Guest Blog Post by SolarReviews.com: Solar-Estimate Guide to Solar Panels

In a recent study, Solar-Estimate has procured a new page which takes a deep dive and analyzes solar panels, comparing the best in the industry. This guide to solar panels will tell you everything you need to know about solar panels including the best brands, most efficient, best value, and best DIY panels. The page also includes a beginner’s guide to understanding warranties and other statistics which are important to consider when deciding which solar panels are best for your home. This is a great way to understand your options if you’ve already determined solar is worth it for your home. If you’re still trying to figure out if solar is worth it, but you’d prefer the simplicity of a calculator, you can check out the Solar-Estimate calculator to get an estimate based on your location.

Solar-Estimate performed a comprehensive data analysis of solar panels using installed system data from over 130,000 systems in 2018 and by compiling detailed specifications from each manufacturer. In this study, Solar-Estimate ranks some of the top solar panel manufacturers by providing industry expert reviews as well as consumer reviews from verified purchasers of solar panels for home. In the expert review, Solar-Estimate selects the 4 best solar panel brands by taking into account many factors including efficiency, cost per watt value, warranty value, manufacturer reputation, and reliability. 

While Solar-Estimate does have their own system for their expert reviews, every consumer is different and these rankings may not apply to everyone. This is why Solar-Estimate breaks down rankings by sections and gives the reader the opportunity to read, learn, and decide for themselves which panels are best for their particular situation. These ranking sections include most efficient, best value, most commonly used in 2018, and best DIY panels available for purchase online.

In addition to the rankings, the page includes information for a wide range of expertise levels. For beginners, there are the “Solar Panels 101” and “Solar Panel Dictionary” sections which educate users by explaining solar panel details in layman’s terms. For experts, they have included specific details for each panel including Voc, Isc, size and weight, and other essential information needed to design a system from scratch.

The final and most unique part of the study is the breakdown and comparison of performance warranties for each panel manufacturer. Performance warranties are very important, as they can indicate how much value a solar panel will provide over its lifetime. Warranties can be very difficult to understand, and Solar-Estimate has visually represented performance warranties with a very easily readable graph.

Statement on the Solar Foundation’s 2018 Annual Solar Jobs Census

Bernadette Del Chiaro, Executive Director, California Solar & Storage Association

The Solar Foundation’s 2018 Jobs Census found that California lost 9,500 solar jobs in 2018, the second year in a row of job loss for the state’s most promising clean energy market. Link to report here.

The job losses track the decline in California's annual solar installations that went from 1.3 megawatts (MW) in 2016 to approximately 1.2 MW in both 2017 and 2018 for distributed solar energy installations (source: DG Stats database based on utility interconnection data).  The state also experienced a sharp decline in demand for utility scale solar projects during this time.

California’s solar market decline is due almost entirely to policy changes at the state level including modifications in investor-owned and publicly-owned utility net energy metering policies as well as changes to rate structures that have been designed to be less solar friendly. In addition, persistent utility interconnection barriers and permitting red tape continue to drag the California solar market, causing delays and added costs and slowing down the consumer adoption of solar energy and energy storage. 

As the state deepens its commitment to clean energy on paper, establishing a 100% clean energy goal by 2045 in 2018, it has simultaneously weakened foundational policies that support local clean energy markets. If California hopes to lead the nation and the world in realizing a clean energy future it must maintain strong policies that allow local renewable energy technologies to compete and thrive. 

Looking ahead, countervailing winds driving future growth are on the horizon including the state’s new solar homes mandate as well as incentives for energy storage. Neither of these initiates, however, will result in added jobs if the underlying solar market continues to be undermined by state and local policies. Furthermore, marked growth from these initiatives is not expected until mid-2020. 

Despite the decline in the solar market and resulting job loss over the past two years, California’s solar industry still employs more people than the state’s traditional fossil fuel-oriented utilities combined. Solar energy is a job-intensive technology creating more jobs per unit of energy generated than conventional resources. These jobs are community-based and cannot be outsourced. Building solar is good for our environment and good for our local economies as well.

---

For more information, contact Bernadette Del Chiaro at 916-765-3224 or bernadette@calssa.org. 

California Solar & Storage Association Issues White Paper on DER Barriers

Sacramento, CA—The California Solar and Storage Association (CALSSA) today released a white paper detailing barriers that prevent customer-sited solar and storage from maximizing its potential as a grid resource. The white paper describes opportunities for distributed resources to provide value to the electric grid and the environment, along with program improvements that are needed to encourage customer investment.

“California policy makers have had great intentions to enable distributed resources to capture the additional value they can bring to the grid, but pushing past some of the technical challenges has been slow going,” said white paper author Scott Murtishaw.

Customer-sited resources like solar and energy storage can provide numerous values to the electric grid including energy, system capacity, local generation and distribution capacity, voltage support, and other ancillary services.  To provide those services, customer-sited resources need access to the right programs and tariffs.

The CALSSA white paper, “Barriers to Maximizing the Value of Behind-the-Meter Distributed Energy Resources,” documents five main categories of barriers affecting the participation of customer-sited resources in utility-led led solicitations and programs as well as demand response products overseen by the California Independent System Operation (CAISO):

1.     Program Participation Exclusions in Utility Solicitations

2.     Prohibitions on Participating in Multiple Utility Programs

3.     Dual Participation Limits in Demand Response Programs

4.     Capacity Credit Limitations and Availability Requirements in Demand Response Programs

5.     Lack of Clarity in Demonstrating Incrementality vis-à-vis DER Adoption Forecasts

Within each of these categories, the white paper discusses specific barriers and presents solutions that the CAISO and California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) should consider to resolve these barriers quickly and efficiently.

“Every year that the CAISO and CPUC wait to develop new program rules to overcome the barriers we’ve identified, California leaves millions of dollars a year of foregone grid value on the table,” added Murtishaw. “We encourage the CPUC and CAISO to act expeditiously on the recommendations in our white paper to unlock the full value of customer-sited energy resources.”

View the full white paper here >>

…………

For questions, please contact Scott Murtishaw.

California Officially Set to Require Solar on New Homes Starting in 2020

Includes Visionary Solar Plus Storage Option

SACRAMENTO—Making it official, the California Building Standards Commission (CBSC) unanimously confirmed the new standards that require solar on new homes in California starting in 2020.  This final regulatory vote confirms that the California Energy Commission (CEC) followed the correct process in developing the new rules established in May, making California the first state in the country with the clean energy requirement.  The new rules include a solar plus storage option to give consumers more clean energy choices.  

"It’s officially official.  Solar will be required on new California homes starting in 2020,” said Kelly Knutsen, Director of Technology Advancement for the California Solar & Storage Association (CALSSA).  “These highly energy efficient and solar-powered homes will save families money on their energy bills from the moment they walk through their front door.  Homebuyers will also have a solar plus storage option, allowing their home-grown clean energy to work for them day and night.”

The CBSC voted today to confirm that the CEC followed the correct process to increase the clean energy requirements in the California Building Energy Standards.  Updated every three years through a rigorous stakeholder process, the standards require California homes and businesses to meet strong energy efficiency measures, lowering their energy use.  For the first time, they will require solar photovoltaic (PV) panels to be installed on new low-rise residential buildings starting January 1, 2020.  Low-rise residential buildings include single family homes and multi-family buildings of three stories or less; therefore apartments and condos are included in the new standards.  Additionally, the vote sets a path forward for solar plus storage in new homes by providing a storage option if the homeowner chooses.  The standards also continue solar water heating provisions for larger buildings, allowing solar energy continue to help reduce the water heating needs of our buildings.

For the past three years, the CEC performed detailed analysis on the new requirements, and gathered official public input from all stakeholders -- utilities, home builders, solar industry, lighting industry.  Their analysis showed the new solar requirement will be cost-effective in all climate zones in the state – from the mountains to the Central Valley to the coast.  The CEC stated that homeowners would save $40 dollars each month, or roughly $500 per year, due to these new standards.  This is because even though the new energy efficiency and solar requirement would add roughly $40 per month to the mortgage payment, the savings on the homeowners’ energy bills is expected to be about $80 per month.

Currently the solar industry installs solar on roughly 150,000 new and existing homes in California each year, with roughly 15,000 of those projects being new homes.  California on average builds 80,000 new homes annually.  Starting in 2020, those new homes will have solar; a four-fold increase compared to today.

###

Brown Signs “Sun Shine at Night” Bill

SB 700 (Wiener) Will Add Nearly 3 GW of Local Energy Storage by 2026 Through $800 Million Incentive Program

Sacramento – With the Global Climate Action Summit in the rearview mirror, California Governor Jerry Brown signed into law SB 700 by Senator Scott Wiener (D-SF) keeping California in the driver’s seat of building a reliable and safe clean energy future.  

“If we are going to get to 100% clean energy, we need to be using solar power every hour of the day, not just when the sun is shining,” said Senator Scott Wiener, author of SB 700. “This bill will protect clean energy jobs while also protecting consumers from ever rising energy bills.”

SB 700 will make the “sun shine at night” through the addition of hundreds of thousands of energy storage devices and batteries connected to hundreds of thousands of solar panels over the next 8-10 years. Energy storage is a critical technological partner in the widescale deployment of renewable energy. SB 700 will result in nearly three gigawatts of energy storage systems at schools, farms, homes, nonprofits and businesses in California by 2026 that will benefit consumers, ratepayers and the environment. The resulting program would be on par with the highly successful Million Solar Roofs Initiative launched back in 2006.

“By signing this bill, the governor is making the sun shine at night!” said Bernadette Del Chiaro, executive director of the California Solar and Storage Association, the 500-member clean energy business group that championed SB 700 for the past two years. ”Energy storage is critical to achieving our ambitious climate change goals by allowing massive deployment of solar energy and giving everyday consumers another reason to be green.” 

SB 700 re-authorizes the Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) for five years, extending rebates for consumers through 2025. It would add up to $800 million for storage and other emerging clean energy technologies, resulting in a total investment of $1.2 billion for customer sited energy storage. Boosting energy storage will help California achieve its goal of generating 100% of its electricity from renewable resources, as called for in SB 100 (de Leon), which was signed into law on September 10th.  A summary of SB 700 with more details about the SGIP program can be found here.

The California solar and storage industry supports over 86,000 jobs, far more than the traditional utilities. These jobs are in jeopardy unless the storage market achieves the same mainstream success as solar, which saw an 80% decline in costs over the course of the 10-year incentive program and an astounding 20-fold increase in installed local solar energy systems.

"SB 700 provides clear and consistent policy that will drive down costs, expand access, and support job growth,” said Alex McDonough, Vice President of Public Policy for Sunrun, the nation's largest residential solar, storage and energy services company.  “Solar combined with batteries is a clean, reliable and affordable solution that can and should be available to all.”

SB 700 won broad, bipartisan support in the California legislature in August with a 25-12 vote in the Senate and a 57-18 vote in the Assembly. It was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown on September 27, 2018. The new law will take effect January 1, 2019. 

California Legislature Passes “The Million Solar Roofs of Energy Storage” Bill!

SB 700 (Wiener) Aims to Build Nearly 3,000 MW of Behind-the-Meter Energy Storage by 2026 Through Extension of Consumer Incentive

Sacramento – In a broad, bipartisan victory for local clean energy, the California Senate passed SB 700 (Wiener) today with a preliminary 25-13 vote. The bill was passed by the Assembly yesterday with a final vote of 57-18. It now heads to the governor’s desk for his consideration.

SB 700 would result in nearly three thousand megawatts of behind-the-meter energy storage systems at schools, farms, homes, nonprofits and businesses in California by 2026. The resulting program would be on par with the highly successful program California set in motion with the Million Solar Roofs Initiative back in 2006.

“We are making the sun shine at night!” said Bernadette Del Chiaro, executive director of the California Solar and Storage Association, the 500-member clean energy business group that has championed SB 700 for the past two years. ”SB 700 will do for storage what SB 1 did for solar over a decade ago, namely create a mainstream market by driving up demand and driving down costs all while creating jobs and clean energy choices for consumers.”

SB 700 would achieve these goals by re-authorizing the Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) for an additional five years, extending rebates for consumers through 2025. It would add up to $800 million for storage and other emerging clean energy technologies, resulting in a total investment of $1.2 billion for customer sites energy storage. Boosting energy storage will help California achieve its goal of generating 100% of its electricity from renewable resources, as called for in SB 100 (de Leon), which passed by the California Assembly yesterday.

“If we are going to get to 100% clean energy, we need to be using solar power every hour of the day, not just when the sun is shining,” said Senator Scott Wiener (D-SF), author of SB 700. “This bill will protect clean energy jobs while also protecting consumers from ever rising energy bills.”

The California solar and storage industry supports over 86,000 jobs, far more than the traditional utilities. These jobs are in jeopardy unless the storage market achieves the same mainstream success as solar, which saw an 80% decline in costs over the course of the 10-year incentive program and an astounding 20-fold increase in installed local solar energy systems.

"SB 700 provides clear and consistent policy that will drive down costs, expand access, and support job growth,” said Alex McDonough, Vice President of Public Policy for Sunrun, the nation's largest residential solar, storage and energy services company.  “Solar combined with batteries is a clean, reliable and affordable solution that can and should be available to all.” 

"The Million Solar Roofs of Energy Storage” Passed California Assembly!

SB 700 (Wiener) Aims to Build Nearly 3,000 MW of Behind-the-Meter Energy Storage by 2026 Through Extension of Consumer Incentives

Sacramento – In a bipartisan victory for local clean energy, the California Assembly passed SB 700 (Wiener) today with a 45-15 vote (at time of passage). The bill would result in nearly three thousand megawatts of behind-the-meter energy storage systems at schools, farms, homes, nonprofits and businesses in California by 2026. The resulting program would be on par with the highly successful program California set in motion with the Million Solar Roofs Initiative back in 2006.

“We are making the sun shine at night!” said Bernadette Del Chiaro, executive director of the California Solar and Storage Association, the 500-member clean energy business group that has championed SB 700 for the past two years. ”SB 700 will do for storage what SB 1 did for solar over a decade ago, namely create a mainstream market by driving up demand and driving down costs all while creating jobs and clean energy choices for consumers.”

SB 700 would achieve these goals by re-authorizing the Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) for an additional five years, extending rebates for consumers through 2025. It would add up to $800 million for storage and other emerging clean energy technologies, resulting in a total investment of $1.2 billion for customer sites energy storage. Boosting energy storage will help California achieve its goal of generating 100% of its electricity from renewable resources, as called for in SB 100 (de Leon), which passed by the California Assembly yesterday.

“If we are going to get to 100% clean energy, we need to be using solar power every hour of the day, not just when the sun is shining,” said Senator Scott Wiener (D-SF), author of SB 700. “This bill will protect clean energy jobs while also protecting consumers from ever rising energy bills.”

The California solar and storage industry supports over 86,000 jobs, far more than the traditional utilities. These jobs are in jeopardy unless the storage market achieves the same mainstream success as solar, which saw an 80% decline in costs over the course of the 10-year incentive program and an astounding 20-fold increase in installed local solar energy systems.

"SB 700 provides clear and consistent policy that will drive down costs, expand access, and support job growth,” said Alex McDonough, Vice President of Public Policy for Sunrun, the nation's largest residential solar, storage and energy services company.  “Solar combined with batteries is a clean, reliable and affordable solution that can and should be available to all.”  

How the Million Solar Roofs Initiative Worked to Drive Up Demand and Drive Down Prices

How SB 700 Would Work to Drive Up Demand for Storage and Drive Down Prices

SB 700 now heads to the Senate for concurrence before being put on the governor’s desk for a signature sometime in September.

200 Solar Workers Rally for Energy Storage Bill at State Capitol

SB 700 (Wiener) Protects Jobs, Helps Meet Clean Energy Goals, Saves Ratepayers 

Sacramento – Standing on the steps of the State Capitol, over 200 solar and storage workers from all over California gathered to rally for SB 700 (Wiener), the bill that would replenish incentives for residential and commercial energy storage systems.The bill is considered of critical importance to helping meet the state’s clean energy goals, address grid reliability issues, and protect tens of thousands of solar jobs as so-called Time-of-Use rates hit consumer energy bills in 2019. 

“We’ve come out by the hundreds from all over the state to speak directly with our elected officials about the urgency of supporting energy storage in California,” said Bernadette Del Chiaro, executive director for the California Solar and Storage Association, the bill’s sponsor. ”SB 700 will do for storage what SB 1 did for solar over a decade ago, namely create a mainstream market by driving up demand and driving down costs all while creating jobs and clean energy choices for consumer.”

SB 700 would re-authorize the Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) for an additional five years, extending rebates for homeowners, nonprofits and businesses through 2025. It would add up to $700 million to the SGIP program, creating stability and certainty to an emerging new technology. 

“If we are going to get to 100% clean energy, we need to be using solar power every hour of the day, not just when the sun is shining,” said Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), author of SB 700. “This bill will protect clean energy jobs while also protecting consumers from ever rising energy bills.”

The California solar industry supports over 86,000 jobs in the state of California, by far the most of any state in the country. These jobs are in jeopardy unless the energy storage market achieves the same economies of scale achieved in the solar photovoltaic market, which saw an 80% decline in costs over the course of the state’s 10-year incentive program, the Million Solar Roofs Initiative. This is because so-called Time-of-Use rates will make energy storage a necessity of every solar system but without cost reductions in storage, the state could suffer a setback in its deployment of solar energy. 

“More than 20% of Sunrun's direct solar customers in California are adding a home battery to their system, with up to 60% adoption in some markets,” said Alex McDonough, Vice President of Public Policy for Sunrun, the nation's largest residential solar, storage and energy services company.  "Senator Weiner's legislation provides clear and consistent policy that will drive down costs, expand access, and support job growth. Solar combined with batteries is a clean, reliable and affordable solution that can, and should, be available to all.”  

SB 700 is currently in the Assembly Appropriations committee. If it passes that committee, it will proceed to the Assembly Floor the following week. It passed the Senate last year so would only need to return for a concurrence vote before heading to the governor’s desk. 

After the morning rally, the solar and storage workers will fan out into small groups to meet with legislative offices to advocate for pro-solar and storage policies, such as SB 700.   

---

The California Solar & Storage Association (CALSSA) is the state’s largest clean energy business group with over 500 member companies representing an array of businesses that manufacture, design, install, finance and provide other resources to the growing local solar and storage market in California. CALSSA is the former home of the California Solar Energy Industries Association (CALSEIA). 

Webinar: The New Modified Fire Setbacks and Pathways and Smart Inverter Certification Mandate

On June 20th, the California Solar & Storage Association hosted a webinar session about California’s intervening code cycle, taking effect on July 1st of 2018, allowing larger PV arrays on residential roofs as the new modified "fire setbacks and pathways" took effect.

Through the link below you can view and download the webinar's slides and recording to learn about the new rules and regulations that help residential PV installers gain back valuable roof space for bigger PV arrays. The webinar also addressed the new mandate requiring inverters be certified to provide reactive power priority for the Volt-Var function.

Panelists:

Jeff Spies: President - Planet Plan Sets
CALSSA Codes/Standards Committee Chair

Alan Fields: Design and Engineering Manager - Solar Spectrum / Sungevity
CALSSA Permitting Committee Chair

Matt Paiss: Fire Captain
International Association of Fire Fighters primary representative to the NEC Code Making Panel 4
President - Energy Response Solutions

Storage Incentives Bill Clears Critical Hurdle with Flying Colors

Broad and Diverse Support for Energy Storage Solutions

 

Sacramento - Thanks to the outpouring of support and leadership of author Senator Scott Wiener (D-SF), SB 700 cleared a critical hurdle today passing Assembly Utilities & Energy Committee with an overwhelming bi-partisan 14-1 vote. 

In committee, SB 700 was amended to become a 5-year extension of the Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP). SGIP is set to expire in 2020 but funds are likely to be fully subscribed next year. 

“SB 700 is critical to the continued growth of behind-the-meter energy storage,” said Bernadette Del Chiaro who joined Senator Wiener in presenting the bill before the Assembly Utilities & Energy Committee. 

SB 700 would direct the CPUC to continue the program through 2026. The program would allocate an approximate $650 million of new funds for energy storage once admin costs are subtracted. This, combined with the existing $610 million, means SB 700 would commit California to a combined $1.3 billion in storage incentives. 

The bill had a sprawling list of support that included 155 companies and organizations. Standing up in lone opposition to SB 700 at the hearing were the three investor-owned utilities.  

“It is important to note the bi-partisan vote on SB 700,” said Del Chiaro. “Every California business knows that a broad-base of support for solar and energy storage exists in the marketplace so it is great to see that public support reflected in votes.”

Energy storage is still in its infancy from a market perspective. It is where solar photovoltaics were in 2007. However, consumer awareness and changes to state policies are driving up demand. With the help of a longer-term rebate program, storage can flourish, providing many benefits to the consumer and to ratepayers at large. 

SB 700 now heads to Assembly Appropriations Committee later this summer. 

California to Require Solar on All New Homes Starting in 2020

Includes Visionary Solar Plus Storage Option

With a historic vote, the California Energy Commission (CEC) unanimously agreed 5 – 0 to require solar on all new homes in California starting in 2020, becoming the first state in the country with the clean energy requirement.  The new rules will also include a solar plus storage option to give consumers more clean energy choices.

"Today, California made history. We are building a better future for consumers and the environment by embracing innovation and smart technologies,” said Kelly Knutsen, Director of Technology Advancement for the California Solar & Storage Association (CALSSA). “Adding solar on all new homes, and giving consumers a solar plus storage option, will make our homes super energy efficient while generating their own clean energy. This is a win-win for consumers and the environment."

The CEC voted today to further increase the clean energy requirements in the California Building Energy Standards.  Updated every three years, the standards require California homes and businesses to meet strong energy efficiency measures, lowering their energy use.  For the first time, they will require solar photovoltaic (PV) panels to be installed on all new low-rise residential buildings starting January 1, 2020.  Low-rise residential buildings include single family homes and multi-family buildings of three stories or less; therefore apartments and condos are included in the new standards.  Additionally, the vote sets a path forward for solar plus storage in new homes by providing a storage option if the homeowner chooses.  The standards also continue solar water heating provisions for larger buildings, allowing solar energy continue to help reduce the water heating needs of our buildings.

For the past three years, the CEC performed detailed analysis on the new requirements, and gathered official public input from all stakeholders -- utilities, home builders, solar industry, lighting industry.  Their analysis showed the new solar requirement will be cost-effective in all climate zones in the state – from the mountains to the Central Valley to the coast.  The CEC stated today that the savings on the homeowners’ energy bills will be about $80 per month compared to adding roughly $40 per month to the mortgage payment, so the monthly savings are twice as high as the additional cost.  Homeowners would be saving on average almost $500 a year because of the new mandate.

Currently the solar industry installs solar on roughly 150,000 new and existing homes in California each year, with roughly 15,000 of those projects being new homes.  California on average builds 80,000 new homes annually.  Starting in 2020, all those homes will have solar; a four-fold increase compared to today.

..........................

Check out these stories about the news, including our own Kelly Knutsen's quotes: 
New York Times, LA Times, AP (Bakersfield), San Diego Union-Tribune 

TV interview on CNBC's Closing Bell.

Listen to Audio recording of BBC Interview with Kelly Knutsen:

Solar Battle of the Bands to Be Held at the Historical Warfield Theatre in San Francisco on July 11, 2018

California Solar & Storage Association will partner with NEXTracker for the 2018 event; proceeds benefit the organization’s work

SACRAMENTO, CA, February 28, 2018 – California Solar & Storage Association announces that Solar Battle of the Bands, a unique solar industry party and musical competition founded by Quick Mount PV in 2011 and turned over to the Association in 2017, will be held at the historical and illustrious Warfield Theatre in downtown San Francisco on Wednesday, July 11, 2018. The event will be held during the week of Intersolar North America.

“Solar Battle of the Bands is one of the most well-loved events in our industry. We felt it was time to take the event to the next level by moving it to one of the most famous concert venues in San Francisco,” said California Solar & Storage Association Executive Director, Bernadette Del Chiaro. “And, we are beyond excited to partner with NEXTracker to organize this event for our community.”

The Warfield has been a San Francisco institution for 86 years. Opened on May 13, 1922 the beautiful and historical theatre holds 2300 guests and has hosted some of the greatest musicians and entertainers of all time, including Bob Dylan, Prince, David Bowie and even Charlie Chaplin. This year’s event will have almost double the capacity as past years.

“NEXTracker couldn’t be more excited to be a part of this awesome event that both celebrates the wonderful musical talent of our collective solar family while also supporting the important work of the California Solar & Storage Association. Said NEXTracker CEO, Dan Shugar, who is celebrating his 30th year in solar. Shugar will also be performing with his band, Groovity, after the official battle, and is organizing a multi-company solar jam to end the night. 

“We would also like to acknowledge SBOB’s founder Johan Alfsen, and his colleagues at Quick Mount PV for being a part of this event’s continued success,” continued Dan Shugar. “It is going to be an epic evening!”

The event is made possible through generous contributions by sponsors and the participation of company-sponsored bands. If you are interested in sponsoring or entering your band into the contest, please contact us. Must be 21 or older to attend.

CALIFORNIA SAW SOLAR JOB LOSSES IN 2017

Decline Due Primarily to Negative Impact of State-level Regulations

Sacramento, CA – California saw a 13% decline in local solar jobs figures in 2017 according to the Solar Foundation’s Annual Job Census. The job loss was felt throughout the industry, impacting small, medium and large companies doing business throughout the state. The state industry association chalked the losses up to the negative impacts of state policy decisions while emphasizing that the ship could be righted if the state made a few corrections and got solidly behind market development of complementary technologies such as energy storage.

“California’s solar industry is not impervious to changes in state policy,” said Bernadette Del Chiaro, executive director of the California Solar & Storage Association (formerly CALSEIA), which represents over 500 companies doing business in the state. “State policy is the tide that raises or sinks all local solar businesses. We greatly depend on clear, consistent rules of engagement which is not, unfortunately, what we got in 2017.”

Commensurate with the reported job losses, California saw its first decline in solar installations in nearly a decade in 2017. From January through November, California saw 1,024 MW of consumer-sited solar installed compared with 1,146 MW during the same time period in 2016. In contrast, 2016 had seen market growth from the 910 MW installed during the first eleven months of 2015.  Not surprisingly, the 2016 Solar Jobs Census reported a 25% increase in jobs in California this time last year.

“Labor costs are one of the main components of the cost of going solar,” explained Del Chiaro. “This is one of the major upsides of investing in local solar. A higher percentage of your money goes right into your community in the form of local jobs that can’t be outsourced. When we harm the solar market, we take away local employment opportunities. It is that simple.”

The California Solar & Storage Association cited three main causes for the market decline in 2017: 1) heavy rains at the beginning of the year that slowed sales and construction, which could have been overcome but for the rough 2) transition to new Net Energy Metering and Time-of-Use policies, and, 3) interconnection barriers put forward by the state’s investor-owned utilities. The Association clarified that the decline could not be blamed on changing business models or market saturation.

“This job losses impacted companies of all shapes, sizes and models, even some of our most successful businesses saw at least a slow down in 2017,” said Del Chiaro. “As a group, we are incredibly resilient and adaptable but if state regulators allow utilities to block consumer access to the sun, there is only so much even the most creative business can do.”  

Del Chiaro cited a few things state policy makers could do to correct the market including removing interconnection barriers particularly for the commercial and industrial market, smoothing transitions to Time-of-Use rates to allow consumers to get acclimatized, and investing heavily in energy storage through tried-and-true programs, such as consumer incentives, that help drive market adoption.

“There is every reason to remain bullish about the future of local solar and energy storage but we have got to get the rules of engagement right or we will all fall short of our goals,” concluded Del Chiaro.

###

About CALIFORNIA SOLAR & STORAGE ASSOCIATION

The California Solar & Storage Association (formerly CALSEIA) advances the common interests of California’s solar and storage businesses. Comprised of over 500 contractors, manufacturers, distributors, developers, financiers, consultants and non-profit organizations, the California Solar & Storage Association represents a diverse membership committed to growing the solar and storage industry statewide. The Association engages with local and state decision makers to ensure California remains a solar energy leader through sound public policy that provides clarity, transparency, and certainty for the state’s consumer-facing local clean energy market. 

WE CHANGED OUR NAME!

California Solar Energy Industries Association is now the California Solar & Storage Association

The California Solar Energy Industries Association (CALSEIA) has updated its name to the California Solar & Storage Association. After 40 years, the organization will do business under this new moniker to reflect marketplace changes as well as a decades-long partnership with energy storage and energy management devices that go hand in hand with solar photovoltaic and thermal technologies.

“We are very excited to capture the rising importance of energy storage as well as pave the way for the integration of a whole suite of new energy management tools,” said Bernadette Del Chiaro, executive director of the California Solar & Storage Association. “Making the sun shine at night and providing Californians with even more options for saving money and managing energy is what we’ve always been about.”

The California Solar & Storage Association’s headquarters remain in Sacramento, just a few blocks from the state capitol. The organization also has offices in the Bay Area as well as six chapters that gather quarterly throughout the state from San Diego to Sonoma County.  The Association’s mission, board of directors, chapter leadership, staff, and its membership remain the same.

“The California solar industry has been installing storage devices for decades,” said Ed Murray, board president and president of Aztec Solar, a contracting business since 1980. “This is both a nod to our past as well as a response to our bullish outlook on the future growth of solar and energy storage in California.”

The Association recently surpassed the 500-member mark, representing a diverse array of companies doing business in California. These member companies built, and in some cases manufactured, over 70% of all the local solar photovoltaic, thermal and energy storage projects installed in the state in 2017. 

“Pairing solar and storage is here and now,” said Del Chiaro. “Our expanded name catches up with reality and catapults us into an exciting new clean energy future. “

###

For more information, visit us at www.calssa.org. The CALSEIA name will still conduct special educational and related activities that support the California solar market.

Adara Power To Announce New Commercial And Industrial Energy Storage Products At CALSEIA Contractor Day

Adara Power Accelerates Commercial Energy Storage for SGIP Renewable Energy Projects

Los Gatos, CA (PRWEB) - Adara Power, a privately-held Silicon Valley company committed to providing safe, reliable, intelligent, and connected energy storage, will introduce its new commercial and industrial energy storage solutions at the California Solar Energy Industries Association (CALSEIA) Contractor Day, January 25th in San Diego. Adara Power will lead the discussion on commercial energy storage applications and discuss the significant financial opportunities with the California Self Generation Incentive Program (SGIP).

CALSEIA’s Contractor Days are California’s premier training events that bring together contractors, developers and EPCs, with thought leaders in the manufacturing, system development, and services sectors. Training topics include smart inverters, energy storage technologies, electricity tariffs related to energy storage and permitting.

Adara Power is one of the leading manufacturers in the SGIP program, with energy storage systems deployed in all major utilities in California. The SGIP program can pay up to 50% of the cost of a typical project. Adara Power guides contractors, developers and end-customers through the complex process to successfully fulfill the program requirements with an accelerated timeline. Adara Power solutions reduce costs across a spectrum of today’s electrical markets, designed to counter high demand charges and time-of-use rates, while also qualifying for SGIP program, the federal investment tax credit (ITC) and new accelerated depreciation introduced with the recent tax reform bill. Adara Power clients realize short payback periods, while also benefitting from the added resiliency of backup power and sustainable renewable power.

Adara Power commercial and industrial solutions are deployed on the customer side of the meter and range in size from 30kW | 65kWh to 1MW | 2MWh. Return on investment varies based on electricity tariff schedule and site electrical usage. Adara Power provides up-front bill modeling and design support for contractors, developers and EPCs and acts as their in-house subject matter experts in battery technologies.

Ideal end-customer attributes are:

• High on-peak demand charges, greater than $12/kW
• Substantial energy use in the evening peak periods
• Minimum electricity bill of $3000 per month
• Resiliency needs for important back-up loads

Renewable energy installers can also join the Adara Partner Program at http://www.adarapower.com. The Partner Program is designed to rapidly launch medium and large regional solar installers into the energy storage market, supplementing their solar installations and providing sales and installation training for the Adara Power solutions.

About Adara Power
Founded in 2013, Adara Power is committed to providing safe, reliable, intelligent, and connected solar energy storage for commercial and residential renewable energy. Adara Power’s Energy Storage Solutions are designed to support consumer self-consumption and enable a resilient, renewable energy grid in order to power a cleaner, sustainable planet. For more information, visit http://www.adarapower.comand follow us on Twitter: @adarapower.

SOURCE: PRWeb

View original release here: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2018/01/prweb15089323.htm

CPUC Approves New Solar Rebate Program for Affordable Multifamily Housing

$1 Billon 10-year Program to Directly Benefit Low-Income Tenants

SACRAMENTO—The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) unanimously approved the new Solar on Multifamily Affordable Housing (SOMAH) Program, voting today to create a new solar rebate program for low-income and disadvantaged communities.  This $1 billion program provides up to $100 million annually for ten years to incentivize installations of solar on multifamily affordable housing properties across California.  Assemblymember Eggman’s bill AB 693 from 2015 created this program and is expected to help tens of thousands of low-income residents across the state receive credits on their electricity bills from solar energy.

“I am grateful for the work of the solar industry and the environmental justice community for bringing a spotlight to the Solar on Multifamily Affordable Housing Program,” said Assemblymember Susan Talamantes Eggman (D-Stockton). “This policy was designed to ensure that families in low-income and disadvantaged communities can also reap the benefits of the booming solar energy industry in California. For too long, families facing the greatest environmental hurdles have been left out and this decision moves some of those benefits that much closer to the families that need them.”

The California Solar Energy Industries Association (CALSEIA) and the California Environmental Justice Alliance (CEJA) cosponsored AB 693 to increase access to clean energy for low-income and disadvantaged communities across California.  The law notably allows tenants to receive credits for electricity produced by the systems at no cost to the tenants, thereby allowing tenants to directly benefit from the solar installation.  The new SOMAH Program approved today provides higher rebates for the tenant-portion of the solar system, as well as includes provisions that prohibits passing the cost onto tenants, such as increasing their rent.

"CALSEIA greatly appreciates the leadership of Assemblymember Eggman to create the SOMAH Program, and the efforts of the CPUC to get this important program started," said Kelly Knutsen, Senior Policy Advisor for CALSEIA.  "Our partners at Everyday Energy and CEJA were instrumental in getting us to this point.  We look forward to increasing access to solar for all Californians by keeping up the momentum and fully-funding this program so we can help everyone benefit from our state’s clean energy economy."   

"We are excited to get to work bringing the benefits of solar PV to low-income tenants and owners.  It was truly a group effort from originating AB 693, getting it signed into law, and working with the CPUC to get it implemented.  CALSEIA has been an outstanding partner and has been a driving force in getting AB 693 fully funded and implemented,” said Scott Sarem Co-Founder/CEO of Everyday Energy and a CALSEIA member.

AB 693 set a goal to install at least 300 megawatts (MW) of solar on affordable multifamily housing by 2030.  Putting that in perspective, 39 MW of solar has been installed on multifamily affordable housing since the establishment of the Multifamily Affordable Solar Housing (MASH) Program in 2008.

---

Contact: Kelly Knutsen 510-548-2312 kelly@calseia.org

40 Solar & Storage Executives Recognized at 40th Anniversary Celebration

Berkeley, CA - On Friday, October 6, 2017, CALSEIA gave a special “40 @ 40” recognition to forty top-level executives attending the organization’s Annual Dinner and 40th Anniversary Celebration. Executives were asked to stand as a slide show played acknowledging each person before a crowd of nearly 200 industry professionals and supporters.  The event keynote was delivered by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) and the 40th Anniversary Toast was delivered by industry veteran Mike Emrich of Solarponics.

“While there are thousands of men and women who make up California’s solar and storage industry, this impressive group of leaders are not only running successful companies but understand the importance of coming together as an industry and supporting public policy endeavors,” said Bernadette Del Chiaro, executive director of CALSEIA. “Companies big and small, the well-established and start-ups are being recognized by CALSEIA. We thank you for the work you do everyday building our clean energy future.”

The Annual Dinner and 40th Anniversary Celebration was held at the historical, Berkeley City Club and included a cocktail hour, a sit-down dinner and an auction. The dinner, which takes place the evening of CALSEIA’s Annual Planning meeting, has been an annual event since 2014.

Acknowledging CALSEIA’s four decades of work to promote solar energy in California, Assemblymember Phil Ting gave the keynote address highlighting the importance of public policy and staying active and engaged in the state legislature.

“Assemblymember Phil Ting is a real champion who works hard to create a world powered by clean, renewable energy,” said Del Chiaro. “We applaud his leadership and thank him for joining us to celebrate the solar industry.”

The 40th Anniversary toast was delivered by Mike Emrich who founded Solarponics in Atascadero in 1975 and has been a leader in his community and a supporter of CALSEIA for decades.  

Photos from the event can be viewed here and the 40 @ 40 slideshow can be viewed here.

Bill to Extend Solar Thermal Program Passes California Legislature

Bill to Incentivize Solar Energy to Reduce Natural Gas Use Headed to Governor’s Desk

SACRAMENTO—The California Legislature passed AB 797 (Irwin) this afternoon.  With the bipartisan vote in the Assembly of 45-19 today and the Senate’s bipartisan 30-10 vote on Tuesday, the bill now heads to the Governor for his signature.  The bill extends consumer incentives for solar thermal technologies that heat water and air using the sun’s energy, reducing natural gas use in homes and buildings.  The bill is part of the state’s ongoing efforts to meet the greenhouse gas reduction goals, improve air quality, and support economic development.

"Using California's warm sunshine to do something as simple as heating water is sensible for our state and a key way to protect public health, clean up our air, and support local good-paying jobs," said Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D-Thousand Oaks), author of the bill. "I am pleased the Legislature voted to send the extension of this important program to the Governor’s desk.”

AB 797 would extend the existing California Solar Initiative (CSI)-Thermal program for two years to 2020, seamlessly continuing the natural gas rebate program for homes, businesses and commercial swimming pools, such as at schools and community centers. The bill targets half of the funds for low-income housing and buildings in disadvantaged communities.  It also expands eligibility for these rebates to homeowners in the San Joaquin Valley who currently use propane or wood to heat their water. 

“The California solar thermal market is growing, especially in the multifamily housing sector – with 32% annual growth between 2015 and 2016 in annual natural gas savings,” said Kelly Knutsen, Senior Policy Advisor of the California Solar Energy Industries Association, a cosponsor of AB 797.  “Assemblymember Irwin is a clean energy champion for all Californians, and a strong leader for helping low-income and disadvantaged communities gain access to clean energy technologies to lower their energy bills.”

“A major challenge to meeting our state’s climate goals – and one that not enough people are talking about – is that we have to heat our homes, businesses and schools without relying on dirty fossil fuels. Solar thermal fits the bill, while reducing our energy bills at the same time,” said Michelle Kinman, Clean Energy Advocate with Environment California, which cosponsored the bill. “We thank Assemblymember Irwin for her leadership and starting this important conversation on low-carbon heat energy.”

Solar thermal projects installed under the CSI-Thermal program reduced natural gas use across the state by over 5.8 million therms each year, equal to the annual amount of natural gas used to heat water for over 32,00 homes.  The program has offset over 31,000 metric tons of CO2(eq) annually, comparable to taking over 6,500 cars off the road each year.

The Governor has until October 15 to decide on whether to sign the bill into law.

150 Solar and Energy Storage Workers Gather at California Capitol to Push for Continued Growth for Local Markets

August 30, 2017, Sacramento, CA – Approximately 150 solar and storage workers from 80 businesses across the state converged on the California state capitol on Tuesday, August 29, to meet with their legislative representatives and urge continued support of local solar and energy storage policies. Organized by the California Solar Energy Industries Association (CALSEIA), this is the 4th Annual Worker Day. The clean energy workers had a clear message: “Keep local solar and storage growing in California.”

“Our jobs require strong policies to ensure access to local solar and storage for all California consumers,” said Bernadette Del Chiaro, executive director of CALSEIA. “Local solar and energy storage businesses bring many benefits to the state including jobs that can’t be outsourced and an affordable and reliable pathway to 100% clean energy.”

The workers came to the capitol to educate legislators about the different forms of local solar and energy storage technologies including solar photovoltaic systems, solar thermal systems, and grid-tied batteries that help keep the sun shining at night. The group also honored Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D-Thousand Oaks) with the 2017 Legislator of the Year Award for her work to promote local solar and storage.

Specific bills supported by the association included:

• AB 797 (Irwin) – to continue consumer incentives for solar thermal (hot water) systems that reduce natural gas use.
• AB 1414 (Friedman) – to extend and expand existing cap on permit fees for local solar systems.
• SB 700 (Wiener) – to create a multi-year consumer rebate program for energy storage. The bill stalled in July under opposition and will be taken back up in Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee again in 2018. An earlier backed bill, AB 1030 (Ting) also faced opposition earlier in the year and was stopped by the same committee.

“I got up at 3:30 this morning to make sure my voice would be heard,” said Ricardo Armendarez, sales manager and system designer for Alt Sys Solar Inc., a Central Valley contractor based in Tulare, CA. “I have come to believe running a business is only half of the work needed to create a successful industry. Engaging with our state legislators and making sure they understand the significance of their policy decisions is critical to the continued growth and maintenance of our businesses and the jobs we create.”

The nearly 80 businesses that participated in the day’s events came from all over California from San Diego to Redding. These businesses and 150 workers are a diverse cross-section of the 100,000 jobs that solar and storage have created across California.

Mitsubishi Electric Solar Panels Pass Rigorous Mechanical Load Test

Withstanding up to 120 psf of snow / 216 mph wind updraft

CYPRESS, CA - August 14, 2017 - Mitsubishi Electric US, Inc. Photovoltaic Division announced the successful test result of its Diamond Pro™ MJE photovoltaic (PV) module at 120 pounds per square foot (psf), one of the highest ratings in the industry.  This test load is four times the required ANSI/UL 1703 load of 30 psf. 

The Diamond Pro™ was tested in both positive (snow) and negative (wind) directions based on the 2016 harmonized UL 1703 and IEC 61215 revised standard. Intertek administered the independent, third-party performance testing of product samples at its Lake Forest, California laboratory. 

"Together we developed a customized compliance plan for Mitsubishi Electric to meet all applicable requirements, including becoming one of the first to have product samples pass a mechanical test load of 120 psf in both positive and negative directions," said Sunny Rai, vice president of Electrical at Intertek.  "They were also one of the first PV module manufacturers to test and receive an ANSI/UL 1703 Type 2 class rating." Intertek has been committed to supporting clients like Mitsubishi Electric in total quality assurance for over 130 years.

"Safety and reliability have been at the forefront of Mitsubishi Electric photovoltaic products since our entry into the solar industry in 1974," said Gina Heng, vice president and general manager of Mitsubishi Electric US, Inc., Photovoltaic Division.  "In accordance with our corporate sustainability goals, Mitsubishi Electric uses lead free solder, a safer option for the environment."  The company's PV modules are built with a four-layer junction box with electrical connections completely encapsulated by the highest flame retardant used in the industry, UL94 V-0.  Mitsubishi Electric proactively tested and passed ANSI/UL 1703 new fire classification requirements nearly a year before the 2016 testing deadline imposed by the California Building Code (CBC) and the California Residential Code (CRC).

---

About Mitsubishi Electric US, Inc.'s Photovoltaic Division

Mitsubishi Electric US, Inc. sells high quality solar panels to deliver clean, reliable energy to its customers throughout the world. With more than 90 years of electronics manufacturing expertise and 40 years' experience developing solar power technology, Mitsubishi Electric is one of the most established solar providers in the industry. Residential, commercial, and government customers can count on the 25-year solar module limited warranty offered by Mitsubishi Electric US, Inc. to enhance their return on investment. Additional information and terms of the limited warranty are available at www.MitsubishiElectricSolar.com or by calling 714.220.2500.

In addition to solar modules, Mitsubishi Electric US group companies' principal businesses include semiconductor devices, automotive electrical components, elevators and escalators, factory automation products and services, heating and cooling products, electric utility products, and large-scale video displays for stadiums and arenas. Mitsubishi Electric US group companies have roughly 31 locations throughout North America with approximately 4,000 employees.

Media Contact:

Brooke Behunin
Mitsubishi Electric US, Inc.
714-220-6885
brooke.behunin@meus.mea.com

About Intertek

Total Quality. Assured.
Intertek is a leading Total Quality Assurance provider to industries worldwide. Our network of more than 1,000 laboratories and offices and over 42,000 people in more than 100 countries, delivers innovative and bespoke Assurance, Testing, Inspection and Certification solutions for our customers' operations and supply chains. Intertek Total Quality Assurance expertise, delivered consistently with precision, pace and passion, enabling our customers to power ahead safely.
intertek.com 

Media Contact:

Cheryl Prejsnar
Intertek
Public Relations Manager
+1 630-481-3185
cheryl.prejsnar@intertek.com