BIZ Solar Fort Collins ClimateWise Biz Ed Program Series Norm Weaver Fort Collins Utilities May 15, 2013
Commercial Solar in Fort Collins
Outline: Solar Trends Cost Trends (Grid Power vs. Solar Power) Leasing Fort Collins Solar Programs Rebates Solar Gardens Solar Power Purchase Program FCSP 3 Estimate PV System Size Resources and Links
the message Energy Efficiency Vegetables Renewables Dessert Reduce electric usage as you can, then invest in solar. at the business level and at the community level
Business Efficiency Program One resource for energy and water efficiency Assessments Rebates New building tune-up Technical assistance Information Education www.fcgov.com/business-efficiency
Solar Cost Trends
Capacity (DC kw) 2,000 1,500 1,000 500 0 Local Solar Trend PV - Cumulative Installed Capacity Q1 2013 13 22 36 44 63 348 722 1,071 1,372 1,494 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Year
FCL&P and Host Customer $ FCL&P Meter Bill LOAD HOST Energy $ ( FCL&P Fort Collins Light and Power)
Host PV Owner/Operator $ FCL&P PV M2 M1 LOAD Bill HOST
Host PV Lease / PPA $ FCL&P Solar Service Provide ( SSP ) PV M2 M1 LOAD Bill OPERATOR Lease or PPA HOST ( PPA Power Purchase Agreement)
Solar Leasing Leasing Company installs and maintains PV on your roof Lease Companies make maximum use of tax and other incentives. Leasing Contract 10 to 20 years typically Power Purchase Agreement / Lease may offer fixed or escalating cost of power based on a variety of underlying amortization strategies.
Solar Leasing Pros: Someone else maintains the system Low up-front cost Cons: Unexpected costs reroofing, for example End-of Lease? 20 year relationship with leasing company Do your due diligence Do the math Read and Ask - transfer of ownership?, output guarantees?
FC Utilities Solar Programs
Small Solar Rebates 2013 Commercial Rebates: $1.75 per rated Watt up to $17,500 Applications accepted at FC Utilities starting in early February $125,000 Fund - First-come-first-served. Currently taking applications to a waitlist WWW.FCGOV.COM / SOLAR-REBATES
Solar Gardens
Solar Gardens An alternative for homes and businesses without good solar sites Customer owns a share of the garden and receives credit on their utility bill similar to have a rooftop PV system. The pilot solar garden project is currently at an early planning stage Review of possible sites RFP process for a third-party operator Initial plan for a 250kW phase 1 with room to grow
Fort Collins Solar Power Purchase Program (FCSP 3 ) Target is 5 megawatts of new solar Commercial Customers only PV systems 10 to 1000 kw 20 year purchase contracts Program under development rolling out 3 rd Quarter 2013
Fort Collins Solar Power Purchase Program (FCSP 3 ) Pilot program criteria Contribute to RES commitments with local solar Two year application window (2013/2014) Specific funding limit, $1M per year for 20 years Maximize benefit and minimize risk for all ratepayers
Renewable Energy Standard RES requirement 2015 = 6% 2020 = 10% Need 45,000 megawatt-hours for 2015 Options Renewable energy certificates (RECs) Utility scale wind projects Utility scale solar projects Local solar projects Solar 3X multiplier (before July 2015)
Why Local Solar? Contributes to RES commitments (3X) 5 megawatt program meets 25% of the 2015 RES commitment Supports Local investment and benefits Climate Action Plan Energy Policy Grid modernization
Estimating PV System Size
PV How Much? In Fort Collins, average business PV system size is roughly 25 kilowatts ( rated ) How much of your bill could that offset?
140% Electric Offset - 25kW PV System 120% 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% 2500 5000 10000 15000 20000 25000 30000 35000 Average Monthly Biz Electric Use (kwh/month)
PV Size (kw) PV System Size for 100% Offset 350.0 300.0 250.0 200.0 150.0 100.0 50.0 0.0 2500 5000 10000 15000 20000 25000 30000 35000 Average Monthly Biz Electric Use (kwh/month)
% Using Less Electricity PV Cost ($) PV System Investment for 100% Offset $800,000 $700,000 $600,000 $500,000 $400,000 $300,000 $200,000 $100,000 $0 2500 5000 10000 15000 20000 25000 30000 35000 Average Monthly Biz Electric Use (kwh/month) A Trade-off! 100.0% 80.0% 60.0% 40.0% 20.0% Distribution of Commercial Usage 0.0% 0 2000 4000 6000 8000100001200014000 Average Monthly Electric Use ( kwh/month)
Online Resources: fcgov.com/solar - rebates and other program information fcgov.com/business-efficiency assessments and incentives fcgov.com/utilities/what-we-do - policy fcgov.com/climatewise business and the environmental
Thank you!