Taking PV320 will not only act as a refresher course on PV system design and installation, it will also give you a full understanding of NABCEP’s new Job Task Analysis (JTA) that is the basis for the September exam problems. NABCEP added considerable more detail to the original JTA and announced the revisions in July of this year. You can download the revised JTA here: http://www.nabcep.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/NABCEP-PV-Installer-Job-Task-Analysis-Summary.pdf

ImagineSolar’s President and CEO, Michael Kuhn, was one of the panelists who volunteered his time to craft the new JTA. “It was a great experience to work with solar industry experts from across North America. We truly captured the full depth and breadth of what a professional NABCEP certified PV system designer and installer needs to master.”

The new JTA is weighted as follows: Designing Systems 30%; Managing the Project 17%; Installing Electrical Components 22%; Installing Mechanical Components 8%; Completing System Installation 12%; and Conducting Maintenance and Troubleshooting Activities 11%. Candidates for the September 2010 NABCEP exam are encouraged to review the revised exam blueprint carefully as the exam will be based on it.

Our Advanced PV320 workshop is designed for those who intend to become professionals in the solar industry. In this 20-hour workshop, we go deeper into the problem-solving expertise and the National Electric Code knowledge that is needed to successfully pass the professional-level NABCEP exam. In addition, participants will work through multiple system designs. You must have successfully completed our PV201 Solar PV System Design & Installation workshop or the equivalent to enroll in the course http://imaginesolar.com/workshops/pv320/.

State Senator Kirk Watson is gearing up to make another push for state policies to help bolster the Texas renewable energy industry in general and the solar industry specifically. This week, August 16th, Senator Watson held a press conference announcing the findings of a recent report on job creation and renewable energy in Texas and the need for clean energy generation requirements statewide.

The report, entitled “Texas’ Clean Energy Economy: Where We Are. Where We’re Going. What we need to Succeed.” was funded by the Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation. The report looks at 3 different scenarios – Low, Baseline and High – based on the state’s share of the nation’s renewable energy generating capacity. The High Range scenario predicts tremendous outcomes for the state’s economy, including 22,900 new jobs per year and an additional $279 million per year in state and local tax revenues.
If these job creation numbers are achieved, 1 in 4 new jobs in Texas will be in renewable energy. Texas is already the nation’s leader in wind production and with our tremendous solar resource, we can lead the nation in solar energy production as well. Meeting the High Range goals, according to the report, depends on the State Legislature increasing our Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) to 13,000 MW of clean power and setting aside 3,500 MW for solar photovoltaic energy. In 2005, TX set a goal of 5,880 MW by 2015 and 10,000 MW by 2025, with 500 MW from non-wind resources. Supporting a higher RPS would raise electric bills for Texas ratepayers by about $13 a month through 2020; a small investment considering the economic benefits.

In his press conference, Senator Watson uses these figures to stress the importance of enacting the renewable energy policies in the State Legislature when they reconvene again in January 2011. Senator Watson was the sponsor of SB 541, legislation increasing the state’s RPS, which the Texas Senate passed but was never signed into law due to a slowdown around the voter ID bill. We expect that bold RPS legislation and other policies that will help make Texas the nation’s renewable and solar energy leader will be priorities in the next legislative session and we will do all that we can to see that these policies are implemented.

Paste the following into your browser to download the study:
www.news8austin.com/content/273412/report-predicts-big-benefits-for-green-industry-in-texas

CPS Energy, Duke Energy and juwi solar Inc. are proud to announce that work crews recently started construction of Texas’ largest solar farm on a 139-acre site in southeast San Antonio.

“We’re very excited to be breaking ground on a solar farm that will be operational in San Antonio by the end of this year,” said Cris Eugster, CPS Energy executive vice president and chief sustainability officer. “Not only will it be the largest solar farm in Texas, but it’s also going to be one of the largest solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in the U.S.”

The Blue Wing Solar Project, a 14-megawatt (MW) solar PV installation, is being built near the intersection of IH 37 and U.S. 181 on a site that will be clearly visible from both highways. The project will consist of 214,500 ground-mounted First Solar thin film panels. Blue Wing will generate an estimated 26,570 megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity each year, enough energy to power about 1,800 San Antonio area homes a year.

CPS Energy will purchase all of the output from the solar farm – and associated renewable energy credits – from Duke Energy Generation Services (DEGS), under the terms of a 30-year power purchase agreement (PPA).

“It’s an honor to help CPS Energy deliver clean, renewable energy to its customers,” said DEGS President Wouter van Kempen. “CPS truly stands out among U.S. municipally owned energy companies for its efforts to grow its renewable energy portfolio.”

DEGS acquired the project from juwi solar Inc., headquartered in Boulder, Colo., in the first quarter of 2010. juwi solar developed the project and is managing construction of the facility.

“The ground breaking of this project is a very important milestone that represents tangible progress,” said Michael Martin, juwi solar’s managing director. “juwi solar has thoroughly enjoyed our ongoing relationship with CPS Energy and DEGS. Our goal is to continue to provide a safely constructed, quality, on-time, on-budget solar power project of which the City of San Antonio can be proud.”

juwi solar is also donating solar PV systems to two nearby school districts to provide the schools with free, zero-emission electricity and to educate students about the technology used at the solar farm.

With the signing of the Blue Wing PPA, CPS Energy is moving forward with its commitment announced in the summer of 2008 to pursue up to 100 MW of resource capacity from solar energy.
CPS Energy also signed a 20-year agreement last June to acquire 27 MW from Tessera Solar’s new project in West Texas.

With 41 MW under contract, CPS Energy has the most solar-generated electricity under contract in the state of Texas. The Blue Wing Solar Project further solidifies CPS Energy – already number 1 nationally in wind-energy capacity among municipally owned utilities – as a state and national leader in renewable energy.

“Solar is a nice complement to wind power because solar panels produce best during hot summer afternoons when the wind isn’t blowing at West Texas wind farms,” Eugster said. “Solar is more expensive than wind, but it will help us supply more energy during peak power times when Greater San Antonio’s electrical needs are greatest.”

Peñascal Wind Farm near Baffin Bay and Papalote Creek Wind Farm in San Patricio County near Corpus Christi are other great assets for CPS Energy during peak energy times since coastal winds persist during the summer.

“CPS Energy’s strategy has been to take a diversified approach to producing electricity,” Eugster said. “CPS Energy has a balance of different energy sources – everything from traditional to renewable sources. Adding solar to CPS Energy’s well-balanced energy portfolio will help us achieve our ambitious goal to have a renewable-energy capacity equal to 20 percent of customers’ peak electrical demand by 2020.”

CPS Energy is the nation’s largest municipally owned energy company providing both natural gas and electric service. Acquired by the City of San Antonio in 1942, the company serves 707,000 electric customers and 322,000 natural gas customers in and around America’s seventh-largest city. For more information go to www.cpsenergy.com.

Duke Energy Generation Services (DEGS), part of Duke Energy’s Commercial Businesses, is a leader in developing innovative renewable energy solutions, including wind, solar and biopower projects. DEGS builds, owns and operates electric generation for large energy consumers, municipalities, utilities and industrial facilities. DEGS is also working to build commercial transmission capacity to help the U.S. meet its energy needs of the future. Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is a Fortune 500 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the company is available on the Internet at: www.duke-energy.com.

juwi solar Inc., based in Boulder, Colo., is a developer and turnkey engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor of solar power plants throughout North America. juwi solar’s main focus is the development, construction and operation of power plants 1MW or larger. juwi solar is a majority-owned corporation of juwi Holding AG, which ranks among Europe’s leading renewable-energy companies. juwi develops large-scale solar photovoltaic, wind and biomass energy projects. With about 750 employees worldwide, juwi has installed more than 1,200 PV systems, with a total capacity in excess of 400 megawatts of generation capacity. For more information about juwi solar, please visit www.juwisolar.com.

Photos of the Blue Wing Solar Project are available at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dukeenergy/sets/72157623852867688/
B-roll and sound bites delivered to San Antonio, TX affiliates.

CPS Energy is the nation’s largest municipally owned energy company providing both natural gas and electric service. Acquired by the City of San Antonio in 1942, the company serves 707,000 electric customers and 322,000 natural gas customers in and around America’s seventh-largest city. CPS Energy owns the highest financial ratings of any electric system in the U. S., stands number 1 in wind-energy capacity among municipally owned utilities across the country and ranks number 1 in Texas in solar-generated electricity under contract.

http://www.nabcep.org/news/nabcep-releases-job-task-analysis-for-new-photovoltaic-technical-sales-certification

Stay tuned to our blog and website as we’ll be closely monitoring NABCEP’s plans and will be implementing a curriculum that will support the NABCEP Technical Sales Certification program as soon as possible.

~D.J.

Onward,
Michael

Upcoming ImagineSolar Workshops:
PV201: PV System Design and Installation, March 22nd – 26th
- Or March COMBO, March 21st – 26th
PV System Sales and Marketing, March 21st

Distributed Renewable Energy Technology Program – Awarded Projects to Date

St. Philip’s College – San Antonio

ARRA Funds Awarded: $2,000,000 Match: $2,000,000 Total Project: $4,000,000

St. Philip’s College (SPC), one of the colleges of the Alamo Colleges, will install a 400 kW grid-tied solar photovoltaic system on the roof of the Building One at St. Philip’s College’s Southwest Campus in San Antonio. The 400 kW solar photovoltaic (PV) system is projected to produce a total output of 544,193 kWh per year, which will be consumed within the building. Excess generation capacity will be sold to CPS Energy via net metering.

Carroll Independent School District – Grapevine

ARRA Funds Awarded: $2,000,000 Match: $1,000,000 Total Project: $3,000,000

The Carroll ISD will install a 372.6 kW roof-mounted photovoltaic array as well as a 194.4 kW carport photovoltaic array on the new Carroll ISD Middle School for a total installed size of 567 kW. The system achieves approximately 67% of the anticipated demand of the middle school and produce approximately 832,569 kWh of electricity on an annual basis.

University of Texas – Southwestern Medical Center – Dallas

ARRA Funds Awarded: $2,000,000 Match: $400,000 Total Project: $2,400,000

The University of Texas – Southwestern Medical Center (UTSWMC) will install a 245 kW solar photovoltaic (PV) carport on the UTSWMC campus in Dallas at the Thermal Plant. This array will be mounted on two canopies over the parking aisles. Each canopy will support 588 modules for a total of 1,176 solar modules. The system configuration will generate approximately 328,999 kWh per year of clean, renewable electricity.

City of Bedford – Public Library

ARRA Funds Awarded: $1,998,800 Match: $2,215,335 Total Project: $4,214,135

The City of Bedford will install a 244 kW grid-connected high performance solar energy system on the flat roof of the new City of Bedford Library. The PV system will deliver 343 kWh of on-site electricity annually, which will reduce the building’s utility supplied electricity usage by 39%.

The University of Texas at Arlington

ARRA Funds Awarded: $1,832,000 Match: $368,000 Total Project: $2,200,000

The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) will install a 500 kW grid-tied photovoltaic (PV) system, to be located atop the parking structures of a newly constructed project at the UT Arlington adjacent to the Special Events Center (SEC).

Grapevine – Colleyville Independent School District Grapevine

ARRA Funds Awarded: $1,727,226 Match: $431,806 Total Project: $2,159,032

Grapevine-Colleyville ISD will install a 264 kW solar photovoltaic (PV) system mounted on a parking canopy structure positioned over 120 parking lot spaces of the Grapevine High School campus. The project will create the largest solar installation in a K-12 school district in Texas and will offset green house gas emissions for the district as well as reduce the District’s carbon footprint. The installation of the PV system is anticipated to save the COSD $31,135 per year savings on electric utility use.

The County of Cameron – Harlingen, San Benito, Brownsville

ARRA Funds Awarded: $1,713,326.20 Match: $428,331.60 Total Project: $2,141,657.80

The County of Cameron will install four solar photovoltaic (PV) systems totaling 221.76 kW at four county facilities in Cameron County. The systems will be roof mount and grid tied. The four locations are: 1) The Judicial/Administration Building – (100.8 kW; 2) the Harlingen Annex – (20.16 kW); 3) The Oscar C. Dancy Building – (50.5 kW); 4) The San Benito Annex – (50.4 kW).

Austin Community College (ACC) – Austin

ARRA Funds Awarded: $1,594,369.75 Match: $398,592.44 Total Project: $1,992,962.19

The Austin Community College (ACC) will install two grid-tied solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on its Northridge Campus and its Eastview Campus. The systems will generate 395,136 kWh per year, representing an annual energy savings of over $28,645.

Texas Southmost College (TSC) – Harlingen

ARRA Funds Awarded: $1,526,474.88 Match: $344,600 Total Project: $1,871,074.88

Texas Southmost College (TSC) will install a 206 kW hybrid system composed of photovoltaic (PV) panels and a wind turbine to generate renewable energy at the International Technology Education and Commerce Center (ITECC) located in Brownsville. The PV part accounts for 106 kW of installed capacity and the wind turbine is rated at 100k kW. The hybrid system will be tied directly to the grid. Implementation of a hybrid system was based on the complementary behavior of solar-and wind-based generation.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department – Region II

ARRA Funds Awarded: $1,320,326 Match: $330,082 Total Project: $1,650,408

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will install solar photovoltaic (PV) generation systems providing a total of 100 kW across six Texas State Park sites. These projects will save the agency over $23,842 per year. Location 1) Government Canyon SP – 10 kW; 2) Bryan FH – 10 kW; 3) McKinney Falls SP-20 kW; 4) Sheldon Observatory Tower – 20Kw; 5) State Park Region 4 HQ – 20 kW; 6) Galveston Isle – 10 kW.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department – Region I

ARRA Funds Awarded: $1,301,501 Match: $325,375 Total Project: $1,626,876

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will install solar photovoltaic (PV) generation systems providing a total of 125 kW across seven Texas State Park sites. These projects will save the agency over $23,842 per year. Location 1) Lake Tawakoni SP – 10 kW; 20 Ray Roberts Lake SP – 20 kW; 3) Cooper Lake SP – 20 kW; 4) Jasper FH – 10 kW; 5) Cedar Hill SP – 30 kW; 6) Lake Arrowhead SP – 15 kW; 7) San Angelo SP – 20 kW.

The City Irving – Irving Public Library

ARRA Funds Awarded: $1,158,316 Match: $231,663 Total Project: $1,389,969

The City of Irving Public Library will install a 144 kW no-penetrating roof-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) system as part of the effort to promote the City’s sustainability vision to its residents. The system will produce 202.032 kWh of electricity annually at an estimated value of $14,142 per year.

The City of Duncanville

ARRA Funds Awarded: $1,121,208 Match: $280,302.20 Total Project: $1,401,510.20

The City of Duncanville will install three solar PV systems totaling 147.84 kW at three city facilities. The systems will be roof mount and grid tied. The three locations are: 1) The City Hall/Police Station – (43.68 kW); 2) the Recreational Center/Library – (62.16 kW); The Senior Center – (42 kW).

University of Texas – San Antonio

ARRA Funds Awarded: $1,080,000 Match: $317,837 Total Project: $1,397,837

The University of Texas – San Antonio (UTSA) will install PV systems at the University Center Building III (UCBIII) and the Support Services Building (SSB) on campus. The UCIII building will be rated at 140 kW and the SSB building will be rated at 12 kW. Energy monitoring sensors, data loggers will be implemented and data will be collected and sent to a central monitoring system through the internet.

Texas State Technical College – Waco

ARRA Funds Awarded: $978,226 Match: $246,363 Total Project: $1,224,589

TSTC-Waco will install a 219.4 kW grid-tied, solar array on the campus’ Electronics Center and its adjacent parking lot. In addition to increasing the building’s energy efficiency and reducing utility costs, the project is designed to provide hands-on training lab area for matriculated and/or customized industrial training in solar panel installation and maintenance. A segment of the roof directly above the TSTC Renewable Energy Lab will be configured with a variety of racking and mounting systems, modules, and inverters, and will be accessible to trainees. Having access to working solar arrays, with students performing routine efficiency and maintenance checks on the arrays, will complement the traditional classroom/lab areas in the building utilized by TSTC Waco’s new Solar Technician instructional program.

City of Grand Prairie

ARRA Funds Awarded: $872,809 Match: $218,202.40 Total Project: $1,091,011.40

The City of Grand Prairie will install 107.52 kW of grid-tied roof-mount solar photovoltaic (PV) systems at three city facilities. The three facilities are: 1) The Charles England Building (24.57 kW); 2) The City Development Center – (77.07 kW); 3) The Teri Jackson Tourist Information Center – (5.88 kW). The solar PV panels installed on sloped roofs will be visible from the ground.

Hopkins County – Sulphur Springs

ARRA Funds Awarded: $827,883 Match: $354,079 Total Project: $1,181,965

Hopkins County will install 187 kW grid-tied solar photovoltaic (PV) system on the County’s Regional Civic Center. The annual projected system production of the solar system is 265,684 kWh and the projected monthly kWh production is 22,140kWh. The projected percent of usage offset by the solar PV system is 41%.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department – Austin Headquarters

ARRA Funds Awarded: $821,386 Match: $165,600 Total Project: $986,986

The Texas Parks and wildlife Department will install a 92 kW solar photovoltaic (PV) system at the main agency headquarters building in Austin. The installation will save the agency over $17,500 per year in energy savings.

Adjutant General’s Department of Texas Military Forces at Camp Mabry Austin

ARRA Funds Awarded: $799,939 Match: $199,984.88 Total Project: $999,923.88

The Adjutant General’s Department will install a 149 kW grid-tied photovoltaic (solar) power system on a carport structure which will be adjacent to the camp headquarters. The project will have multiple benefits to the base: as distributed renewable energy generating systems; as a functional structural asset to the facility; and as an educational component providing insight about renewable energy to the nearly 800 visitors and employees to the base daily. The system will generate 199 kWh of non-polluting, free, renewable energy each year, offsetting a portion of the current energy load.

The University of Texas Health Science Center – San Antonio

ARRA Funds Awarded: $794,121 Match: $198,530 Total Project: $992,651

The University of Texas Health Science Center (UTHSC) will install a 156 kW grid-tied photovoltaic (PV) renewable energy system on the roof of the south Texas Research Facility (STRF) and an adjacent parking lot. The 104 kW roof mounted PV system will be attached to the upper tapered roof of the 3-story STRF building. The 52 kW carport structure will be added adjacent to the building.

Hutto Independent School District – Hutto

ARRA Funds Awarded: $617,927 Match: $367,822 Total Project: $985,749

Hutto ISD will install a 200 kW grid-tied, roof-mounted solar PV System on Elementary School #6. Installation of meters, data loggers, communications equipment for displaying real-time data, performance metrics and indicators, power and energy generation and system status overviews will be part of this installation process. There will be an educations component to this installation. A 42” touch screen monitor that will be mounted in a highly visible and accessible location for students and visitors will display informational graphics about the system and solar power in general.

Shallowater Independent School District

ARRA Funds Awarded: $476,800 Match: $140,000 Total Project: $616,800

The Shallowater ISD will install a 78 kW grid-tied roof-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) system on the Shallowater Intermediate School coupled with five wind turbines already installed. This will offer significant environmental and economic benefits and highlight the ISD’s long-term vision and enable the ISD to substantially minimize the risk of rising costs of conventional energy in the future.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department – Region III

ARRA Funds Awarded: $455,203 Match: $113,801 Total Project: $569,004

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department – Region III will install 40 kW of solar PV generation systems at three sites. The three site locations are: 1) State Park Region 1 Headquarters – (5 kW); 2) Choke Canyon SP – (15 kW); 3) Mustang Isle – (20 kW).

The City of San Antonio

ARRA Funds Awarded: $433,000 Match: $120,000 Total Project: $553,000

The City of San Antonio will install 48 kW of grid-tied solar photovoltaic (PV) power generation capacity at the Mission Verde Center. The solar power will consist of solar Array’s mounted on the building’s roof top and a parking structure. The Center is a workforce training center that offers sustainability education in green construction and plumbing, and solar/smart grid training.

Texas State Technical College – Harlingen

ARRA Funds Awarded: $431,000 Match: $230,000 Total Project: $661,100

TSTC- Harlingen will install a 100 kW solar photovoltaic (PV) system for the campus. The system will be installed on the Health Sciences Technology Building. As part of the installation, a data monitoring system will be incorporated, which will gather, record, and display system performance. In terms of energy benefits, the PV system is expected to generate 127,542 kWh in the first year of operation. The system will also be utilized for training within the college’s proposed Solar Energy Technology program and as part of any continuing education projects that are requested by local and regional industry.

The City of Alpine

ARRA Funds Awarded: $419,600 Match: $104,900 Total Project: $524,500

The City of Alpine will install a 50 kW grid-tied solar photovoltaic (PV) system at the City’s wastewater treatment plant, which is located about 2.5 miles northeast of the City. The solar array will generate about 78,105 kWh of electricity per year.

The City of Horseshoe Bay

ARRA Funds Awarded: $311,396.83 Match: $62,279.37 Total Project: $373,676.20

The City of Horseshoe Bay will install a 41.1 kW roof-mounted, solar photovoltaic (PV) system at the City’s Slickrock Lift Station. It is estimated that the installation of the PV system will save the City $4,000 in annual energy savings.

University of North Texas – Dallas

ARRA Funds Awarded: $260,500 Match: $276,136 Total Project: $536,636

The University of North Texas (UNT) will install a 102 kW solar photovoltaic (PV) system at its newly constructed Academic Building 2. The PV system will be visible from the campus roof top and as part of the installation, a data monitoring system will be incorporated, which will gather, record, and display system performance. It is anticipated that an annual energy savings will be $44,809.

Munday Independent School District – Munday

ARRA Funds Awarded: $249,117.46 Match: $62,279.37 Total Project: $311,396.83

Munday ISD will install a 41.1 kW roof mounted photovoltaic (PV) system on Building 610 of the campus. The system will generate approximately 55.2 kWh of energy per year.

City of Henrietta

ARRA Funds Awarded: $159,160 Match: $39,790 Total Project: $198,950

The city of Henrietta will install a 10 kW grid-tied, roof-mount solar photovoltaic (PV) system at the City haul building. It is estimated that the installation will save the City approximately $1,500 per year in energy savings.

Fort Worth ISD

ARRA Funds Awarded: $143,074 Match: $91,768 Total Project: $234,842

Fort Worth ISD will install a 101 kW grid-tied, roof mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) system on the Wilkerson Greines Activity Center roof. The Wilderson Greines Activity Center is located in southeast Fort Worth. The selected facility will represent a model for a highly visible location for the innovative distributed renewable solar energy technology implementation.

The City of Sunset Valley – Austin area

ARRA Funds Awarded: $95,000 Match: $46,000 Total Project: $141,000

The City of Sunset Valley will install a 26 kW grid tied photovoltaic (PV) system at the Sunset Valley City Hall. It is estimated that the system will save the City $5,076 in annual electric usage.

This is very good news for those we serve (contractors, project developers) since it means that module pricing will further decline which will result in lower costs for installations which will fuel market growth for installations.

It is good news for module manufacturers in that the market will grow by 64% but it is only good news if they can compete with cost reductions within their manufacturing facilities. There is an industry consolidation occurring where the lower cost suppliers are outpacing the competition.

Report highlights include:

Solar module prices will decline 20% in 2010 after declining 37.8% in 2009;

Worldwide installed watts will increase 64% in 2010 over 2009 to an expected forecasted amount of 8.3GW;

The United States, Italy, and China markets will lead the industry growth.

Onward,
Michael

Upcoming ImagineSolar Workshops:

PV201: PV System Design and Installation, March 22nd – 26th
– Or March COMBO, March 21st – 26th
PV System Sales and Marketing, March 21st

Solar Industry Faces Stiff Price Drops

The solar industry faces steep price declines again in 2010, although prices will drop at a more moderate pace than last year, predicted iSuppli. While installed watts will grow by 64% this year, the market research firm said module prices will decline by an estimated 20%, following a 37.8% drop in 2009.

By David Lammers, News Editor — PV Society, February 25, 2010

The solar industry faces a “permanent ratcheting down of price structures” that will “change the face of the industry,” said the chief solar analyst at iSuppli Corp. (El Segundo, Calif.). While predicting a strong rebound in demand for solar panels this year, with a 64% increase in installed watts, PV faces such steep price declines that companies will need to accelerate their cost-reduction programs, said Henning Wicht, senior director and principal analyst for photovoltaic systems at iSuppli.

While iSuppli expects overall demand to increase sharply, that picture is clouded by expectations that the feed-in tariff subsidy in Germany, which accounts for roughly half the world market now, will be cut in the middle of this year.

Changes are underway on the supply side as well. Two South Korean giants, Samsung and LG Electronics, are expanding their solar-related operations, as are Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (TSMC, Hsinchu, Taiwan) and U.S. engineering giant Bechtel.

The iSuppli analyst said global installed watts for PV systems will grow by 64% in 2010, reaching 8.3 GW, a return to growth levels seen before the fall of 2008. However, the industry will see a continuation of the “tremendous price erosion” that began last year.

On average, iSuppli said crystalline module prices last year fell by 37.8%, solar wafer prices plunged by half, and polysilicon prices crashed, dropping 80%. Price drops will continue this year at a slower rate, with crystalline module prices expected to drop by 20%, wafer prices by 18.2% and polysilicon prices by 56.3%. iSuppli also is projecting that prices, on average, will recover by 10% or more in the final quarter of 2010, despite the declines for the entire year.

iSuppli is predicting crystalline module prices will drop by 20% this year. (Source: iSuppli)

Wicht said that PV suppliers will need to continue accelerating cost reductions in order to keep up with the expected price declines. While solar suppliers lost money last year, profits returned for many suppliers in the fourth quarter and are expected to improve in 2010.

“The erosion in pricing is bound to change the face of the solar industry,” Wicht said. “The freefall of PV prices represents a permanent ratcheting down of price structures that will transform the industry into a more competitive marketplace.”

iSuppli said the growth of PV installations, especially in the first half of 2010, will be led by “a newly energized” German market. “The German market, however, could stall again by summertime, if the feed-in-tariff (FIT) designed to encourage the adoption of PV systems is trimmed by the Merkel government,” iSuppli reported.

Wicht said the German market accounted for 50% of total worldwide PV installations in 2009, and “is of such importance that the collective PV demand accruing from other countries will not be sufficient to compensate for a German FIT reduction of 15%” if that were imposed in mid-2010.

With Germany apparently poised to cut its subsidies, Wicht said other markets may pick up the slack later this year, led by the United States, Italy and China. “Together, these three markets will account for 50% of the growth projected to occur in 2010,” he said.

According to an Associated Press report from Berlin, the governing coalition parties in Germany said they are planning deep cuts in subsidies. The price paid for electricity from solar panels on roofs will be cut by 16% and that from larger solar power stations by 15%, said Hans-Peter Friedrich of the governing coalition.
The AP report said power grid owners currently are required to buy solar power at 39 euro cents (53 U.S. cents) per kilowatt hour, while the market price is only about 5 euro cents per kilowatt hour. The power grid owners then pass the difference on to consumers.

The July price cuts follow a 9% reduction at the beginning of the year. The subsidy reductions are meant to bring down the subsidy’s cost for consumers by €1B a year ($1.35B), according to Environment Minister Norbert Roettgen, the AP report said.

The German subsidy cuts come as solar vendors struggle to return to profitability. Q-Cells SE CEO Anton Milner, in a conference call following a report of huge losses in 2009, called 2009 “an appalling year,” and said his objective this year is “to get the company back into a profitable growth mode.”
To do that, Q-Cells will use its hard-earned knowledge of operational efficiencies at the Malaysia factory that will absorb much of the company’s capital expenditures this year.

“The old business model for solar cell companies has certain limits. We will become an overall PV company,” including supplying utilities with systems based on thin-film modules, Milner said.

Two of our NABCEP Pro Certified instructors, Michael Kuhn and Richard Stovall, will lead you through many problem solving exercises and discuss test taking strategies needed to master and successfully pass the professional-level NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer Exam.  While we cannot guarantee your results, the exam pass rate from our previous NABCEP Exam Prep Workshop participants was 100%.  Please go to our website to register. www.imaginesolar.com or give us a call at: 512-443-5725 if you have any questions.

~D.J.

http://imaginesolar.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/solartoday-training-article.pdf

Best regards,

D.J.

SEI’s course is considered one of the best and has a long waiting list.  It’s also very similar to ImagineSolar’s workshops with a mixture of classroom/online exercises and extensive hands-on experience.  ImagineSolar is proud to be included in Solar Today‘s short list of “best-known, long-established solar training programs” shown on the second page of the article.   If you are already a member, check out the article online   If you haven’t already, I highly recommend becoming a member of ASES and subscribing to Solar Today magazine.  For your convenience, I’ve posted a copy of the article here: http://imaginesolar.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/solartoday-training-article.pdf

~ D.J.

As with many industry certifications and testing, they tend to become more difficult to obtain over time.  Our expectation is that the Entry Level exam will become more difficult starting in January.  The good news is that ImagineSolar has been teaching most of the new objectives all along, and little modification will be done to our 40hr workshop in order to meet the new learning objectives.

With that said, I recommend that if you know of anyone considering taking our 40hr PV System Design and Installation Workshop, that they take our next workshop from Dec 7th through 11th.  This will be the last opportunity to take the easier exam and get a Certificate of Knowledge from NABCEP.  Click here to register.

Also, just  a reminder that our MicroInverter Workshop is scheduled for Dec 12th.  With Enphase coming to present in the morning, a complete live install of their inverters, and presentations covering several other microinverter technologies.  This full day workshop is only $295 and will bring you up to speed on what’s happening in this major PV market shift.  Click here to go to register for our MicroInverter Workshop.

Enjoy you Thanksgiving holiday!

~D.J.

Following our regular PV System Design and Installation course in November (9th – 13th), we will be hosting a 4 hour course covering aspects of PV Sales and Marketing on Nov 14th.   We’ll discuss Solar PV market & technologies overview, project qualification techniques, non-financial justifications for PV,  several financial justification methodologies and PV system proposal development.

We are also very excited to be offering a 1 day Micro Inverter Workshop on December 12th. We’ve invited several of the industry leaders to present, in addition our team will be providing objective market and technology analysis of this market transforming technology.   Whether you are new to the industry, or a seasoned professional, this workshop is a must attend in order to keep current with this market shift.

Check out our Workshops page for more information or to sign up.

~D.J.

Tell your friends or join us for one of our next workshops on Oct. 12th-16th or Nov. 9th-13th  and see what the buzz is all about!

Inverter Installation

Solar Module Installation

Roundup Install Team

~ D.J.

MEMORANDUM

TO: Mayor and Council Members
CC: Marc A. Ott, City Manager
FROM: Karl R. Rábago, Vice President, Distributed Energy Services
DATE: September 29, 2009
SUBJECT: Solar Rebate Program Changes

Since 2004, Austin Energy has operated a highly successful solar rebate program that provides rebates to customers for installing qualifying solar photovoltaic (PV) electric generating systems and solar hot water heater systems on their homes and businesses. The program has rapidly stimulated the development of a strong solar installation industry in Austin and has resulted in more than 900 rooftop solar installations in Austin. The number of solar installers in Austin has increased from four to 22 in the past five years. By all accounts, the rebate program has been one of the most generous in the nation, and while the program was not fully subscribed every year, times have changed.

The budget for the solar rebate program in FY2010 is $4 million. As of August 31, 2009, Austin Energy had signed $3.3 million in Letters of Intent against the FY2010 budget, committing to pay rebates at a level $3.75 per installed watt of capacity. In recent weeks, applications for rebates for solar PV systems have surged. As of September 24, 2009, Austin Energy had received applications for an additional $4.5 million in rebates. There are several reasons for this dramatic increase including more generous federal tax credits, a recent decline in solar PV technology costs, increased customer awareness, and aggressive marketing by Austin area solar installers.

Austin Energy expressly communicates with all customers and solar installers that submission of an application does not entitle a customer to a rebate under the program. Austin Energy inspects every site and project proposal prior to issuing a Letter of Intent, at which point rebate funding is committed.

With these facts in mind, Austin Energy engaged its solar installer network in a meeting on September 24 to discuss Austin Energy’s initial ideas about how best to allocate the remaining rebate program budget and how to modify the rebate program. Stakeholders provided a wide range of helpful, insightful and creative ideas for near-term and long-term solutions. After careful consideration of all the issues, Austin Energy is modifying the solar rebate program as follows:

Residential

• The solar rebate program for FY2010 is suspended effective September 24, 2009 and no new residential rebate applications will be accepted until November 1, 2009, when new program guidelines will be applicable. Pending applications without a signed Letter of Intent from Austin Energy will be returned to applicants. Residential applicants may resubmit under the new guidelines on or after November 1, 2009.

• Residential customers with a signed Letter of Intent will have 270 days to complete their solar projects. This is an increase from the current 120-day requirement.

• For residential customers, the solar rebate offered beginning November 1, 2009, and subject to available budget funds, will be limited to $2.50 per watt (down from $3.75 per watt). The total rebate allowed for each individual project will be limited to $15,000 per project (down from $50,000 per project). The total lifetime maximum solar rebate that any single site may receive will be limited to $50,000 (no prior site limit).

• Residential solar rebate applicants will be required to demonstrate compliance with energy efficiency standards for their residence prior to being issued a Letter of Intent from Austin Energy. Existing residences will be required to comply with Austin Energy’s Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program. New residences and homes undergoing major renovations will be required to meet an enhanced version of the currently applicable building code, with detailed requirements to be published by October 31, 2009.

• Austin Energy will accept applications until the end of FY2010 in the event that additional rebate funds become available, under the continuing express condition that simply submitting an application does not entitle a customer to a rebate. Any application for which funding is not available at the end of FY2010 will be returned to the applicant. Unsuccessful applicants will be allowed to reapply in the next program year.

Commercial, Multifamily, Nonprofit

• The program is suspended effective September 24, 2009, and no new commercial, multifamily or nonprofit customer applications will be accepted until the date new program guidelines are effective, no later than January 1, 2010. Pending applications without a signed Letter of Intent from Austin Energy will be returned to applicants. The new program guidelines for these customers will be developed with engagement from stakeholders and will be based on a performance and/or production incentive system.

• A budget amount of $100,000 will be reserved for incentives for commercial, multifamily and nonprofit customer applications. Under a performance or production incentive system, this amount should support several typical commercial projects.

Solar Hot Water

• No changes are proposed to the current program.
• A budget amount of $25,000 will be reserved for solar water heater rebates ($2,000 per installation).

Austin Energy will continue to aggressively manage its budget for opportunities to supplement the available budget for the solar rebate program. In fact, in FY2009, Austin Energy was able to transfer some $1 million to the program to serve heightened demand. In addition, Austin Energy is aggressively pursuing new sources of funding in federal programs that could result in program budget supplements.

Austin Energy staff will communicate with every customer who submitted an application during the month of September to explain these changes. The program changes will enable a significant portion of the pending applications to proceed, providing the modified program requirements are acceptable to customers. Austin Energy will continue to work with customers and stakeholders on designing more durable program changes and a multi-year strategy for evolution of the program in the face of budget realities, market conditions, and program goals. Since 2004, Austin Energy has provided a monthly program status report to the Resource Management Commission. This reporting will be shared with solar community stakeholders.

Austin Energy will prepare presentations for both the Electric Utility Commission and the Resource Management Commission on these program changes.

If you have any questions, please contact Karl R. Rábago at 322-6098 or by email at karl.rabago@austinenergy.com.

Update:  There are a few spaces left for our September workshop in Fredricksberg TX.   Our October PV System Design & Installation workshop will be in Austin October 12-16th.

Also, there is still a few spaces left in the September PV System Design & Installation Workshop in Fredericksburg next week.  To register and learn more, go here:  http://imaginesolar.com/?page_id=323.

All September workshop attendee’s will receive a 3 day pass to the Renewable Energy Round Up the following weekend September 25-27th in Fredericksburg, TX.  To learn more about the Roundup visit: http://theroundup.org/

Michael is the only, Institute for Sustainable Power Quality (ISPQ) Certified Master Trainer in Texas in association with Austin Community College. Check out his interview and his thoughts on solar training here: http://irecusa.org

See you there!

D.J.

ImagineSolar will not only be exhibiting through the weekend, but we have also partnered with Roundup organizers (Texas Renewable Energy Industries Assn, Texas Solar Energy Society) to offer our PV System Design and Installation Workshop prior to the weekend Roundup.  The workshop will take place September 21 -25.  All students who enroll will receive a 3-day pass to the Roundup.  This is such a great opportunity to get a head-start on networking before the Roundup and get trained by the best instructors in the industry.  Learn more at:

http://theroundup.org/?page_id=268

Throughout the Roundup weekend, we will be exhibiting at booth D1.  On display, come check out our temporary PV installation, which we use for hands on training at our workshops.  It will be grid-tied and live each day.  In addition, Stony Point High School Solar Car Team out of Round Rock who won 2nd place in the Dell-Winston School Solar Car Challenge will be on display.  ImagineSolar is one of their sponsors – we are so proud of their accomplishment this year!  James McElhanon, Team Advisor and ImagineSolar instructor, will also be onsite to answer questions.  Finally, ImagineSolar President & CEO, Michael Kuhn will be a featured speaker at the White Tent on Friday, August 25th from 4-5 PM.  Come out and listen to him review financial and non-financial justifications of today’s PV installation.

We look forward to seeing you there!

~Nora

Solar First Saturday Recap:
Our August topic, examined how the Berkley Plan (HB1937) could be implemented in Texas.  There is still much work ahead of us to implement locally, but we are on our way to making PV more available to Texas residents.
McCall Johnson from Environment Texas advocate was there to shed some light on the road ahead of us.  Thanks McCall!

We concluded our seminar with a quick look at Micro-inverters and how this significant industry innovation could change the way we design & install PV systems.  Want to learn more?  Our 1-day Micro-inverter Seminar will offer a technical overview and takes place on November 20th.

Our next Solar First Saturday, will be held November 7th – a topic will be announced soon.

September:
Don’t forget about our Advanced PV-1 up coming workshop on September 3rd & 4th.  This 2-day workshop is an opportunity for you to prep for the NABCEP PV Installer Certification Exam prior to the September 12th exam date.

~Nora

Just a quick note to remind everyone of our August Solar First Saturday seminar topic.  We will be covering the Berkeley Plan, which will provide solar (among other energy efficiency measures) at no out of pocket expense to the customer.  Even with rebates the out of pocket expense can be too restrictive for the widespread adoption of solar solutions.  This plan fixes that issue by providing low interest loans to cover the costs.

Here is the description for this weekend’s seminar :

August Topic: HB1937 a.k.a. “The Berkeley Plan”… What it is… What it will do for you… And how to implement it.

HB1937 gives municipalities the authority to create special districts to finance energy conservation improvements like PV systems and solar water heating for individuals who then pay back the loan over a period (expected to be 20 years) as a line item added to their property taxes.  This means that essentially there would be no out-of-pocket expense for the homeowner to put solar on their home.  Coupled with the rebates offered in Austin and many other parts of the state, it makes for a very compelling proposition for those interested in clean renewable energy for their homes.

The bill becomes effective on September 1st, but the work has only just begun.  Although the Governor has signed the bill, it is up to the grass roots efforts of each community interested in such a plan to get it implemented.

We will also discuss PV system configurations including microinverter approaches.

Date: August 1st, 2009

Time: 9am to 12pm

Location:
Habitat Suites
500 East Highland Mall Boulevard
Austin, Texas 78752
Habitat Suites is Austin’s award winning “green hotel.” Ecological Consciousness in Action is Habitat Suites’ commitment to creating an environmentally sustainable future for us all.  Click here for more information on Habitat Suites.

See you Saturday!

Richard

September is a busy month for ImagineSolar.  We have introduced an Advanced PV-1 class to take place the first weekend in September.  Students will have the opportunity to prepare for the NABCEP PV Installer Certification Exam.  Prerequisite for this weekend workshop is our 40-hr PV System Design and Installation Workshop or equivalent training.  Following Advanced PV-1, on September 7th, learn about one of the most exciting technology advances in the solar industry – Micro-Inverters – in a 1-day seminar.  Rounding out September in Fredericksburg, we will be holding a 40-hr PV System Design & Installation Workshop as a training partner with TREIA and TXSES prior to the weekend Renewable Energy Roundup and Green Living Fair.

Finally, in October, we introduce our very first weekend class – for those of you that are unable to enroll for our workshops held on weekdays, we hope this 2-weekend workshop will give you the option to attend.

Stay tuned for additional schedule additions.

~Nora

The courses specifically covered by the ISPQ Affiliated Master Training Certification are the following Austin Community College courses:

HART 1071 Solar Electric Systems, Entry Level; HART 1072 Advanced Solar PV Installer; HART 1073 Solar Thermal Systems; HART 1074 Problem Solving for PV System Design & Installation; and, ELMT 2474 Solar Photovoltaic Systems

Here is the Livescribe “pencast” of Michael’s interview on KOOP 91.7.  Please not that you can click on any portion of the notes to hear the audio that was being recorded at the time the note was taken: