DOE SunShot Initiative Rooftop Solar Challenge

Eric Ogle

Overview

~10 mins:

• SunShot Rooftop Solar Challenge, Phase I summary

• Phase I Goals and Partners

• Phase I Outcomes

• Recent Events

• SunShot RSC, Phase II proposal overview

~15 mins:

• The Rooftop Solar App

SunShot Phase I Summary

• The Tennessee SunShot effort was one of 22 projects in the US funded with a DOE Rooftop Solar Challenge grant

• DOE estimates that 35% of installation costs are due to non-hardware costs. SunShot goals relate to reducing “soft costs” associated with rooftop solar: – Improve market conditions for Rooftop Solar – Streamline and standardize permitting processes – Reduce market barriers to increase Solar adoption – Facilitate participation of local governments, utilities, and organizations

• The Tennessee SunShot effort focused on: – Permitting and interconnection processes – Financing – Planning and zoning issues – Net metering and interconnection standards

• The UT team facilitated discussion of issues but the Project Partners made any key decisions…

SunShot Goal: Reduce Non-Technical Barriers to Rooftop PV

Key Findings

• Improvements came from process efficiencies • Streamlined municipal review process

• Proposed streamlined parallel process for <10kw

• Consistent communications often did not exist among local stakeholders

• Change in signature processes cut delays

• Financing does not appear to be a deterrent

• Current issues include how to value a PV system during property transfers

DOE Evaluation of Progress

• DOE NREL Solar Metrics market assessments for each jurisdiction submitted at beginning of project (Feb 2012) • Completed with municipalities and distributors, with industry

verification

• Solar Metrics market assessments perfomed again and submitted to DOE NREL at project end (Feb 2013) • Again, completed with municipalities and distributors, with

industry verification

• Significant improvements according to DOE NREL Solar market assessments: • 75% improvement in the overall team score

Recent Deliverables

• A dozen white papers, covering an assortment of Solar related topics, all of which are on the project site at: sites.google.com/site/sunshottn • Recent Franklin water treatment facility case study

• Memphis BioWorks parking garage case study

• A Rooftop Solar App for iOS and Android devices

• Tennessee Solar conference…

Tennessee Solar Summit

Day 1

• Phase I Jurisdictions • Mobile Application • Breakout sessions

• Matt Brown from TVA • Amy Bunton from Pathway • Mayor Talley from Ducktown • Justin Barnes from NCSC • Chattanooga Airport

Installation

• Ted Wampler

Day 2

• Nashville/Davidson County Mayor Karl Dean

• John Hopkins from TN Score • Panel facilitated by Bruce Tonn

• TenneSEIA’s Gil Hough • State of TN’s Molly Cripps • NCSC’s Justin Barnes • TVA’s Patty West

• ICMA session: Integrating Solar into Local Plans

• Solar Tour of Chattanooga Airport

April 10-11, 2013 – Chattanooga

SunShot Phase II Proposal

• UT submitted a Phase II concept paper to DOE in January

• Essentially propose to extend the Phase I project area to the entire the TVA service region

• DOE invited a full proposal, which was submitted on March 21

• Decision expected in mid- to late-May

Additional Partners

• University of Alabama at Huntsville, Redstone Energy, Mississippi State University, Western Kentucky University, NASEO, Brooks Engineering, Simplikate and Vergence

• Association of Tennessee Valley Governments

• Five State Energy Offices (TN, MS, AL, NC, KY)

• TenneSEIA

• NC Solar Center

• Sandia National Laboratories

• TREEDC

• ICMA

• TAPA

Anticipated Phase II Outcomes

• Continue work with partner communities to understand and reduce barriers associated with Solar

• Address unique issues in small and rural communities

• Work with the planning community to share best practices, model zoning, relaxed constraints, etc.

• Work with local governments to prepare for Solar growth

• Work with real property professionals to expand knowledge base for valuation of solar properties

• Develop case studies, white papers, create Public Service Announcements and educational materials of interest to stakeholders

• Should hear from DOE soon.