DOE SunShot Initiative Rooftop Solar Challenge

Catherine Wilt, Research Director

University of Tennessee

June 27, 2013

Overview

• SunShot Rooftop Solar Challenge, Phase I summary

• Phase I Goals and Partners

• Phase I Outcomes

• Recent Events

• SunShot RSC Phase II proposal overview

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

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 performed 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 in Chattanooga (April

2013)

The Rooftop Solar Smartphone App

The University of Tennessee is developed an industry first mobile application to help grow the Solar Economy across the Tennessee Valley.

Why A Rooftop Solar App?

Since the SunShot Goals are to…

• Improve market conditions for Rooftop Solar

• Streamline and standardize permitting processes

• Reduce market barriers to increase Solar adoption

• Encourage partnerships of local governments, utilities, and

organizations

• Facilitate participation by diverse entities

We envisioned a Rooftop Solar App that

would…

• Be a dependable source of Solar information for the Tennessee Valley

• Echo policies of local governments, planning agencies, HOAs

• Offer local permitting processes provided based on user GPS

• Act as a directory of consumer-oriented Solar service providers

• Refer to certified installers, realtors, lenders and other Solar

professionals

• Facilitate public and stakeholder participation with social media

Engage All Solar Stakeholders

The app will attempt to bring together consumers and solar industry professionals in a way to improve

the Solar Economy in the Tennessee Valley. The Rooftop Solar App serves three main areas:

An educational tool that property owners can use to make informed decisions as they learn more about Rooftop Solar.

Clarifies Solar permitting, installation, and generation processes with insights into the functions of Solar service providers, local government agencies, and utilities.

SolarEducation

Engage consumers and all solar stakeholders in dialogue of topical Rooftop Solar issues, barriers and best practices.

Through extended public interaction the app will serve as a dynamic research tool that will better inform solar policy to reduce barriers to Solar Adoption.

SolarInteraction

Connect consumers and solar industry professionals in a way to encourage growth in the Solar Economy.

Encourage consumers to adopt Solar by facilitating an entry point with certified Solar installers, realtors, lenders, and local government agencies.

SolarEconomy

Tennessee Solar Summit (April 2013)

Day 1

• Phase I Jurisdictions • Mobile Application • Breakout sessions

• Matt Brown from TVA • Amy Bunton from Pathway

Lending • Mayor Talley from Ducktown • Justin Barnes from NCSC

• Ted Wampler

Day 2

• Nashville Mayor Karl Dean • John Hopkins from TN Score • Panel facilitated by Dr. 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

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 was expected by late May, but…

Additional Partners • Univ. of Alabama at Huntsville, Redstone Energy, Mississippi

State Univ., Western Kentucky Univ., NASEO, Brooks Engineering, Simplikate & Vergence

• Association of TN 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 PSAs and educational materials of interest to stakeholders

• And expand the Rooftop Solar App…

STAY IN TOUCH

UT – SunShot Online

Catherine Wilt

Address:

University of Tennessee

311 Conference Center Bldg.

Knoxville, Tennessee 37996

Phone:

865 - 974 - 1915

Email:

catwilt@utk.edu

f facebook.com/RooftopSolarTN

t twitter.com/RooftopSolarTN

sites.google.com/site/SunShotTN

Share your Solar thoughts and experiences with the

Tennessee Valley community as together we work

for a Solar-powered future.

Participate with the SunShot Rooftop Solar effort

across several social media platforms.