UNDERSTANDING THE AVAILABLE SOLAR PANEL SYSTEM INCENTIVES FOR COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS

In the last decade solar power system installation has realized an average annual growth rate of fifty percent. Eighty nine percent of the world’s solar power was installed in the last seven years alone. These numbers are staggering, and the growth is poised to continue. Available government incentives are one of the main drivers behind the incredible growth of solar. Commercial and industrial buildings are eligible for significant incentives that help defer equipment costs and make financing easier to obtain. These days solar is not just an environmentally responsible decision for commercial application, it’s also a smart long-term financial decision as well.

Key Drivers of Incentives

In 2018 Governor Malloy signed an act, which requires that by 2030, 40 percent of the power provided by electricity suppliers in the state come from renewable sources. These state Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) are responsible for driving a considerable amount of growth in the solar power industry throughout the U.S., and particularly in Connecticut.

ZREC Program Incentives

Under the ZREC program, developers of commercial energy projects that are responsible for zero carbon omission output will earn credits. The “Z” in ZREC refers to zero emissions and applies to solar projects. A Renewable Energy Credit, or REC, is issued for each Megawatt-hour (MWh) of energy generated by a project. The utilities will purchase these credits for cash.

Under the ZREC Program business owners that implement solar onto their buildings, or already have solar on their buildings, will not only offset their current electrical usage, they can also earn hard dollars from the utility for their renewable energy generation. Let’s look at a business without solar that’s paying an annual electricity bill of approximately $28,000. By implementing a 100kW solar solution that generates 140,072 kWh/Year, the annual electricity usage is offset and removed from the customer’s utility bill. This eliminates the electricity expense. In addition, under the ZREC Program, by implementing a 100kW solar solution, business owners can also earn up to an estimated $10,000/year when securing a fifteen-year contract with the utility.

Federal Solar Tax Credit

The federal solar tax credit, also known as the investment tax credit, allows you to deduct 30 percent of the cost of a commercial building solar panel system from your federal taxes. The credit is also available for residential projects. The percentages, however, will start to step down after 2019. In 2020 they drop to 26 percent, in 2021 they drop to 22 percent and in 2022 they will drop to 10 percent, however only for commercial buildings. The 10 percent will hold indefinitely.

The time sensitive nature of this incentive makes it a great time to complete a solar project. Anyone that owns a solar panel system is eligible for the federal solar tax credit. If you don’t have enough tax liability to claim the entire credit you can roll the outstanding into the following year, depending on the percentage numbers of that year.

C-PACE Program

The Connecticut Green Bank provides a funding solution for installing solar energy equipment on commercial, industrial, agricultural, non-profit and multi family buildings. This funding helps make energy efficient upgrades affordable and accessible. Making these energy efficient upgrades to new or existing buildings can increase the value of the property.

Finding the funding for such upgrades is not always easy. C-PACE helps to overcome this obstacle. Funding covers one hundred percent of the project cost and can be repaid for up to twenty years with an assessment added to your property tax bill. Energy savings each year will more than offset your assessment payments.

Low Solar Costs Plus Incentives

When you combine these incentives with the overall low cots of solar panels, going green becomes a very affordable solution, and an excellent long-term investment. In addition technology improvements through the years have made solar panels much more efficient than they were just a few years ago. Manufacturing, distribution and material improvements have led to a sixty percent reduction in price in the past ten years alone.

If you own, or are planning to build or renovate, a commercial or industrial building, energy efficiency should be a top priority. Adding a solar panel system to your property is not only a responsible move for the environment, it’s also a smart move for improving your bottom line. By educating yourself on the available incentives you’re putting yourself in a good position to save money and make the world a better place to live in.

commercial solar power

THE INCREDIBLE REDUCTION IN THE COST OF SOLAR PANEL SYSTEMS THROUGH THE YEARS

Solar has come a long way fast. The Solar Energy Industries Association estimates that over six million U.S. households are now being powered by residential solar panels. In Connecticut alone there are over 71,000 residential systems in place. This inspiring growth is due, in large part, to a dramatic reduction in equipment prices. Equipment costs have fallen 99 percent over the past forty years. As a result solar power is projected to be the cheapest source to produce power in coming years – cheaper than coal and natural gas.

A Brief History of Solar Power

It’s interesting to look back at how it all began. Although using the sun to power rudimentary technology can be tracked back hundreds of years, the true invention of photovoltaic cells is credited to Bell Labs in 1954. In 1958 a small, one watt, solar panel was used on a satellite to power its radios. In 1973 the University of Delaware built the first solar powered building. Most famously, in 1979 President Jimmy Carter installed solar panels on the roof of the white house.

Incentives Playing a Big Role

Large reductions in the price of solar equipment through the years have brought the overall costs of solar panel systems down considerably. Government incentives, however, are making it even more affordable. For residents of Connecticut there are a number of incentives available. CT Green Bank offers rebates and low or zero interest loans on equipment and installation. And the federal investment tax credit (ITC) currently reduces your total tax bill by thirty percent of the cost of the solar power system. These incentives have helped provide a major boost to the industry and we will discuss them in more detail on our next blog posting.

Referrals also play a big role in the popularity of solar technology. Solar power installations are known to be contagious. When panels are installed on a house, the neighborhood around it inevitably sees an uptick in installations. This is known as “neighbor effects.”

The Role of Commercial Buildings

With each solar panel installation less harmful CO2 emissions are released into our environment. Connecticut homeowners are playing their part, but large-scale solar installations across the county and world are also making great strides. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, more that 26,000 MW of utility-scale solar power projects are under development in the U.S. alone. That’s enough to power more than 4.3 million homes.  And many state governments are setting aggressive goals for municipal buildings to generate 100% carbon free electricity in coming years.

When cheaper alternatives come along big business can’t help but to adapt. As solar becomes the cheapest source of electricity more and more large commercial institutions will make the change. It makes fiscal sense for them. And many businesses are talking their role in protecting the environment seriously.

The Reason Solar Has Become So Affordable

Why have solar panel system costs dropped so far so fast? Large companies have been continuously streamlining the equipment and manufacturing process. And mass production and larger demand helps drive down costs. Government policies have been identified as major contributors as well, according to analysis by MIT researchers. Policies that include renewable portfolio standards, feed-in tariffs and subsidies are attributed to roughly 60 percent of the price reductions.

Through the years we’ve seen forecasts that point to an impending slowdown in the growth of solar. Time and time again, however, different factors have helped keep the industry booming. There is continued optimism for growth based on increased interest and awareness and overall low prices. And there’s a good chance that prices will continue to drop. Future price reductions could come in the form of “soft costs”. These include financing, permitting and selling solar projects.

Although we’ve made some incredible strides in solar panel costs and installations, there’s still a long way to go to. It’s inspiring to see such a relatively fast paced adoption of a technology, particularly one that has the potential to help save our environment. Renewable energy companies like All Green it Solar have the pleasure of watching more and more Connecticut homeowners and businesses do their part to reduce carbon emissions. We’re glad to be a part of such an important endeavor.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT SOLAR POWER SYSTEMS FOR YOUR HOME

More and more homeowners are seeing solar power as an excellent way to save money and protect the environment. In CT alone there are more than 24,000 residential solar panel systems. Many homeowners across CT, New England, and the country, however, still have questions about solar. Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions that we receive here at All Green it Solar.

How Much Does a Residential Solar Panel System Cost?

The total costs will vary per household depending on the type and size of system you install. Government incentives, however, help make the entire project very affordable. The first incentive to consider is the thirty percent federal investment tax credit (ITC) for solar energy systems. It reduces your total tax bill by thirty percent of the cost of the solar power system. This incentive will be available at 30 percent through 2019, and then the percentages will start to be reduced through 2023. 

The CT Green Bank offers incentives that will help offset the costs of installing a residential solar panel system. The Residential Solar Investment Program provides a rebate of $0.46 per watt of solar installed (up to 10kW PTC) from 10 to 20kW PTC and additional $0.40/watt. Therefore a 7.5 kW PTC (or 7,500 Watt PTC) system would be calculated at 7,500 * 0.463, equaling an estimated $3,473 rebate, as an upfront cost reduction paid to your contractor when your system is complete. Additionally the Energy Conservation Loan Program provides eligible families with zero or low interest loans on solar arrays. 

How Much Will Solar Save Me?

Residential photovoltaic systems not only reduce electricity bills, they can also provide long-term savings and increase the resale value of your home. The exact electricity savings for Connecticut homes will depend on the home owers consumption and the size of your PV Solar system.Connecticut has some of the highest electricity rates in the country. By installing solar you can significantly reduce, or even eliminate, this cost. Meaning that you will mitigate future utility rate increases.

Most homeowners see a $5,911 resale value increase per installed kilowatt, as noted by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).That means if you install a 3.1 kilowatt system, you could improve your home’s resale value by nearly $18,000.

Solar panels on the roof also provide protection from the harsh Connecticut weather.  This can help extend the lifespan of your shingles. You’ll also receive efficiency benefits as the panels block sun from beating down on your roof. This keeps the house cooler on hot days and reduces your air conditioning demands. 

What are the Environmental Benefits? 

Solar power is one of the cleanest alternative energy solutions. The most significant environmental impacts of going solar will be the reduction of carbon emissions. Electricity production is responsible for a large percentage of these emissions. By going solar you’re doing your part to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide released into the environment. You’ll also be supporting jobs in alternative energy. 

How Does a Residential Solar Panel System Work Exactly?

Solar panels collect sunlight and generate DC electricity. The DC electricity is then converted to AC electricity using an inverter. The solar cells, called photovoltaic or PV cells are the primary component of solar panels. When installing the system the utility will switch out your meter with a bi-directional meter. It will log the kWh’s when using electricity from the grid. When the solar panel system is producing more electricity than you’re using, the meter will log the clean kWh’s produced. When this happens the utility will credit your electricity bill for the amount of kWh’s that you sent back.

One of the critical benefits to going solar is the ability to avoid Connecticut utility rate increases. When you have a solar array installed most, or all, of your electricity, will be generated by the solar panels. 

Do Solar Panels Need to Go On My Roof?

Not necessarily. For properties with ample land there are also flat ground-mounted panel systems. And there are building integrated solar modules that mimic slate roof shingles. All Green it Solar provides all three options. 

How Long Will The Solar Array Last?

Most solar panel systems last between twenty five and thirty years, but can go longer before output begins to decrease. At Go Green it Solar we provide comprehensive warranties on all of the products that we sell. Like any product, high quality equipment will always perform better and last longer. 

What Happens in a Power Outage?

When the grid goes down so does your solar power system. The main reason for this is safety. If utility crews are working on the lines to restore power during an outage, and your system is sending power back to the grid, this poses a big safety issue. You can, however, maintain power to the house while the grid is down by installing a battery storage system. These systems act as a generator by storing excess power from your solar array. You can tap that power during outages. Unlike gas or propane generators, battery storage systems operate with no emissions and they are silent. This technology is available through All Green it Solar.  

There is a lot of upside to installing residential solar panels. Government incentives make the systems very affordable. Using an alternative to the utility can help you hedge against future Connecticut utility rate increases and provide significant electricity savings. And you’ll be doing your part in reducing harmful carbon emissions from the environment. All Green it Solar employs experienced installers and we provide only high quality equipment, so you know the job will be done right.