| {Commonwealth of Pennsylvania} |
| { } {Pennsylvania} |
| {Commonwealth of Pennsylvania} |
| { } {Pennsylvania} |
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First Threshold Reached for Small Business PV Rebates: The Department has reached its goal for Step 1 of the small business PV program. Because this goal was reached very quickly and with little warning, the Department has decided to subsidize projects submitted to PowerClerk at the Step 1 level through Friday October 30, 2009. In order to receive the larger incentive level, all projects must be listed as having a project status of "Submitted via Internet" by close of Friday October 30, 2009. Projects that have a status of "Incomplete" after Friday October 30, 2009 will receive incentives at the Step 2 incentive level. The residential PV program and the solar hot water program will both continue to accept applications for Step 1 incentive levels. As of Nov. 20, 2009, the PA Sunshine Program has allocated funding as follows: What is the The Pennsylvania Sunshine Solar Program will provide $100 million in rebates to help fund solar electric (solar photovoltaic, or PV) and solar hot water (solar thermal) projects for homeowners and small businesses in Pennsylvania. This program is authorized by section 306 of the Alternative Energy Investment Act, Act of July 9, 2008 Spec. Sess., No. 1, (P.L. __, No. 1) (73 P.S. §§1649.101 et seq.). Funding may also be provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Pub.L. No. 111-5 (2009). Program Overview: Funding will be deployed in the form of rebates for residential and small business projects. Rebates will be awarded on a first-come-first-served basis to approved applicants. Households may receive one solar photovoltaic (PV) rebate for up to 10 kilowatts (kW) of installed PV generating capacity plus one solar thermal rebate not to exceed $2,000. A small business may only submit one PV and one solar thermal application at a time and must complete the project and rebate process prior to submitting another application.
All applicants for the solar program, either residents or small businesses, will be required to use an installer from the department’s approved list. Applications are available for solar photovoltaic and solar thermal (hot water) installation contractors wishing to register to participate in the new Pennsylvania Sunshine Program. Please use the links below to find solar photovoltaic (PV) and solar hot water installer application forms and instructions.
Click here for Guidance on Entering Shading Data into the PowerClerk Application System. Solar Training Courses:
Solar PV Basics Photovoltaic Cells Photovoltaic (PV) cells, or solar cells, convert sunlight directly into electricity. As the sun strikes a PV cell, the semi-conducting materials within the cell absorb the sunlight, producing electricity. Solar cells are often used as simple systems that power small calculators and wristwatches. More complicated systems provide electricity for pumping water, powering communications equipment, lighting homes, and running appliances. A series of solar cells form a PV array or “solar panel.” Between 10 and 50 solar panels are needed to power an average household. PV panels are installed on buildings in places of maximum sun and minimal shade in order to take full advantage of the sun’s power. There is very little maintenance required to sustain solar equipment. Panels that are kept clean, can last 20 to 30 years. Solar power can be used in a grid-tied system or in a distributed system. A solar grid-tied system links a series of solar panels through a power inverter to the utility’s electric grid. The solar panels generate a direct current (DC) by drawing on energy from the sun. The inverter then converts that direct current to an alternating current (AC), which electronic devices and appliances can use. Batteries are not necessary to supplement the system and any excess electricity generated by the solar panels is redirected by the inverter back into the grid where it can be used on other premises. Distributed systems work independently from a utility’s electric grid, using batteries to store the power. Similar to a grid-tied system, distributed solar panels typically use a power inverter to convert the direct current from the sun into an alternating current, to be used on location. However, some systems function without an inverter and run only DC appliances. Thanks to the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard Act of 2004, 18 percent of electricity sold at retail in the
The department encourages energy efficiency before investing in solar PV. Energy efficiency is often a no-cost or low-cost way to reduce energy consumption. Energy efficiency will also maximize the benefits of a PV system. Don’t know where to start? Please see the department’s energy efficiency site above for more information! Check out these helpful links for more information on PV:
Solar Hot Water Systems A common use of solar energy in Water heating is usually the second highest energy need, after space heating, in homes. For a family of four, water heating is approximately one-quarter of the family’s energy consumption. Numerous conservation measures can be implemented to reduce this cost. Low flow showerheads, temperature reductions, tank and pipe insulation are a few of the cost-effective energy measures that should be implemented prior to considering a solar hot water system. The concept of heating water with solar energy is very simple. A good example of solar water heating is a garden hose left out in the sun. The hose absorbs the sun’s energy, turns it into heat and transfers it to the water. Some solar water heaters are not much more complicated than this simple example. Solar water heating can be used to produce hot water for a wide variety of uses. Obvious uses include washing, cooking, cleaning, and any other domestic uses of hot water around the home. However, applications are not limited to residential structures. Solar water heating is also common for service hot water in commercial and institutional buildings. Check out these helpful links for more information on solar hot water:
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