5 Common Misconceptions about Solar Energy Related to Weather and Equipment

May 22, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Solar EnergyAll the folks at North American Solar Stores (NASS) know first-hand the many benefits of solar.  From Springdale, Arkansas, to White River Junction, Vermont, and all NASS locations in between, we know that solar power is affordable, saves money on energy costs, and makes a huge contribution to a cleaner world.  In our Wisconsin, New York, Pennsylvania, and other NASS stores, we frequently encounter consumers who have a lot of wrong ideas about solar photovoltaic (PV) systems.  The more facts homeowners and business owners know about solar, the more they share our excitement about the greenest source of energy there is.  The following are some common weather and equipment-related misconceptions about solar that we frequently help to dispel:

Misconception #1:  Solar PV Panels Aren’t Effective in Harsh Winter Climates. 

Solar panels, in fact, work very well in cold climates, including in snowy weather.  The effectiveness of the PV system can be hindered if too much snow covers the panels, but it’s usually easy to remove the snow buildup with a squeegee.  (Always follow manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning and removing debris from the solar system.)  The dark solar panels help speed the snow melting process, particularly when the panels face south.  Tests have shown that snow sometimes helps to increase the amount of electricity generated by solar systems, in a way comparable to snow skiers getting sunburned on bright winter days.  Solar panels conduct electricity best in cold weather.

Misconception #2:  Solar PV Panels Aren’t Effective in Cloudy Environments. 

For solar PV systems to work effectively, UV light is all that’s required.  Even the cloudiest places on earth have proven to be excellent for producing solar power.  In fact, Germany ranks low on the number of sunny days they have every year, and Germany is the world’s solar energy capital.

Misconception #3:  Solar PV Panels Aren’t Effective Without Southern Roof Exposure. 

While south-facing solar panels are typically the most efficient, solar systems with east-west roof exposure are also effective.  Ground-mounted systems are another workable option; all that is needed is an unshaded area that is relatively flat.

Misconception #4:  Solar PV Panels Require Extensive Maintenance. 

Once a solar PV system is installed, maintenance and cleaning are rarely required; and there are no moving parts.  The average warranty on a solar system is 25 years, which is proof in itself that solar systems are incredibly durable.  We recommend that the panels be inspected several times a year, to look for debris or dirt that may have collected on them.  You can also schedule professional solar panel cleaners to periodically clean your solar panels.Small Solar Panels

Misconception #5:  Solar PV Panels are Large, Bulky, and Unattractive.

Technological advancements in solar have contributed to the overall effectiveness of solar PV panels and to their appearance.  Solar shingles are even available.  Solar panels can be combined with roofing materials such as metal, asphalt, slate, and fiber-cement and look aesthetically pleasing.

Check back on our website for five solar misconceptions that involve costs, expenses, and efficiency of solar PV systems.  Contact any of our NASS stores with questions about the benefits of solar power or for solar installation.

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Filed Under: Big Solar News, Solar Energy Tagged With: , , , , ,

Rebates & Tax Credits Make “Going Solar” a Viable Option in Massachusetts

March 20, 2013 By Leave a Comment

 

Massachusetts Solar Power

There are great incentives for installing a solar power system in the state of MA, but residential solar power systems can also save a lot of money on home energy bills for years and years to come.

Many states across the country are taking initiatives to “go green” in order to combat environmental changes and the ensuing macroeconomic consequences; and Massachusetts is leading the way. Residents and businesses are beginning to take advantage of the tax credits, rebates, and other incentives that MA offers for switching to clean energy like solar power, and in turn are saving a little green in the process.

In 2008, Massachusetts officials rolled out the Green Communities Act which established an initiative to produce one of the nation’s first renewable energy portfolio standards (RPS), requiring that 15 percent of the state’s electricity come from renewable energy sources by 2020. In order to entice homeowners, business, and municipalities to move to greener energy sources, the state created the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) to give out rebates and incentives for installing solar power systems with the capacity to generate up to 15 kilowatts.

Not only can residents enjoy state personal income tax credits of up to $1000, state sales tax exemption on the purchase of any solar equipment, and a local property tax exemption, they can also make money on their solar energy system. The Division of Renewable Energy at the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) implemented a solar carve-out program. This program will issue a solar renewable energy certificate (SREC) to solar system owners for each megawatt-hour of electricity they generate, which they then sell to retail electric suppliers.

SRECs are traded at current market value which floats between $200 and $250 a piece in Massachusetts. Since retail electric suppliers are required by state law to buy a certain number of SRECs annually in support of renewable energy production, homeowners who have installed solar energy systems can offset their costs and energy bills by selling their SRECs. Talk about a system that pays for itself!

Since the cost of equipment and installation has begun to drop over the past few years and financing programs have become available, more and more residents and small business owners are finding that going solar is a completely viable option. Combining state incentives with rebates from federal programs, the initial outlay of capital can be greatly reduced allowing the initial investment to be recouped in as little as 3 to 5 years. Many residents are appreciating the ability to go green without needing to consider how it will negatively impact their wallets.

Because Massachusetts has started to offer green initiatives, nearly 4,000 residential solar projects have been installed and only 10 of the state’s 351 cities and towns remain without some form of solar activity. According to MassCEC, 220 megawatts of solar power have been installed already in MA and the state sees an annual growth rate of 1% for solar energy due to the success of the carve-out program.

In an effort to address climate commitments, renewable energy sources, and new industry jobs and economSolar Energy MAy, Massachusetts officials have found that to be green, it pays to spend a little green. These enticing rebates and credits make it a great time for MA residents to harvest this wonderful, renewable resource in order to make their world a better place to live.

Contact Higgins Solar Store in Massachusetts to find out more information on designing and installing a solar system in your residence or small business.

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Solar’s Value Found to be Well Above Cost in PA and NJ

February 4, 2013 By Leave a Comment
solar energy investment

Studies have found that solar greatly adds value to homes in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

A study conducted in Pennsylvania and New Jersey found that the value of solar power to the electric grid is significantly above its cost.   The study recently released by the Pennsylvania Solar Energy Industries Association (PASEIA) and the Mid‐Atlantic Solar Energy Industries Association (MSEIA) analyzed data related to utility cost, particularly costs associated with solar generation during peak hours of demand.  The results should serve to boost the confidence of anyone interested in investing in solar energy, since total installation cost is expected to continually decline. The study found that these solar installations add value for homeowners in these states.

In Pennsylvania and New Jersey, energy providers are required by law to purchase a certain amount of solar power annually.  The energy companies pay a premium for the sun’s energy in the form of Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs), and the cost is passed on to ratepayers.

value of solar

You may be eligible for a 2:1 return on your solar investment in New Jersey and Pennsylvania according to a recent study.

According to the study, the total levelized value of solar power ranges from  $256 to $318 per megawatt hour (MWh), which comes to 25.6 cents to 31.8 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh).  These figures are inclusive of a premium value ranging somewhere between $150 to $200 per MWh or 15 cents to 20 cents per kWh above the value of the solar energy that is generated.  In New Jersey, SRECs currently cost approximately $60 per MWh, which comes to about 6 cents per kWh.  In Pennsylvania, SRECs cost only about $20 per MWh or 2 cents per kWh.

President of MSEIA Dennis Wilson explained that electric ratepayers who have invested in solar energy in the areas in which the study was conducted are receiving a better than two-to-one investment return.  He said that, while currently unsustainably low, SRECS can deliver net benefits, support strong solar energy growth, and increase in price.  With this study, it has been proven that solar power can deliver value which significantly exceeds its cost.  In fact, the value of solar power can exceed its cost by 50% to 200% or more using the rate of return calculated over the life of the system.  As the cost of investing in solar technology continues to drop, the net positive benefit will only rise.

New Jersey, the USA’s second largest solar market with a solar capacity of 900 MW is the first state in the nation in which 1% of its annual electricity is solar energy.  The renewable portfolio standard for New Jersey has significantly increased its solar carve-out to 4.1% by the year 2028.

Pennsylvania’s solar carve-out is currently at about .05% and is set to reach .5% in 2021.  Pennsylvania is now eighth in the nation for installed solar capacity.

The study concluded that distributed solar power offsets the demand for conventional power sources and delivers measurable benefits, which include:

•    Reduced outages because the electric power system is more reliable;
•    Reduced need to build generating plants that utilize coal or natural gas, which also reduces the cost to operate and maintain plants;
•    Lower conventional electricity market prices because there is a reduction in peak demand;
•    A valuable price hedge is in place as a result of using a free renewable fuel as opposed to fossil fuels, which are variably priced;
•    Enhanced tax revenues that are generated by local job creation for solar installers as compared to those jobs associated with conventional forms of power generation.

It’s possible that the conclusions of this study supply valuable data which any state may want to use as a stepping stone to an increase in required solar capacity.

If you would like to take advantage of this solid solar investment, install solar panels on your home from our solar store locations in New Jersey or Pennsylvania. Our New Jersey member location, Bowden’s Solar Store, is located in Hamilton, NJ and our Pennsylvania member location is at Tall Pines Farm Solar Store located in Kingsley, PA. Each of our locations are trained by the NASS Solar Training Institute and are prepared to design and install a quality solar system on your home.

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Solar PV Parking Lots From Coast to Coast

December 11, 2012 By Leave a Comment
solar parking lots

Cities all across the country are seeing the benefits of installing solar panels over parking lots.

From San Diego, California, to Atlantic City, New Jersey, some cities in the U.S.A. are bold about committing to renewable energy sources such as solar power.  In particular, solar photovoltaic (PV) systems installed in parking lots are making a showing from coast to coast, shining a light on the benefits and value of clean energy.

The San Diego Zoo is set to generate energy from the sun which will be used to charge electric cars, shade the parking lot, and more.  A solar photovoltaic canopy is scheduled to be installed in the San Diego Zoo parking lot, a project shared by the zoo and Smart City San Diego, a consortium of local businesses.

The solar PV canopy will provide shade for 50 cars and will also provide electricity for five car-charging stations.  The system will be comprised of ten solar canopies, and it will feed into a 100-kilowatt battery storage system.

san diego zoo solar

This major solar PV project at the San Diego Zoo is one of the first of its kind in the entire country.

Excess energy produced from full batteries will be redirected.  It’s expected that enough additional power will be generated to provide all of the peak-production electricity needed for 59 homes. The batteries which store the solar energy will allow for overnight charging, as well.

According to a project spokesperson, this is one of the first ever projects like this one, in which solar energy is the direct source used for charging electric cars.

Have you ever seen a solar PV canopy?  It will look like a tree – a solar tree.  There will be solar panels above, and the base is a charging station.

Construction of this solar project is well underway and expected to be completed in November.  The ten solar PV canopies are positioned in the zoo parking lot’s southeastern section.

The Department of Energy provided federal stimulus money which is paying for these innovative car-charging stations through a program called the EV Project.  Eventually, 1,000 car charging stations total are slated to be installed in San Diego County as part of this federal initiative.

Attempts to move forward with the EV Project have been hindered because of difficulties in finding locations for charging stations where parking spaces are already scarce.  In fact, many businesses in the San Diego area have refused to sacrifice their parking spaces to make room for the solar charging stations.  So there has been much cause to celebrate the addition of the solar canopies in the San Diego Zoo parking lot.

electric car charging spaces

The 6 electric car charging spaces will be powered by the solar PV panels overhead.

In Atlantic City, a state-of-the-art parking facility has recently opened which also features a solar PV system and a charging station for electric cars.

At the Atlantic City Expressway – at the intersection of Fairmont Avenue and Mississippi Avenue – a parking lot has been constructed which some consider to be downright amazing.

The beauty of this parking lot isn’t even the fact that it offers convenient parking for convention center overflow, Tanger Outlets, the Walk, and other large events which are held in Atlantic City.  In short, this impressive garage is an asset to the entire Atlantic City Tourism District.

The cost of this parking facility was $32 million.  It features 1,677 solar panels which are installed on the top floor and which generate over 400 kilowatt hours of solar electricity daily.  The garage has over 16,999 square feet of retail space, glass-enclosed elevators, and 1,180 parking spaces on five levels.

Electric cars will find six charging stations to choose from in this amazing garage, which has been nicknamed the Wave Parking Garage.

Perhaps these solar PV powered parking areas on the east and west coasts will help to start a whole new wave of innovative solar projects across the nation.

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