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12/14/2011: Clean Energy Advocate Solar Workshop

Preliminary

1. What characteristics should a house have to be considered a good solar candidate?Ideally a house with a south facing roof (west or south-west will also work), minimal trees and

little to no shading. Also one must consider the age and condition of the roof. If the roof is over

25 years old reroofing may be required before solar can be installed.

2. Will shading really affect my panels that much?Yes. For solar, shade is the enemy. The sun is higher in the summer and lower in the winter and

what may be sunny in the summer maybe shaded in the winter. Solar installers will come out to

inspect your roof and use diagnostic tools such as a digital shade camera which determines the

shade factor during the year. The best time to have sun on your roof is 1-7p, May to October for

the best output of your system.

*Shade mitigationMicro-inverters are a way to mitigate shading. If your panels have micro-

inverters the panels that receive shading will not affect the production of the other panels.

Without micro-inverters if multiple panels are on the same string, shading will affect the entiresystem.

3. Even if some of my panels are shaded, will the unshaded panels still work?As mentioned in question #2, if your system is connected to one inverter (think of old Christmas

tree lights on one string, one went out and the entire strand shut off) production will suffer if

areas of your system get shaded. If your system has micro-inverters you will not have to worry

about shading affecting unshaded panels.

4. Should an energy assessment of the home be done before solar is installed?Yes. According to some companies this is crucial. In fact it has been determined that an

assessment can help you cut at least 10% energy consumption which will decrease the amountof solar your home needs by approx. 20%, saving you money!

SCEIP (Sonoma County Energy Independence Program) offers a rebate for a comprehensive

home energy analysis. They will subsidize up to 100% of an energy assessment (Average costs of

assessments range from $800-$1200). Contact SCEIP byclicking hereor by calling 707-565-6470

for more information.

Functionality

1. How does solar work?Essentially a solar panel is made up of silicon-based materials that absorb sunlight. Sunlight

activates the electrons in the solar cell generating electricity. This electricity is called DC (direct

current) which goes to your inverter and is converted to AC (alternating current) which powersyour home. In most cases you are then connected to the grid hosted by your local utility

provider. Unless you live in an area where grid connection is impossible, grid connection allows

you to store excess power as well as draw power when your system does not produce enough.

2. Whats better- ground mounted or roof mounted?It depends. A roof mounted system can be less expensive to install but it depends on the size of

system your energy load requires. Dont forget to factor in shading when determining ground or
http://www.sonomacountyenergy.org/lower.php?url=home-energy-analysis-rebateshttp://www.sonomacountyenergy.org/lower.php?url=home-energy-analysis-rebateshttp://www.sonomacountyenergy.org/lower.php?url=home-energy-analysis-rebateshttp://www.sonomacountyenergy.org/lower.php?url=home-energy-analysis-rebates


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roof mounts. A contractor will be able to take in all factors and make a recommendation that

can be best for your property.

3. How long does it take to install a solar PV system on the roof? (The actual racks and panelsetc.)

Once the materials, permits and financing pieces have been prepared installation of a solar

system should take no more than 2-3 days.

4. How reliable is solar PV?Very. There are no moving parts and panels are under warranty for upwards of 25 years.

Inverters have 10-15 year warranties as well. Workmanship is under warranty for 10 years. If

something does go wrong, first call your installer, not the manufacturer.

5. Are some panels better than other?The jury is out on this one. Some companies believe that although there are different types of

panels, some of which have the capacity to generate a little more power, most panels are about

the same efficiency. When your installer assesses your demand electricity load, he/she willdetermine which panels are best for your needs.

Other companies believe that there are specific panels that are most efficiency or are the

premium brands.

All three panelists agreed that American made panels are best and encouraged because they

help the local economy and are more reliable.

*Micro-film needs twice the amount of space to be as efficient as regular solar panels.

6. Are some invertors better than others?Yes. As mentioned in question 1, micro-inverters are the best way to mitigate shading. The

number of panels needed will determine the type of inverter. This is important to review whenyou receive a proposal to make sure the inverter chosen is best for your system.

All three panelists use SMA central invertors for most of their jobs.

7. Do my panels still work when a power outage happens?No, if your house is tied to the grid. Think of your house as a mini power plant. The panels need

to shut down so they dont continue to force electricity back to the grid, electrocuting anyone

working on the power lines.

8. Do you recommend a battery backup system?Batteries are rare. Unless you cannot be tied to the grid, battery backup is not recommended

because of the expense and the waste manufactured from old batteries.

9. Will my contractor take care of permitting with the city for me?Yes. They will pull permits before starting your project. Be sure to look for permit fees within

your bid proposal before agreeing on a price.

Financing

1. How much does solar cost?


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It depends on the number of panels, which is determined by energy needs of your

home/building. On average a system could cost a typical home $13k-$20k. You want to compare

costs on a price per watt basis. One thing to consider is the annual estimated kilowatt hour

production for a system on your house. You can always send your bids to the City of Santa Rosa,

Clean Energy Advocate program for a free bid comparison. Visitwww.srcity.org/CEAfor more

information or call 707-543-3886.

2. Are there tax credits or rebates available to help finance solar PV projects?Yes, many. Now is a good time to buy because of these rebates and credits.

Financing, Rebate or Incentive About Contact

California Solar Initiative (CSI) Provides a rebate per watt of solar

installed (currently $0.25)

www.gosolarcalifornia.org

Federal tax credit Provides a 30% tax credit www.energystar.gov

Energy Upgrade California Receive up to $4,000 in rebates for

energy efficiency measures

www.energyupgradeca.org

Sonoma County Energy

Independence Program

(SCEIP)

Any energy, water or renewable

project permanently fixed to the

property can be financed through an

assessment placed on the property

tax. 7% interest charged.

www.sonomacountyenergy.org

Healdsburg Utility customers Healdsburg Utility offers rebates for

solar and energy efficiency

measures

http://www.ci.healdsburg.ca.us

3. Can you lease a solar system?Yes. There are two options if you do not want to own a system: Lease or PPA (power purchase

agreement). Most property owners are concerned with kilowatt production capability versus

owning so the draw for a lease or PPA is that you simply purchase fixed energy from the system

installed but you do not own or maintain it.

LeaseYou lease the solar system from a solar company. They install it at no cost and maintain

it. You make fixed monthly payments over a 5, 10 or 15 year term. At the end of the lease you

can either have it removed from your roof for free, purchase the system at fair market value orrenew the lease.

*If you sell your home the agreement transfers to the new homeowner and no fees are incurred to do so.

4. What is a PPA and how does it work?A PPA (similar to a lease) is a long term agreement to buy electricity produced by the solar

system. The term is usually 15 to 20 years. For both a PPA and a lease the customer does not

receive any rebates or tax credits.
http://www.srcity.org/CEAhttp://www.srcity.org/CEAhttp://www.srcity.org/CEAhttp://www.srcity.org/CEA


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After solar

1. What is the usual turnaround time from signing the contract to installing the system?2-3 weeks is typical. In addition connecting to the grid can take up to 2-3 weeks after the install

is complete. The time frame also depends on how busy the company is- summer is usually the

busiest time of the year for solar companies.

2. What maintenance do solar panels require once theyre installed? Almost nothing. There are no moving parts, and you have a 25 year warranty on the equipment,

and a minimum of 10 years on the workmanship. Essentially washing the panels a couple times a

year is the only maintenance. Depending on the area you live (i.e more dust), you may need to

wash more often.

3. What is net metering? Benefits? Risks?Essentially your system is tied to the grid and any excess power you produce allows for

electricity credits for your account. This allows you to store excess power and pull power when

your system does not generate enough electricity for your demand. Work with your contractor

to decide on which rate schedule through PG&E is best for you.

4. If a system is grid tied, how much does PG&E pay a customer back for their excess energy?This is a complicated question that depends on what rate schedule through PG&E you are

currently on, and when you use your electricity. There is no easy answer and should be

discussed with your contractor based on you particular bill.

Do-It-Yourself

1. Any tips for do it yourselfers?Be very careful. Or leave it to the experts.

Disclaimer: While the CEA strives to provide the best information possible, the CEA makes no representations or warranties as to the accuracy of

the information provided or arising out of your use of the information provided by the CEA.

Thank you to our three solar experts:

Jeff Mathias-Synergy Solar,Owner and CFO Kate Collins-Gaia Energy Systems,Owner Nate Gulbransen-West Coast Solar
http://www.synsolar.com/index.phphttp://www.synsolar.com/index.phphttp://www.synsolar.com/index.phphttp://www.gaiaenergysystems.com/http://www.gaiaenergysystems.com/http://www.gaiaenergysystems.com/http://www.westcoastsolarenergy.com/http://www.westcoastsolarenergy.com/http://www.westcoastsolarenergy.com/http://www.westcoastsolarenergy.com/http://www.gaiaenergysystems.com/http://www.synsolar.com/index.php

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DEC 14 Answers