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Fred Paris [email protected] Co-op Power Sustainable Energy Summit 2009 Page 5 of 9 Designing Solar Sizing and Pricing Solar Systems Solar PV systems are sold by size expressed in watts or kilowatts. It is common to hear “they installed a 3 kilowatt system” or Mr. Jones just installed a “10k solar system”. During 2008 and early 2009, the total price for new systems - parts and labor - installed in Massachusetts was between $6.50 and $11 a watt. As can be expected, the larger the system the lower the cost per watt. A 2000 watt starter system for example would ballpark for about $18,000, or around $9 a watt, while a 50kW system might be installed for $325,000, or around $6.50 a watt. This is the list price, but rarely do customers pay the list price. Most Massachusetts systems are eligible for rebates, federal and state tax credits, and even utility incentives. These financial incentives can trim the list price by as much as 60%. A 10k system installed in optimal orientation (azimuth and tilt) in Boston could be expected to generate 12,437kWh a year. This equates to 1,036kWh month. In a 17¢ kWh utility, this system would generate about $175 in energy per month. This output could be expected to continue for more than 20 years. Federal tax grants of 30%, ACR of five years, and state administered utility rebates will lower the costs of a PV system. In some cases, a $45,000 residential system might actually cost less than $12,000.

Paris Pv Presentation Part2

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Introduction to photo voltaic installation part two of two by Frederick Paris from Paris Consulting Associates

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Page 1: Paris Pv Presentation Part2

Fred Paris [email protected] Co-op Power Sustainable Energy Summit 2009 Page 5 of 9

Designing Solar

Sizing andPricing SolarSystems

Solar PV systems are sold by size expressed in watts or kilowatts. It is common tohear “they installed a 3 kilowatt system” or Mr. Jones just installed a “10k solarsystem”.

During 2008 and early 2009, the total price for new systems - parts and labor -installed in Massachusetts was between $6.50 and $11 a watt. As can be expected,the larger the system the lower the cost per watt. A 2000 watt starter system forexample would ballpark for about $18,000, or around $9 a watt, while a 50kWsystem might be installed for $325,000, or around $6.50 a watt. This is the list price,but rarely do customers pay the list price. Most Massachusetts systems are eligiblefor rebates, federal and state tax credits, and even utility incentives. These financialincentives can trim the list price by as much as 60%.

A 10k system installed in optimal orientation (azimuth and tilt) in Boston could beexpected to generate 12,437kWh a year. This equates to 1,036kWh month. In a 17¢kWh utility, this system would generate about $175 in energy per month. This outputcould be expected to continue for more than 20 years. Federal tax grants of 30%,ACR of five years, and state administered utility rebates will lower the costs of a PVsystem. In some cases, a $45,000 residential system might actually cost less than$12,000.

Page 2: Paris Pv Presentation Part2

Fred Paris [email protected] Co-op Power Sustainable Energy Summit 2009 Page 6 of 9

Not enough room on the roof? Consider a pole-mounted or ground mount system.

Page 3: Paris Pv Presentation Part2

Fred Paris [email protected] Co-op Power Sustainable Energy Summit 2009 Page 7 of 9

The Financial Perspective

Payback, TaxCredits,Rebates andLife CycleCosts

PaybackThe idea of payback in years is the holy grail of a solar investment, but ask tenpeople how payback is computed and we get several perspectives. The most commondefinition is simple payback expressed as the number of years it takes for thecumulative monthly savings in electricity to equal the investment. Contrasting thismeasure with another financial gauge – life cycle cash flow – easily demonstratesthat simple payback may not be the most appropriate measure for residential PVapplications.

If we define simple payback (SP) as the net cost (NC) to the owner, and given theyearly revenue (YR) as the average revenue of the PV system (reduced electric billsminus expenses), the simple payback SP in years is given by:

SP=NC/YR

Continued on next page

Page 4: Paris Pv Presentation Part2

Fred Paris [email protected] Co-op Power Sustainable Energy Summit 2009 Page 8 of 9

The Financial Perspective, Continued

Payback The simple payback perspective however does not capture all of the financialbenefits that may be available to homeowners. These include:

• The possibility of borrowing to pay for the system through a home equity loan or a mortgage where payments are spread over the life of the loan with relatively low interest that is also tax deductible.

• The commodity value of renewable energy credits (RECs).• The tax credits on both federal and state tax liability.• The value of the energy produced over the life of the system.• The Commonwealth Solar rebate incentives including a base rebate, home value

rebate, household income rebate, and regional incentives.

Accounting for these factors changes the financial picture to a cash flow model:

CF = (MVE – PMT) +TXB

where MVE is the monthly value of energy resulting from utility bill savings, PMTis the payment on the loan based on the principle after all rebates and REC values,and TXB is the tax benefit resulting from the loan interest write-off. It can often bedemonstrated that with no money down PV systems could provide a positive cashflow to the owner every single year starting in year one.

Page 5: Paris Pv Presentation Part2

Fred Paris [email protected] Co-op Power Sustainable Energy Summit 2009 Page 9 of 9

Financial Incentives for Massachusetts Residential Projects

State PersonalIncome TaxCredit

Massachusetts provides a personal income tax credit for individuals who install solarphotovoltaic (PV) systems in their residences. The system must be new, incompliance with all applicable performance and safety standards, and expected toremain in operation for at least 5 years. The credit is 15% of the net expenditure forthe system including installation, or $1,000, whichever is less. The credit can becarried over for a period of 3 years if it is greater than one's state income tax liabilityin individual years. M.G.L. c. 62, sec. 6(d)

State Sales TaxExemption

Purchases of equipment directly relating to PV systems are exempted from the statesales tax if they are to be used as a primary or auxiliary source of energy supplyingthe needs of a person's principal residence in the state. M.G.L. c. 64H, sec. 6(dd)

Local PropertyTax Exemption

Solar energy systems supplying the energy needs of a residence are eligible for anexemption from local property tax. This exemption, which is good for 20 years fromthe date of system installation, applies only to the value of the renewable energyequipment reflected on the property tax bill, not the full amount of the bill. M.G.L. c.59, sec. 5, cl. 45

RenewableEnergy Credits

Owners of solar energy facilities can sell their RECs under a variety of pricing andcontract terms without compromising their ability to capitalize on the monetarybenefits associated with on-site electricity generation, net metering, and powersupply agreements.

CommonwealthSolar Rebates

Brand new for 2008 is the Commonwealth Solar Plan. Commonwealth Solar has $68million available for funding over the next four years to support PV installations inMassachusetts.

Federal TaxGrants

Federal Residential Grants for PV and other renewable technologies provide forresidential energy payments of up to 30%. There is no cap.