Lces joy hughes

Powering Planet Earth:Community and Shared Solar

Worldwide

Joy Hughes, Solar Gardens [email protected]

Joy Hughes - Powering Planet Earth: Community and Shared Solar Worldwide - LCES 2014

mailto:[email protected]

Solar for All?Almost everyone wants to own solar, but …

Shaded Roofs Apartments(credit: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas)

Affordability Grid Congestion


Credit: Larry Moore CEphoto, Uwe Aranas

via Wikipedia

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Cccefalon

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Cccefalon

TerminologyShared Solar -or- Solar Garden


A single solar array with power credited to multiple users.

Virtual Net MeteringElectricity credited directly to a utility customer’s bill.

Community SolarA broader term, including shared solar, crowdfunded solar, and rooftop bulk purchase.

Ellensburg Solar Community, Washington

Arizona Community Solar Plant

OwnershipUtility Owned


Utility owns and manages shared solar array. Example: Sacramento Municipal, California

Third PartyUtility contracts with a private company to own and manage the array. Example: SunShare, Colorado Springs

CooperativeArray owned directly by community members. Example: Westmill co-op, UK

SMUD Solar Shares, California

Westmill Cooperative Solar Farm, UK

Shared Solar Cash and Energy Flow


FinanceCrowd Funding


Project raises donations from many people, typically for a nonprofit or house of worship. Example: Re-volv

Solar Shares or BondsIssue a security based on the output of one or more solar projects. Example: Solar Mosaic

Solar Savings AccountA certificate of deposit that is invested in solar projects and earns a rate of return based on their production.

Kehila Synagogue, California

AdvantagesEconomy of Scale


Lower cost per watt than rooftop solar

Portability and TransferabilityCustomers may move and use the same subscription. Subscription may be sold, donated, or inherited.

Grid SupportArrays may be located to best relieve grid congestion, e.g. near substations. Example: New York City solar empowerment zones

City University of New YorkSolar Empowerment Zones

United States


Over 50 MegawattsCommunity and shared solar in these 10 states, and many municipal and rural utilities.

Solar Gardens LawsNow effective in 10 U.S. States. Requires investor-owned utilities to implement shared solar.

Canada


Over $3 million investedCooperative issues SolarShare bonds for small investors.

Toronto Renewable Energy Cooperative23 solar projects using the Ontario feed-in tariff (FIT).

TREC Energy Cooperative, Ontario

United Kingdom


£25 million government fundingFor rural and urban community renewables in 2014

Large CooperativesShared projects up to 5 Megawatts in many locations, supported by Feed-In Tariff

Westmill Cooperative Solar Farm

Brixton Energy Solar

Australia


Strong Community SupportCommunity Solar idea has captured the imagination of many communities.

High Solar IrradianceShared projects installed or under construction throughout the country.

Farming the Sun Community Solar

Tathra Community Solar

Germany


World Leader in Community Solar

800+ Energy CooperativesOver 200,000 member / investors

Supported by strong feed-in tariff

Horb Ecumenical Energy Cooperative, Stuttgart

Developing World - Rural Electrification


Sub-Saharan Africa

India and BangladeshGrameen Shakti - over 1000 shared “micro-utility” projects using micro-finance

Only 31% of the population has access to electricity - Alliance for Rural Electrification

Sangar Island, India

Alliance for Rural Electrification

Opportunities for China


World Leader in PV Installation

Growing Urban PopulationSignificant fraction of people in apartment blocks

Strong manufacturing base, potential for rapid implementation

High Savings RateInterest in secure and productive investments

China PV - Wikipedia

Thank You! 谢谢


Contact


solargardens.org(blog, email list, training)

Joy [email protected]

Environment

Lces joy hughes