PA Sunshine Solar Program
NOW OPEN: PA Sunshine Residential/Small Business Solar PV Program
Click here for the guidelines package for both photovoltaic (PV) and thermal projects. Please note, consumers do NOT submit the application themselves.Consumers must choose an installer off of the approved installer list. Installers will complete and submit the application on-line. The on-line PV application is now available; please click here to access the application.
Click here for the list of qualified PV installers. Applicants must choose an installer from this list.
Click here for the list of qualified thermal installers. Applicants must choose an installer from this list.
Click here for a list of Frequently Asked Questions.
Click here for the project completion form.
Click here for the consumer protection notice.
Click here to determine if a low income resident can qualify for additional incentives through the program.
Click here for information on entering Shading Data into Power Clerk.
Please note, the incentive amounts offered for both PV and thermal will decline at a pre-established rate as the market grows and develops. Please click here to view the rate schedules.
Schedule of Megawatts Remaining at Current Incentive Level:
| |
Current Step |
Size of Step |
Amount Received, but not Approved for Construction |
Amount Reserved to Date |
Total Amount Received |
Amount Remaining Before Next Step-Down (assuming applications received result in project approvals) |
| Residential PV |
1 |
10 MW |
1.88 MW |
5.56 MW |
7.44 MW |
2.56 MW |
| Small Business PV |
3 |
10 MW |
9.23 MW |
5.21 MW |
14.44 MW |
0.00 MW |
| Solar Hot Water |
1 |
1500 Systems |
43 |
136 |
179 |
1321 Systems |
|
Typical Costs for all Applications Submitted in December 2009:
|
|
| |
High Cost ($/Watt) |
Median Cost ($/Watt) |
Low Cost ($/Watt) |
Median System Size (kW) |
| Residential |
13.52 |
7 |
3.75 |
6 |
| Small Business |
9.00 |
5.95 |
4.51 |
79 |
What is the Pennsylvania Sunshine Program?
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.
Now Available: Pennsylvania Sunshine Program Qualified Installer Registration
Pennsylvania Sunshine Program Installer Registration:
All applicants for the solar program, either residents or small businesses, will be required to use an installer from the departments 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.
Solar Training Courses:
IREC ISPQ Accredited Trainers
All installers applying to participate in the PA Sunshine Program that do not have NABCEP Certification must provide proof of completion of an Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) Institute for Sustainable Power Quality (ISPQ) accredited course or a solar manufacturers course. The link above provides a list of groups and instructors that have been approved to offer IREC ISPQ accredited solar training courses.
The links above are organizations that are currently offering IREC ISPQ accredited solar training courses in Pennsylvania. If your organization is offering an IREC ISPQ accredited solar training course in Pennsylvania, but has not been listed above please contact pasunshine@state.pa.us.
The PA Sunshine Program is proud to share that Philadelphia-based Infinite Solar, Inc. has received IREC ISPQ accrediation for their five-day Entry Level Solar PV Installation and Design Course. This group is the first in Pennsylvania to receive this national accreditation for solar training. For more information about upcoming courses, please visit www.solarschoolpa.com.
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 utilities 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 utilities 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 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 2021 will be required to be generated by alternative energy sources.This includes 800 MW from solar energy, known as the "Solar Share". See this Solar Share Fact Sheet (PDF) for more information.
Energy Efficiency First!
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 departments energy efficiency site above for more information!
Check out these helpful links for more information on PV:
Solar Hot Water Basics
Solar Hot Water Systems
A common use of solar energy in Pennsylvania is to heat water. Thousands of solar water heaters have been installed across the state. Solar water heating systems are an excellent application of solar energy because hot water is needed year round, including the summer when we receive a lot of sunlight.
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 families 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:
