Community Solar Gardens

Lissa PawlischClean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs)UMN Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships & Extension

CERTs: We’re here to help

CERTs Mission: Connect individuals and their communities to the resources they need to identify and implement community-based clean energy projects

Partnership

Community Shared Solar: Cliff Notes

Point to yours!

Only Prerequisite Is…

Why Community Shared Solar?

Photo from: http://www.greenbeltsolar.com/solar_shading_article.html Photo from: http://www.forrent.com/apartment-community-profile/1019896.php, Rosedale Estates II

The Minnesota Solar Suitability App displays solar insolation and solar photovoltaic (PV) potential with 1 square meter resolution for the entire state of Minnesota. It was created using Lidar data and GIS technology.

solar.maps.umn.edu/app

Why Community Shared Solar?

Definition:

Centrally-located solar PV systemsthat provide electricity to participating subscribers

Community Shared Solar

• 1 garden • Max garden size = 1 MW • Minimum 5 subscribers per garden• No subscriber > 40% of garden output• Cover up to 120% of annual elec. usage

By the Numbers

Photo credits: www.solarpowerportal.co.uk

Location, location, location

The amount of electricity you use each year helps you decide how much solar to get. Your solar garden subscription can cover as little as 200 watts or up to 120% of your usage.

Designed to cover your needs

How does it work?Xcel Energy Program

OPERATOR: primary group running the solar garden

UTILITY: approves garden, tracks production, provides credit.

SUBSCRIBERS: individuals or groups to get solar power

3rd Party Operator develops & runs garden. Maintains relationship w/ subscriber for payment. Utility provides subscriber w/ bill credit.

Bill Credit Rates2015 Applicable Retail Rates

+ Renewable Energy Credit (REC) Payments ($/kWh)

REC PaymentResidential

ServiceSmall General

Service

General Service/ DemandMetered

None (Applicable Retail Rate)

0.12743 0.12431 0.09914

0.02 (> 250 kW gardens) 0.14743 0.14431 0.11914

0.03 (≤ 250 kW gardens) 0.15743 0.15431 0.12914

How does it work?

Pay Up Front / Pre-Pay Model

Subscriber purchases a subscription for a onetime fee that covers the life of the agreement.

Bill credit appears monthly over 25 year project timeline.

Lump sum subscription paid up front

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How does it work?Pay As You GoSubscriber pays in installments over time. Subscriber receives bill credit for their share of output on their energy bill the following month.

Two separate transactions each month. One is a bill credit. Another is a monthly subscription payment. Process is same over 25 year project timeline.

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AVAILABLE CSG PROJECTSCalculate your potential savings

AVAILABLE CSG PROJECTSCalculate your potential savings

AVAILABLE CSG PROJECTS

cleanenergyprojectbuilder.org

Find Subscriptions for You

Evaluating garden options

With whom do you want to work?

to credit: Wright Hennepin Coop

Where will the garden be located?

to credit: Wright Hennepin Coop

Who is funding the project?

Photo credits: www.usbank.com, www.bremer.com, www.nrco.coop, https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ1pOj8btOIk_d5exvQ_6LEnmgntg5OXbfmvw9Ye26Gf_7Cpxru, alliancepayroll.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/taxcredits.gif www.mpsutility.com/index.php/contact-mps, http://www.tubman.org/, http://mnipl.org/

CERTs Resources

23http://SolarGardens.MnCERTs.org

QUESTIONS?http://SolarGardens.MnCERTs.org

CERTs: Minnesotans Building a Clean Energy Future