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State, local, and federal governments are moving solar energy forward by offering incentives to homeowners converting solar energy for use on the electric grid.
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Solar or photovoltaic (PV) systems are an increasingly popular way to offset rising utility bills—just place them in the sun and let them go to work converting sunlight to electricity. PV systems have no moving parts, need little upkeep, and are simple in design. The sun provides the free energy and the silicon used in making PV cells is one of the most abundant materials on earth. However, refining the silicon and making the cells is expensive and solar cells are somewhat inefficient. Standard PV efficiency is currently at 12 to 14 percent with suggestions that the upper limit is 30 percent, so until recently homeowners have needed large, costly systems to collect enough energy to power their homes.
The economics of solar is changing due to rising energy prices, technological advancements, and government incentives. According to Noah Kaye, director of public affairs for the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) in Washington, D.C., skyrocketing natural gas prices have translated into electric rate hikes. At the same time, technology improvements and improved manufacturing have slashed the cost of solar by 95 percent since the 1970s. In addition, a suite of incentives and other policies are now encouraging consumers to go solar.
Deciding to Go Solar
Homeowners considering solar must consider the amount of annual sunshine in their area. Available sunlight is specific to the region where the home is located and the way the house is sited with respect to the sun. A house in the woods won't benefit as much as one on a hill with great southern exposure. On its website, SEIA suggests that a typical home in Maine needs 291 feet of roof space to meet one-half of its typical electricity needs—only 25 percent more roof space than needed in sunny Los Angeles. Homeowners can get a readout of what the shift to solar would be like for them at www.Findsolar.com, a joint partnership between the U.S. Department of Energy, American Solar Energy Society, Solar Electric Power Association and Energy Matters LLC,. The site includes "My Solar Estimator," which provides a general estimate of the required system size and savings by considering a person's county, utility, and typical energy bill.
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Solar roof panels are one way to collect and convert the sun's energy to usable power.
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Rebates and Tax Credits
Federal, state, local, and utility incentives for going solar continue to grow. In 2005, the U.S. Congress enacted federal tax credits for homeowners who install solar. The benefits have been extended through 2008.
State, local and utility incentives differ greatly. California, for example, has moved ahead with a $3.2 billion incentive program to build 3,000 megawatts of solar-generating capacity in the next decade, says SEIA's Kaye. New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Arizona have made long-term commitments to build thousands of megawatts of PV. These commitments translate into incentives for homeowners converting to solar.
People can find incentives ranging from tax credits and exemptions to rebates, loans, and grants at the Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy, www.dsireusa.org. When visiting the website, Kaye suggests that consumers look at the area's interconnection and net metering regulations, which differ in all 50 states. In 39 states, owners of a grid-connected PV system can sell any excess electricity back to their local utility, watch the meter spin backwards, and receive a credit on their electric bill—a process called net metering. Some states recognize the peak power/renewable energy value of solar electricity and offer special incentives for grid-connected solar.
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When homes use photovoltaic systems to convert the sun's energy and sell unused power to the grid, the credit appears on the electric meter as the dial spins backwards.
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A local program in Aspen, Colo., offers zero-percent interest five-year solar loans. A Rochester, Minn., program encourages utility customers to install PV solar arrays and connect them to the electrical distribution system, paying them back for each kilowatt hour generated.
Beyond the Solar Roof
Solar cells are moving beyond the roof and are being incorporated into building facades and awning systems, and as glazing for skylights, greenhouse, and non-view windows. Recreational vehicles and boats can use portable PV systems to recharge batteries, and arrays can power solar water pumps and remote cottages and residences. Groups of homeowners might share a solar array and those tied to the existing grid can have backup in case of a power outage. Carports, too, have become a popular application for PV technology—the roof not only provides shade and shelter, but power as well.
Making Solar Energy Mainstream
The solar industry predicts that over the next two decades solar energy will become the best and cheapest choice for most electric and energy applications. Solar power is projected to achieve parity with the national retail electric rate by 2015. PV electricity has already become the choice of hundreds of thousands of mainstream homeowners in Japan, Germany, and the southwestern U.S.
The future for residential photovoltaic technology looks bright. PV bypasses the aging and fragile electricity grid and delivers its power directly to the end user. That fundamentally changes the underlying economics of energy. Local governments are already responding with programs for solar easement to allow access to sunlight for residential homes. Kansas has a solar access guideline and many more states are likely to follow as homeowners push for increased availability and versatility of solar power.
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