Presentation at MREA Energy Fair 2015. High utility rates
create significant opportunities for residential PV in
Michigan. Understand everything you ever need
to know about going solar: from estimating the size
of a PV system for your location to calculating the
financial and environmental benefits of PV on your
home.
4. Average Residential Electricity Retail Rates
by State (2013)
State
Average Price
[$/kWh]
Hawaii $0.37
Houghton $0.21-$0.24
New York $0.19
Alaska $0.19
Connecticut $0.18
Vermont $0.18
New Hampshire $0.17
California $0.16
New England $0.16
Middle Atlantic $0.16
Massachusetts $0.16
New Jersey $0.16
Michigan $0.15 Source: www.eia.gov
18. Simple ROI Calculations for Houghton
•6000 [kWh] (source)
Annual
Consumption :
•6000/365 = ~ 16.4 [kWh]
Daily
Consumption:
•3.8 [h]
Average Daily
Sun Hours
19. Simple ROI Calculations for Houghton
• Daily Consumption / (Sun Hours * Derate
Factor)= 16.4/(3.8*0.8) = 5.4 [kW]System Size
• System Size*Cost Per kW = 5.4*$3,500
=$18,900System Cost
• 30% of system costs = $18,900 –
30%*18,900 = $13,448
Federal Tax
Rebate
20. Simple ROI Calculations for Houghton
•Energy*Rates =
6000*0.21 = $1,260
Annual
Savings
•System Costs / Annual
Savings = 11 years
Payback
Period
21.
22. Utility Fuel Source Summary
Fuel Source USA OCREA UPPCO Region
Coal 39.10% 63.80% 54.11% 59.43%
Nuclear 19.18% 23.10% 23.08% 25.36%
Gas 27.57% 5.50% 8.90% 9.77%
Oil 0.67% 0.10% 0.50% 0.55%
Hydroelectric 7.07% 3.40% 9.55% 0.65%
Biofuel 0.00% 0.00% 0.45% 0.49%
Biomass 0.92% 0.10% 0.41% 0.45%
Wind 4.11% 2.80% 2.50% 2.75%
Wood 0.48% 0.10% 0.44% 0.49%
Other 0.71% 1.10% 0.50% 0.44%
Solar 0.20% 0.00% 0.02% 0.02%
Source:
OCREA Fuel
Mix Report
Source:
MPSC
Regional
Average Fuel
Mix
Disclosure
Source: EIA
Total Power
Industry Fuel
Sources
23. Currently all MI utilities are on track to
meet RES Compliance*
Phased integration of renewables 50%
cheaper than new coal generation
facilities.
*Source: MPSC Report on RESCompliance
*Figure: MIRECS 2009-2013 Credits by Energy
Source
Impact of MI PA 295
24. Benefits of Renewables
Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth Report on
Green Jobs says renewable energy sector job creation = 3% of all private
sector employment in state
International Energy Agency Report on Energy Security says renewable
energy systems reduce supply disruptions and reliance on imported fuel.
25. Actual Quote: “The only green that matters,
is the color of my $$$$$”
(Obviously, not a philosopher)
28. Factors Influencing Solar Adoption
Early adopters motivated by environmental factors [Falers et al]
If consumers cannot identify the relative advantage of solar power over their current
sources of power, it is unlikely that adoption will follow. [Falers et al]
Economic intentional variables, as well as variables indicating basic knowledge and
actual environmental behavior in the past, are strong predictors of the probability of
adoption. [Arkesteijn et al]
The installation of one additional solar photovoltaic rooftop project within the past six
months in a given area increased the average number of installations within a half mile
radius by 44% [Graziano et al.]
29. Steps to Solar
How much am I consuming?
Reading your electricity bill
Can I install?
Energy Policy?
How much sun at my location?
How much does it cost?
System size?
Loan payments?
How much will I save?
Energy Rates?
How much will rates increase?
Performance?
Effects of snow?
System degradation over time?
Environmental Impact?
Alternatives?
Energy Efficiency savings?
30.
31. Steps to Solar
How much am I consuming?
Reading your electricity bill
Can I install?
Energy Policy?
How much sun at my location?
How much does it cost?
System size?
Loan payments?
How much will I save?
Energy Rates?
How much will rates increase?
Performance?
Effects of snow?
System degradation over time?
Environmental Impact?
Alternatives?
Energy Efficiency savings?
35. Solar Market Penetration in Houghton
2013:-
~30kW
Summer
2014:
60kW
added
Fall 2015:
+200kW
expected.
36. Large majority of installed net metered
customer generation is Solar.
Source: MPSCAnnual Net Metering Report 2014
Figure: MPSC 2013 Net Metering Program - Installed CapacityFigure: MPSC 2013 Net Metering Program - Installations
Growth of Solar in Michigan
46. MPSC SolarWorking Group:Value Of Solar? (VOS)
1. Expand current program till 50MW aggregate
2. Buy all, credit all
3. Buy net, credit net
Source: MPSC SolarWorking
Group Report, June 2014
53. Summary
Michigan Net-Metering program largely untapped (only 94% un-utilized)
High electric rates offer good value proposition for solar
DIY packages/software tools to reduce soft costs
Michigan solar manufacturers and distributors to reduce hardware costs
VOS methodology aims to find ‘fair’ costs of adding solar.
Champion solar through passive data-driven community networking (free calculator)
Consider promoting efficiency as an accessible alternative to solar.
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