmission bottle necks, system quality distortions, and
scheduling issues. This report summarizes the findings for other US
utilities. Download
Report.
Utility Solar Business Models *Access to USBM Project:
Click Here
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. Download
Report. Download Executive
Summary.
Photovoltaic Capacity Valuation Methods
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. Download
Report.
Residential Photovoltaic Metering and Interconnection
Study
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. Download
Report.
Photovoltaic Asset Ownership Analysis - Early
2010
EuropeGrid-connected distributed photovoltaic ownership
has diversified over time, from customer to third-party to utility,
with each successive ownership model expanding the solar market
opportunities significantly. However, these new business
models change the costs and benefits to each stakeholders in
distinct ways. This study will look at the various PV
ownership models and identify the changing issues that each
stakeholder perceives as the PV market evolves into a more complex
business landscape.
Photovoltaic Technology Characterization - Early
2010
There are at least seven commercial photovoltaic panel
technologies currently available in the market. This study will be
a qualitative and quantitative comparison of photovoltaic
technology types based on their technological characteristics,
primary market uses, environmental profiles and other relevant
components that define these traditional and emerging solar
generation types.
Utility Solar Business Models: Phase 2 - Early 2010
*Access to USBM Project: Click Here
While renewable market requirements are driving
current solar investment, business opportunities are emerging for
utilities to become involved in the solar value chain. This report
will highlight utility solar business models that are providing
value-added solutions for utilities, customers, and the solar
industry.
