1.  Tap into Solar Incentives

One of my favorite resources is the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE), which lists state rebates and solar power incentive programs, as well as information on federal solar incentives.  The site is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.  There, you can find information on state, local, utility and federal incentive programs that can help you cut the cost of residential solar panel installations by as much as 60-80% off the retail cost.

Thinking of making a switch to solar power?

2.  Determine how Much Grid-Based Electricity You Can Offset with Solar

Here is another tool from the U.S. government that can help you switch to solar power.  Part of your analysis will be to determine how much electricity you use at home, and then how much you can offset with solar.  The website of the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) includes statistics about the amount of electricity the average American home demands.  In addition, check out the Energy Department‘s information about considerations to make before going solar.

3.  Find the Best Solar Panel Manufacturers

This may be surprising, but you can find the top solar manufacturers in the U.S. on Wikipedia.  The site includes a list, put together based on an annual report by Photon Magazine.  Additional information on annual solar manufacturer rankings is found at Solar Buzz.

4.  Log onto Solar Chat

These days, you can find a chat room on just about any topic!  Why not connect with other people that are thinking about going solar, or who have already made the switch?  Try the online forum at Solar Panel Talk.  You can find people to chat with on DIY solar panels, going off-grid, solar panel leases and purchasing/installing conventional residential solar systems.

5.  Use a Solar Price Calculator

Online calculators can help you determine how many solar panels you will need for your energy demands and what a system will cost.  There are a number of solar price calculators available and you can find links to many of them at CalFinder.

Permitting fees increase the cost of solar panels

In order to install residential solar panels, you will need a building permit (and possibly other land use permits) from your local permitting authority.  The process takes time, adds delay and hassle, and also costs money in permitting fees, and potentially the cost of working with a solar installer that is familiar with the process and can help you navigate it.

Because of this hurdle toward broader acceptance of renewable energy, the U.S. Department of Energy is making $27 million available to support local and regional governments streamline the process of implementing solar power projects.   The result will be to cut carbon emissions as fewer people use fossil-fuel based electricity.  Homeowners that install solar panels also enjoy reduced power bills each month.

As part of the SunShot Initiative the DOE is offering a $12.5 million challenge to encourage cities and counties to compete to streamline and digitize permitting processes by:  standardizing permitting processes, updating planning and zoning codes, improving interconnection and net metering standards and, finally, increasing access to financing.

The DOE will also use $15 million to fund one or two recipients to create tools for local governments to streamline and expedite the process of installing solar energy in the three areas: regulatory and utility solutions; codes, standards and processes and software design tools and databases.  Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu commented:

“These investments under the SunShot program can help to transform the solar energy industry by addressing significant challenges to solar energy deployment, including permitting and installation.  Innovations in IT and local business processes, such as online permit applications, can deliver significant savings for solar energy systems and will help America to compete globally in this growing market.”

Just this week, the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) announced a unified solar permitting process with Nassau and Suffolk County that will start in fall 2012.  Known as the Long Island Unified Solar Permitting Initiative (LIUSPI), this new campaign is focused on developing a model process that could be used by all municipalities throughout Long Island to effectively and uniformly handle the application for and approval of residential solar electric and solar hot water systems in each respective jurisdiction.

Panels for Solar Hot Water Heater

Heating water for household uses like bathing, washing dishes and laundry is one of the most energy-intensive activities, accounting for significant percentages of monthly electricity bills.   If you own a swimming pool, hot tub or spa, keeping the water at a comfortable temperature can also be expensive.

That’s where a solar hot water heater comes into play!  Water is piped through a system that uses thermal energy from sunlight to warm it for free, where it is then stored in a specialized hot water tank for use.

An active solar thermal panel hot water system uses electrical pumps to move the water through the system, whereas a passive solar hot water system relies on thermal dynamics (cold sinks and heat rises) instead of pumps.

Solar hot water heating systems have several advantages over solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, which generate electrical power:

1.  They are less expensive  – about 1/3 the cost of solar electric PV panels

2.  They are more efficient – with the ability to convert 3 times as much energy for use as PV panels

3.  The return on investment is about 1/2 that of PV panels (4-8 years)

4.  The average homeowner can save 60-70% off their average annual hot water heating expenses

In general, a solar hot water system is comprised of the following, and can be installed by a professional, or you can build one using DIY instructions:

• Solar thermal panels (also known as solar collectors)
• Rooftop mounting system for the solar thermal panels
• Solar storage tank – a new solar hot water tank
• Water pump and controls (not required for passive or thermosyphon systems)
• Heat exchanger and expansion tank (only for closed-loop solar hot water systems)
• Isolation valve
• Backup Water Heater
• Tempering valve – to make sure your solar heated water doesn’t get too hot!

Solar hot water heaters are a good first foray into using solar energy because they are relatively inexpensive, allow you to save significant amounts on your utility bills and are low maintenance.  Whether you go with a DIY system or have one professionally installed, you can enjoy free hot water for years to come.

To read learn more about solar thermal panels and how solar hot water heating systems work, click here.

We found this map published on the Energy Self-Reliant States website that shows solar power grid parity in most major U.S. metropolitan areas by the year 2027.  The figures are based on projected costs of retail utility scale electricity and continuing lowering of the cost of solar power.  Considering energy cost trends, solar energy will be cheaper than coal in a matter of just a few decades.

The interactive map based on predictions of energy policy analyst John Farrell illustrates the U.S. cities that will achieve solar grid parity first, and those that will follow between now and 2027.  Based on current retail rates for electricity in regions across the nation, and the declining cost of solar power in recent years, Farrell predicts San Diego to be the first to achieve solar power grid parity in 2013, with New York City following in 2015. Just five years thereafter, Farrell expects 17 major metropolitan areas to reach solar grid parity in 2020, reaching 40 regions by 2027.

For more information, see the original article at Yale Environment 360.

Solar Power in India

Two years ago, India announced plans to increase generation and use of solar electricity from approximately nothing, to 20,000 megawatts (MW) – the equivalent of energy required to power 20 million U.S. homes.  At the time, there were plenty of nay-sayers who claimed it could not be achieved.  Already, they are re-thinking their dour predictions.

Currently, India’s solar power totals only about 140 megawatts, which can power a town of 50,000.  Of that amount, 10 megawatts is generated by the utility scale solar power project operated in Khadoda, India by Azure Power.  Azure sells the solar electricity generated by the 36,000 solar panel plant to a state-government electric utility.  The CEO of the company, Inderpeet Wadhwa, predicts that within just a few years, solar power will reach grid parity in India.  That is, it will be cost competitive with electricity generated by conventional means, including coal-fired plants.

Analysts believe that India’s 20,000 MW solar power goal could even be reached before 2020.  This is due in large part to a dramatic drop in prices of solar panels.  Some manufacturers have slashed costs by 30-40% in 2011 alone, bringing the cost of solar panels to a mere $1 per watt.  First solar, based in Tempe Arizona, is the leading U.S. supplier of solar panels to India.

Solar Panel Efficiency

Over the past 5 years, the price of solar panels has dropped dramatically while efficiency of solar arrays has increased significantly.

Yet, it appears that the renewable energy revolution continues to make life better and cleaner for many of us!  The University of Texas at Austin announced this month that one of its solar researchers has discovered a method to further double solar panel efficiency up to 60%!

Solar panel efficiency can be summarized as follows:  The term refers to the amount of solar energy that is converted to usable electricity after hitting a solar panel.  It does not need to be a bright, sunny day.  All you need is UV (ultraviolet) sunlight, filtered through clouds or even precipitation.  According to a recent article:

An issue with regular photovoltaic panels is that much of the energy delivered by sunlight results in the conversion of “hot” electrons, which are too high-energy to be converted to electricity in silicon and are instead lost as heat. University of Texas Chemistry professor Xiaoyang Zhu and his team discovered that an organic plastic semiconductor could double the number of electrons harvested out of one photon of sunlight.

Solar panel efficiency is currently about 30% for silicon photovoltaic (PV) solar cells.  But solar technology indicates that this figure can at least double, to reach 66% efficiency.

The importance of this discovery is the potential of reaching grid parity – the point at which the cost of purchasing solar electricity is less than the price of fossil-fuel based power.

Reasons to Switch to Solar Power

Have you been thinking about installing a residential solar system?  Well, now is the time!  The cost of solar panels has dropped more than 40% this decade, and more and more people have changed to solar.

If you are still on the fence, consider these top reasons to switch to solar power:

1.  Reduce Your Electric Bill

Did you know that the average household in America spends over $1,400 each year on electricity?  The year 2010 marked the fifth consecutive year that utility rates have risen.  That means that homeowners are paying 20% more for electricity than they did only a half decade a ago.  Its time to keep more of that hard-earned cash for yourself, and protect against continued rising rates by switching to solar power.  In the first year following solar panel installation, most property owners realize 40% or more in electric bill savings.  These savings stay “locked in,” despite what happens to the economy and future electricity costs.

2. Take Advantage of Sunny Skies

Sunshine helps, but even brighter skies can generate ample solar electricity.  Generally speaking, solar panels are most efficient when exposed to direct sunlight.  However, ambient UV light is sufficient for solar panels to generate ample clean electricity.  If you are eligible for net metering, you can reduce your power bill to zero and even get paid for extra solar power generated during peak periods.

3. Take Advantage of Incentives

Currently, solar rebates and incentives offer  substantial savings on solar installation costs. The U.S. federal program can save you up to 30% off the retail cost to install a photovolatic (PV) solar power system. Most incentive programs have an expiration date, however.  In today’s political climate, continuation of many programs are uncertain.

4. Combat Rising Electricity Demands

Did you know that in the next 25 years, electricity demands will nearly double, according to a 2005 Energy Information Administration report.  Even though we are taking more and more steps to save energy, our consumption is increasing with the size of our homes, number of electronic devices and efforts to stay cool and comfortable year-round via HVAC.  By switching to solar power, you can off-set increasing demands, as well as cut down on energy demands through the insulating effects of installing solar panels on your roof.

5. Save the Environment

It is hard to continue to explain away the bizarre weather experienced around the world over the past decade.  Global climate change is real and its time to step up efforts to reduce CO2 emissions.  Switching to solar power can significantly help.

Wait another 10-15 years, and it might be too late to reverse the trend.

Solar Power Market to Grow in 2012

Last month, Solarbuzz, one of the most prominent solar industry research groups, released its 2011 third quarter report for the North American PV Markets.  The report shows that, despite several setbacks this year, the solar power market grew at an impressive rate – 101% over 2010, to be precise!  That translates into a 1.9 gigawatt increase, nearly doubling solar power capacity.  According to Solarbuzz:

With 811 megawatts of new solar installations projected for the fourth quarter, the North American solar market should grow 32 percent from the third quarter of 2011. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, the U.S. as a whole added slightly more than 878 megawatts of solar installations in 2010, only 67 megawatts more than the region will add this quarter.

The growth in the solar power market is primarily for residential solar installations, but rooftop solar is increasingly being installed by businesses looking to trim operational costs.

Selling a solar powered house

Home solar panels are becoming more popular as people tap into generous tax incentives and rebates, and also look to trim utility bills over time.  But did you know that selling a solar powered house is easier (all things being equal) than one without solar panels?  Not only can you sell more quickly, but often for more money when you have a solar panels on your home.

There are a few reasons for this.

First, people are looking for some security against rising electricity costs.  Each year, you run the risk of your utility raising rates, but solar power generated by panels on your home only gets cheaper over time as you re-gain your return on investment.  The power is free!  Second, home buyers realize that average electricity use is increasing via appliances (yes, even energy saving ones), running air conditioning and heating, and even plugging in electric cars!

While the initial outlay of funds for home solar panels generally ranges from $10-20,000, after tax credits and incentives, most homeowners save about $150 each month in electricity bills.  When selling a solar powered house, buyers realize that they are investing in more than just the real estate – they are purchasing “free power,” and security against rising costs down the road.

Estimates are that, for every $1 you save in annual electricity costs, the value of a home increases $20.  With savings of $150 x 12 months ($1,800 annually), you can realize a $36,000 instant boost in equity.  Selling a solar powered house is generally quicker with a higher return than the same home without solar panels.

Solar power is an impressive renewable energy resource

Calculations by Bloomberg New Energy Finance show that investments in renewable energy are surpassing fossil fuels for the first time in new power plant investments. Consider this: electricity from the wind, sun, waves and biomass drew $187 billion last year compared with $157 billion for natural gas, oil and coal.  All this results in lower materials and equipment costs.

Last week, Bloomberg New Energy Finance reported that renewable energy investments, like those in solar power, are projected to double over the next eight years and reach $395 billion per year.  While it is not yet enough to stabilize emissions and control climate change, it is still a step in the right direction.

What do you think about solar power passing fossil fuels in investments?