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MASSACHUSETTS RESIDENTIAL GUIDE TO Front cover photo: Elena Elisseeva/Bigstock Flickr.com/mjmonty

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

Solar PV System Components 3

Sizing and Optimizing Your Solar PV System 5

Important Regulations 8

Economics of Solar PV 10

Environmental Benefits of Solar PV 13

How to Go Solar 14

Homeowner’s Solar PV Checklist 17

Flickr.com/Earthworm INTRODUCTION

Introduction

Solar Today setts has grown from dozens to hundreds, and the Massachusetts solar market has enticed numerous Solar (solar PV) systems convert - businesses that make solar financially acces- into through an array of solar sible for more people in the Commonwealth. panels that connect to a building’s electrical system and/or the . Residents who have already installed solar PV systems cite many different reasons for going solar, including: Massachusetts initiated its first incentive program for solar PV in 2001, funded through a small re- ■■ Electricity cost savings and price stability; newable energy charge on most electric utility bills. In April 2007, solar PV took off in Massachusetts ■■ Concern about pollution, the environment, and when Governor Deval L. Patrick announced a goal change; and of having 250 MW of installed solar power by 2017. To begin reaching this goal, which was significantly higher than the 3.5 MW of solar PV installed at the ■■ Desire for and increased time, the state launched the Commonwealth Solar control over energy choices. Rebate Program in January 2008. Since the start of this innovative program, thousands of solar PV For many residents and business owners through- projects have been installed throughout the state, out Massachusetts, installing a solar PV system is providing clean, to ratepayers of a smart investment that converts clean, free sun- the Commonwealth. Massachusetts is known as a light to electricity, reduces , reduces or national-leader in solar with one of the best regula- eliminates monthly electricity bills, and contributes tory and incentive for . Since to the local economy by creating local jobs and sup- 2007, the number of solar installers in Massachu- porting local businesses.

Massachusetts Residential Guide To Solar Power 1 About this Guide Additional Resources The aim of this guide is to assist Massachusetts resi- Visit www.MassCEC.com and www.MassCEC.com/ dents who are considering using solar energy to gen- AboutSolar for additional resources and information erate electricity to power their homes. This guide can regarding solar PV and other clean energy technolo- help you determine whether solar PV is right for you gies targeted at a broad range of clean energy con- both technically and economically. It reviews the in- sumers, producers, and stakeholders. stallation process and provides advice and resources on finding an installer and securing rebates, as well as other pertinent information about solar PV. This guide focuses on grid-connected solar PV systems; About MassCEC however, the use of solar PV for off-grid can be cost effective in remote locations Created by the Green Jobs Act of 2008, the where it is impractical or uneconomical to connect Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) to the electric grid. is dedicated to accelerating the success of clean energy , companies and projects in the Commonwealth—while creating high-quality jobs While this guide is intended primarily for homeown- and long-term for the people of ers, many of the issues discussed apply to small-scale Massachusetts. MassCEC is a partner, clearinghouse installations in general and may apply to businesses and connector for people in the clean energy considering installing solar PV. sector, making direct investments in clean energy companies, building a strong clean energy workforce, WW Some of the regulations and incentives and supporting responsibly sited renewable energy discussed in this guide may not apply to projects across the Commonwealth. MassCEC certain customers of Municipal Light Plants works with the entire clean energy community in (MLPs). Customers of MLPs should contact Massachusetts to propel promising technologies the MLP to determine whether they pay from the drawing board to the global marketplace. into MassCEC’s Renewable Energy Trust For more information visit: www.MassCEC.com. (a prerequisite for receiving rebates from MassCEC’s programs), whether the MLP allows for and interconnection, and whether there are any incentives or requirements in addition to or in place of those described in this guide.

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center has de- veloped this guide based in part on a prior version which was originally developed by the Solar Energy Business Association of New England (SEBANE) and funded by the Renewable Energy Trust, which at the time was administered by the Massachusetts Collaborative (MTC).

2 Massachusetts Residential Guide To Solar Power Wayne National Forest S o l ar PV Sy stem C omponents

Solar PV System Components NREL

Solar Panels

Inverter Utility Service

Meter Home Power/ Appliances

A solar PV system consists of a few pieces of equip- Solar cells are aggregated together to form a PV pan- ment wired together and connected to a home’s el or a module. A solar array generally includes sev- power distribution network. eral modules wired together to achieve the desired system capacity or power producing capability. Components can include: Inverter Solar PV Array Solar PV panels produce (DC) pow- When strikes the semiconductor material er, which must be converted to inside a it frees electrons, which form an (AC) power which is supplied by electric utilities in the cell. This process converts sun- in the . This is accomplished by an in- light directly into electricity. The more intense the verter. Typically, the inverter is located near where sunlight striking the cell, the greater the amount of the electric service from the local utility enters electricity produced. the house (close to the electrical panel). In grid- connected systems, inverters are designed so that if power from the utility goes down, the solar PV

Massachusetts Residential Guide To Solar Power 3 system will shut down as well. This is an important and receiving Solar Renewable Energy Certificates safety precaution for utility workers, and the solar (SRECs—discussed later in this guide). PV system will not restart until power has been re- stored to the grid. Data Acquisition System (DAS) A data acquisition system automatically reports External Shut-Off the amount of the electricity generated by a solar Some Massachusetts utilities require solar PV sys- PV system. This facilitates the process of receiving tems to have an external shut off, often called a “dis- SRECs, and is required for systems above 10 kilo-

S o l ar PV Sy stem C omponents connect”, so the power company can shut down the to qualify to receive SRECs. system when workers are fixing the power lines or in any other necessary situations.

Battery Solar PV system life Most solar PV systems installed in Massachusetts Solar PV systems have no moving parts and are do not have a battery. Batteries add to the cost of designed to last at least 20 years. A number of sys- a system. Due to net metering (discussed later in tems installed in Massachusetts in the 1980s con- this guide), owners of solar PV in Massachusetts do tinue to produce power today. Solar panels are typi- not need a battery to balance their load (the process cally guaranteed by manufacturer warranties for 20 of matching generation to consumption). However, years. While the inverter’s life is shorter than panel systems without a battery will not perform when life, manufacturing improvements have extended the electrical grid is offline. the inverter life to 15 years or more for some equip- ment with warranties averaging around 10 years. Meter(s) WW Equipment life will be a function of the To utilize net metering, homeowners must have a equipment selected, the environmental special net meter, which spins backwards when the conditions under which it is maintained, and solar PV system is producing more electricity than overall system design. is being consumed on site. A second meter is re- quired to exclusively track production from the so- lar PV system for purposes of reporting production

* More Resources Solar PV System Components Energysavers.gov: How Small Solar Electric Systems www.energysavers.gov/your_home/electricity/index.cfm/mytopic=10720

National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL): Solar Research www.nrel.gov/solar/

4 Massachusetts Residential Guide To Solar Power Flickr SandTDesign user S i z ing and O ptimi a o l ar PV s y stem

Sizing and Optimizing a Solar PV system

It is critical that a homeowner understand their The actual electricity generated by a solar PV sys- electricity usage in order for a solar PV system to tem is a function of its size (nameplate rating), ef- be appropriately sized. Monthly utility bills include ficiency, sun exposure, and a variety of other fac- a summary of how much power a homeowner has tors discussed below. Residential solar PV systems used each month for the past year. The installer are generally sized around 5,000 watts, or five kilo- will want a copy of a recent bill to determine an ap- watts (kW). In Massachusetts, one kilowatt (kW) of propriate system size based on the site’s character- an optimal solar PV system will generally produce istics, power needs, and the homeowner’s budget. 1,200 kWh of electricity per year, which means that Depending on the characteristics of the inverter, a 5 kW system will produce roughly 6,000 kWh project site, and other equipment, additional panels per year.2 This means that a solar PV system of that may be added later as power needs increase or as size will produce enough electricity to cover about budget allows. eighty percent of the average New England house- hold’s electricity usage every year. Residential electric utility bills charge customers for actual consumption, measured in kilowatt-hours Mounting (kWh) of electricity consumed. As an example, if For most Massachusetts homeowners, rooftop in- a 40 bulb is turned on for 10 hours, then an stallations are the easiest and most practical way additional 400 watt-hours (0.4 kWh) of electricity to use solar PV to power their homes. Rooftops is consumed. The average New England household provide a ready location for solar PV arrays and uses 7,452 kWh per year1, though both higher and are unlikely to have competing uses. Roofs in New lower levels of consumption are common. England are usually tilted to shed water and snow, which helps to keep solar PV modules clear from A solar PV system’s nameplate rating is a measure debris. Roof mounted systems also allow for a sim- of the system’s capacity to generate electricity under ple interconnection to a home’s existing wiring, and optimal conditions. For small systems, nameplate a roof’s elevation decreases the likelihood of shade capacity is measured in kilowatts (one thousand falling on the array. watts). A system will produce 1 kWh of electricity per hour of operation under optimal conditions for Massachusetts homeowners with open land on their each kilowatt of . property may choose to install a ground-mount- ed solar PV system. The advantage of a ground-

2 Calculation using PVWatts Tool, National Renewable Energy Lab, based 1 Energy Information Association, 2005 RECS Survey. on 1kW in optimal conditions, Boston, MA

Massachusetts Residential Guide To Solar Power 5 Sun’s Path During Summer and Winter

June 21

December 21 East North S i z ing and O ptimi a o l ar PV s y stem

Solar panel (module)

NREL

mounted system is that it can be oriented to the op- sure, resulting in lower electricity output. Systems timal south-facing direction and at the ideal tilt to can still perform economically even if their orienta- maximize electricity production, without the limi- tion is not perfect. tations of a roof’s exposure or slant. It is also easier to remove snow and seasonally adjust the tilt of the Roof Condition array. However, ground-mounted systems typi- cally have a higher cost than similar roof-mounted Since it is both time-consuming and costly to re- systems due to the expense of the ground-based move a system once it is in place, homeowners substructure the panels hang on, the potential for should evaluate the structural condition of their existing and future vegetation to cast shadows on a roof and shingles before a system is installed to system, and the potential for damage or vandalism. ensure that roof repairs or replacement will not be necessary in the near future. Roof direction WW Make any necessary roof repairs before Roof-mounted solar PV systems should be oriented a solar PV system is put in place. Some as close to due south as possible in order to maxi- installers recommend replacement if the mize annual power production. Systems whose ori- roof has a remaining lifetime of eight years entation is not due south have less direct sun expo- or less.

6 Massachusetts Residential Guide To Solar Power S i z ing and O ptimi a o l ar PV s y stem Paul Armstrong Flickr.com/RBerteig

This site is an ideal location for solar PV. The roof has a southern This site presents challenges for installing solar PV. The east-west ori- orientation, with minimual structural impediments on the roof, entation and heavy shading are both impediments to solar PV. These and no shading. problems could be remedied, but would add cost to the project.

Cyclical Fluctuations Shading Because the sun moves across the sky at varying Even a small amount of shading on solar panels can heights from sunrise to sunset and from season reduce a solar PV system’s productivity. Ideally, a to season, the amount of electricity generated by a system should have no shade for at least 6 hours a module varies during the daylight hours and over day. Systems should be sited to maximize their di- the course of the year. rect exposure to sunlight and to avoid shading by a home’s structural elements (such as window dor- Residential solar PV installations are typically sta- mers or chimneys), nearby trees and vegetation tionary, meaning they do not follow the track of the (including smaller trees that could later become ob- sun over the course of the day, and are generally stacles) or other buildings. fixed, meaning they are not adjusted to account for changes in sun angle from season to season. There- WW The installer should conduct a thorough fore, to maximize the production of electricity, the shading analysis of the roof or proposed design of individual solar PV systems must opti- location of a ground-mounted system, mize module tilt, orientation, and shading. identifying the best location and configuration to avoid shadows. Tilt For maximum annual generation in Massachusetts, a solar array should be installed at approximately a 30-45 degree angle to the horizon. Most homes in New England have roofs that are pitched at 33 degrees or more to shed snow and . A solar PV system can be installed at a tilt that is not optimal and still work, though it may be less productive. Al- ternatively, an installer may be able to design struc- tural components to optimize tilt. The installer will help to determine if the added efficiency from opti- mizing the tilt of the panels will be worth the cost.

Massachusetts Residential Guide To Solar Power 7 Bob Gaffney Bob IMPORTANT REGU L ATIONS IMPORTANT Important Regulations

Massachusetts has laws and regulations in place to any net excess, which can be applied toward fu- ensure that solar PV is safely installed and seam- ture electricity bills. lessly connected to the electricity grid. WW Investor owned utilities are prohibited Electrical Grid from imposing special fees on net metered Interconnection customers as long as the system meets and Net Metering the established interconnection standards. In rare instance when a homeowner has a Most Massachusetts homes with solar PV systems particularly large system, minor charges may are able to interconnect with the electrical grid, apply to the interconnection process. which allows the home owner to purchase power from the electric distribution company when the solar PV system is not producing as much elec- Renewable Portfolio tricity as the homeowner is using. Utilities may Standard: Solar Carve-Out require a special inspection prior to interconnec- Load serving entities in Massachusetts (investor- tion to ensure that the solar PV system complies owned electric utilities and competitive suppliers) with established technical, performance, and are required to procure a certain amount of their safety requirements. electricity from solar PV generators. To comply with this requirement, load serving entities must pur- Electricity customers with small solar PV sys- chase Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs) tems can sell any excess power they produce equivalent to their annual compliance obligation. back to their utility and receive a credit for the SRECs are issued to owners of solar PV generating power produced. This practice is called net me- assets. For more information, see the “Economics of tering. As a customer produces electricity, the Solar PV” section of this guide. net meter will spin backwards, just as it spins forward when the customer consumes electric- Local permitting ity. At the end of each billing period the cus- Installation of a solar PV system will require the tomer is billed for the net electricity consumed same local approvals as any other building con- over the entire billing period. This is the differ- struction and electrical work. A building and elec- ence between the amount of electricity delivered trical permit will need to be pulled, and inspections from the electric grid and the electricity gener- will be required to verify that the installation meets ated by the solar PV system and put onto the state and local code requirements. grid. Customers receive net metering credits for

8 Massachusetts Residential Guide To Solar Power IMPORTANT REGU L ATIONS

Licensing Massachusetts law establishes specific licensing requirements for system installers, including a re- quirement that solar PV systems be installed by Massachusetts licensed electricians. In addition, there are various training and certification pro- grams which many installers go through, such as those offered by the North American Board of Cer- tified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP).

* More Resources Regulatory, Net Metering, and Interconnection Resources Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) www.mass.gov/doer

Massachusetts DOER: RPS Solar Carve-Out www.mass.gov/eea/energy-utilities-clean-tech/renewable-energy/solar/rps-solar-carve-out/

Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities www.mass.gov/dpu

Massachusetts and Interconnection sites..com/site/massdgic/

Net Metering websites by utility National Grid: www.nstar.com/business/rates_tariffs/netmetering-faq.asp

NSTAR: www.nstar.com/business/rates_tariffs/netmetering-faq.asp

Unitil: www.nstar.com/business/rates_tariffs/netmetering-faq.asp

Western Massachusetts Electric Co.: www.nstar.com/business/rates_tariffs/netmetering-faq.asp

Interconnection websites by utility National Grid: www.nstar.com/business/rates_tariffs/netmetering-faq.asp

NSTAR: www.nstar.com/business/rates_tariffs/interconnections/

Unitil: www.nstar.com/business/rates_tariffs/netmetering-faq.asp

Western Massachusetts Electric Co.: www.nstar.com/business/rates_tariffs/netmetering-faq.asp

Massachusetts Residential Guide To Solar Power 9 Flickr.com/brutalworks ECONOMICS OF SO L AR PV Economics of Solar PV

The financial return on investing in a solar PV tems that receive a MassCEC rebate are monitored system in Massachusetts can be very favorable for for costs. Up to date cost information can be found homeowners with a suitable site. Solar PV systems at MassCEC.com/solar under "Installers, costs, etc." in Massachusetts often have a five to eight year pay- back period, and will continue to produce financial Upfront costs can be offset by the following: returns long after the system is paid off. The life of a solar PV system is 20 years or more. Federal Tax Credit: Most owners of new residen- tial solar PV systems qualify for the federal Resi- Purchasing a solar PV system often requires upfront dential Renewable Energy Tax Credit for 30 percent installation and equipment costs, but there are signif- of total system costs.3 icant economic benefits that are realized over time. Massachusetts Personal Income Tax Credit: Most WW Homeowners considering solar PV are owners of new residential solar PV systems in Mas- advised to consult a professional to sachusetts qualify for a state personal income tax determine if the potential project would credit for the lesser of 15 percent of the total cost of be eligible for available tax incentives, how the solar PV system or $1,000.4 these tax incentives may impact one another, and the taxability of any rebates or revenues received for a project. System paybacks Massachusetts Sales Tax Exemption: Equipment will vary depending on the net system cost. purchased for a residential solar PV system in Mas- 5 Homeowners are encouraged to discuss the sachusetts is usually exempt from the sales tax. financial aspects of owning a solar PV system with their installer and any other expert. Massachusetts Property Tax Exemption: Home- owners with a solar PV system may be eligible for a property tax exemption on the value added by the system. Homeowners are encouraged to discuss this Upfront Costs with their installer and the local tax assessor’s office. and Incentives The cost of solar PV systems has declined consider- ably over the last few years. Actual costs will vary 3 26 USC § 25D based on system size, site characteristics, permit 4 M.G.L. c. 62, sec. 6(d) fees, and any optional equipment additions. Sys- 5 M.G.L. c. 64H, sec. 6(dd)

10 Massachusetts Residential Guide To Solar Power ECONOMICS OF SO L AR PV

MassCEC’s Commonwealth Solar II Rebate Program: Solar Renewable Energy MassCEC offers a capacity-based rebate for resi- Certificates dential and small-scale commercial installations in Massachusetts. Rebates are paid upon project Solar PV owners can generate income from the sale completion (requires approval prior to beginning of Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs), the installation). MassCEC program guidelines set which are the positive environmental attributes of minimum requirements for warranties, equipment, the clean energy produced by a solar PV system. site selection, and other relevant topics. Rebate lev- SRECs are tradable certificates that are issued to els and participation guidelines can vary. For up to owners of solar PV systems at a rate of 1 SREC per date information, see www.MassCEC.com/Solar and megawatt-hour (1,000 kWh) generated. Installers review the most recent Program Manual and Mini- will guide customers through the process of quali- mum Technical Requirements. fying with the Massachusetts Department of Ener- gy Resources (DOER) so that the homeowner can sell SRECs, and the installer will assist customers in finding an aggregator or broker who will facili- Long Term Costs, tate the sales process. SRECs create a way to obtain long-term financing for solar PV systems, and are Savings and Incentives intended to be one of the primary financing meth- Solar PV system owners will also realize long term ods to help pay for the installation of a residential economic benefits such as: solar PV system.

Avoided Electricity Costs Home Value Appreciation The most fundamental benefit a homeowner will Market conditions and the interests of particular receive from a solar PV system is the electricity buyers will ultimately determine the sale price of 6 generated which directly displaces electricity that a home. However, recent research suggests a so- the homeowner would otherwise purchase from lar PV system can increase a home’s market value an electric distribution utility. cost increases, if prospective buyers understand the financial ben- rising demand for fuel or electricity, and fuel sup- efits that the system creates. ply constraints can all cause the cost of purchasing electricity from an electric distribution utility to in- System Maintenance crease. Purchasing a solar PV system is the equiva- As is the case with any appliance, solar PV systems lent to paying for many years of electricity use in ad- require some maintenance over their lifetime. This vance at a fixed and stable price. Homeowners can generally includes making sure the solar panels are get a very accurate projection of the cost of power clean, ensuring the panels are receiving unobstructed a solar PV system produces now and in the future sunlight, and replacing the inverter generally once because the fuel price is stable (sunlight will always during the life of the solar PV system, which should be free), solar resource (days of sunlight per year in be at least 20 years. Installers should provide a mini- a given region) is generally predictable, and there is mum five-year labor warranty to protect the equip- little system maintenance required. Due to net me- ment against defective workmanship, component tering, solar PV system owners can realize the value breakdown, or significant degradation in electrical of all of the electricity they generate. output. In addition, the solar PV equipment should

6 Hoen, B., R. Wiser, P. Cappers and M. Thayer. LBNL-4476E. April 2011, An Analysis of the Effects of Residential Photovoltaic Energy Sys- tems on Home Sales Prices in

Massachusetts Residential Guide To Solar Power 11 have appropriate manufacturer’s warranties. See the tion work, and any ongoing operation and mainte- "How To Go Solar" section of this guide for more in- nance work on the system. Many different forms of formation on warranties. this third-party ownership model have emerged to respond to increasing demand from consumers.

In addition, many solar PV owners in Massachu-

ECONOMICS OF SO L AR PV Financing Options setts utilize traditional financing mechanisms, Massachusetts’ vibrant solar industry offers a vari- such as home equity loans, to finance their system. ety of ownership and financing options for residents When considering a PPA or leased solar PV sys- and businesses looking to install solar PV. One way tem, review the contract carefully to fully under- to use solar electricity on a home, but avoid the stand the terms and conditions. While contractual large upfront cost, is to work with a company that terms will vary, items to consider are the length will own the solar PV system and either sell the of the contract, whether there is a buy-out option, homeowner the electricity generated on a dollar per the initial price and any applicable price escalators, kilowatt hour basis through what is called a power who will be responsible for system operation and purchase agreement (PPA), or lease the system to maintenance, which party is entitled to any appli- the homeowner for a monthly rate. Companies like cable incentives, and what happens at the end of these will generally be responsible for the installa- the contract term.

* More Resources Economics of Solar PV MassCEC: Commonwealth Solar II Rebate Program www.MassCEC.com/Solar

MassCEC: Financing Clean Energy Projects www.masscec.com/index.cfm/page/Financing-Clean-Energy-Projects/cdid/12742/pid/11163

Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE) www.dsireusa.org

12 Massachusetts Residential Guide To Solar Power Flickr.com/knile ENVIRONMENTA L BENEFITS OF SO AR PV

Environmental Benefits of Solar PV

Use of solar PV systems to generate electricity dra- Alexey Sergeev matically reduces the environmental impact of the myriad personal, industrial, and commercial pro- cesses which rely on electricity. Solar PV modules do not emit gases or other pollutants, and do not require intensive operations to provide fuel.

per 1,000 kWh Compared to the mix of power sources typically used to produce power for New England 2.03 lbs so2 0.54 lbs of nox consumers, every 1,000 kWh generated by a solar 1,102 lbs of co2 PV system avoids sending 2.03 pounds of sulfur dioxide, 0.54 pounds of nitrogen oxides, and 1,102 Flickr.com/Knile pounds of carbon dioxide emissions into the atmo- sphere.7 In addition, solar PV systems reduce the production of particulates that contribute to respi- ratory problems.

per 1,000 kWh

0 lbs so2 0 lbs of nox

0 lbs of co2

7 New England, Inc., 2004 New England Marginal Emissions Rate Analy- sis, 2006

Massachusetts Residential Guide To Solar Power 13 Julie Chen H OW TO GO SO L AR

How to Go Solar

1) Energy efficiency References and licenses Potential solar PV customers should ask for refer- Energy efficiency is generally considered to be the ences from previous customers, call and—if pos- “low hanging fruit” when it comes to making fis- sible—visit one or more of the installer’s previous cally sound, choices about installations. According to Massachusetts law, the a home’s energy use, and it is the most cost effec- primary vendor must be a registered home im- tive way to reduce a home’s total electricity use and provement contractor, have a licensed construc- cost. The Commonwealth Solar II Rebate Program tion supervisor on staff, and have a Massachusetts requires homeowners to schedule an energy audit licensed electrician either on staff or subcontracted before receiving a solar PV rebate. Massachusetts to do the electrical work. If the installer plans to use utilities offer free energy efficiency audits, advice subcontractors, get their references as well. and services to customers. Call Mass Save at 1-866- 527-7283 or visit www.masssave.com for more in- formation. Liability and Workers Compensation Insurance For liability protection homeowners should insist that a vendor carry a certificate of insurance for 2) Contractor selection general liability insurance. A homeowner should How to find a contractor also verify that workers’ compensation insurance is carried to protect against liability for any on-site, MassCEC maintains a list of online resources for work related injuries. These are required to obtain a finding solar PV installers, which can be found at building permit. www.MassCEC.com/AboutSolar. Warranties Multiple bids Homeowners should ensure that equipment and As with any home improvement project, a home- workmanship are covered under appropriate war- owner should seek multiple bids to find someone ranties. It is recommended that customers re- he or she is comfortable working with. Ask for a quest equipment warranties that, at a minimum, written description of what the installer will be do- meet the requirements outlined below, regardless ing, the proposed timeline, pricing, and potential of whether or not they receive a rebate through a expenses not included in the price. MassCEC program.

14 Massachusetts Residential Guide To Solar Power H OW TO GO SO L AR

Projects that receive a rebate under the Common- ment schedule. It is recommended that an installer wealth Solar II Rebate Program must meet the fol- provide a minimum five-year labor warranty to pro- lowing warranty requirements. tect your equipment against defective workmanship, PV component breakdown, or significant degrada- ■■ Workmanship: Minimum five year labor war- tion in electrical output. In addition, the solar PV ranty provided by the installer to protect the equipment should have appropriate manufacturer’s purchaser against defective workmanship, so- warranties. Contracts should include contingencies lar PV project or component breakdown, or for approval of rebates and other relevant incentives. degradation in electrical output of more than fifteen percent from their originally rated elec- trical output during the warranty period. The warranty must cover the solar PV project, in- 3) Design cluding modules and inverters, and provide for Prior to installation, the contractor will prepare no-cost repair or replacement of the solar PV a design for the solar PV system. The design can project or system components, including any range from a simple site plan and electrical dia- associated labor during the warranty period. gram to a more detailed set of plans and specifi- cations, depending on the nature of the solar PV ■■ Photovoltaic Modules: Minimum of one year project and site. product warranty from date of sale to first con- sumer purchaser for product workmanship and Where solar PV is being incorporated into new con- materials, plus a minimum performance war- struction, it is advantageous to integrate the solar ranty of 20 years within which time the module PV design process into the overall site planning and will produce, under standard test conditions, building design process to realize certain construc- a minimum of 80% of the product’s minimum tion efficiencies and ensure optimal orientation and rated power at time of sale. tilt of the system.

■■ Inverters: Minimum of 10 years product war- ranty from date of sale to first consumer pur- chaser for product workmanship and materials 4) Permitting All solar PV installations must comply with the re- ■■ Revenue grade production meters: 2 year quirements of the Massachusetts Electric Code. In product warranty. addition, when an installation results in a structural change in an existing building, a solar PV system is ■■ Mounting equipment: 5 year product warranty. subject to the Massachusetts Building Code.

Written contract Solar PV installations require local permits and The written contract with an installer should, at min- inspections by a local inspector. The licensed elec- imum, specify the exact equipment to be installed, all trician on the job is responsible for ensuring that applicable warranty information, the project’s start the installation meets state electrical code require- and completion dates, the itemized budget with any ments. The installation contractor must secure all exclusions or potential adders, a list of any subcon- necessary approvals from local officials prior to put- tractors that are going to be used, and a progress pay- ting the system into service.

Massachusetts Residential Guide To Solar Power 15 5) Rebate application 8) Inspection and MassCEC’s Commonwealth Solar II Rebate Pro- interconnection gram will only pay rebates for project applications Once a solar PV system is fully installed, a local wir- H OW TO GO SO L AR approved prior to commencing construction. Re- ing inspector will come to the project site, review bate applications are submitted on the system own- the system, and make sure it was installed properly, er’s behalf by the installer. For more details on the and sign a certificate of completion (a copy of which procedural, technical, and other requirements of is provided to the utility). The building inspector the Commonwealth Solar II Rebate Program, visit may also require a final inspection. www.MassCEC.com/Solar. WW Commissioning is not complete until the system is satisfactorily inspected by 6) Interconnection the wiring inspector and the utility has confirmed that the system can interconnect application to the power grid. State regulations govern the procedures for the inter- connection between a solar PV system and the serv- ing electrical distribution company. This includes the application process, technical specifications for the 9) System testing interconnection, and inspection requirements. and warranties When the installation is complete, the installer The installer will be responsible for securing the ap- should test the equipment to confirm that it is op- proval to interconnect from the utility. In some cas- erating properly. Homeowners should also ensure es, where the residence does not already have a net that the installer provides copies of any technical meter in place, the utility will need to install a new equipment manuals and warranties. Many installers meter that will credit the customer for power sent will provide a copy of commissioning test results to back to the grid. This upgrade would take place after the owner and register the warranties. Finally, the the system is installed, but before it is turned on. installer should educate the owner about safety, op- erations, and maintenance requirements.

7) Construction Once a contract is signed, the necessary permits 10) System monitoring have been issued, and rebate approval has been re- Solar PV systems that participate in the SREC Pro- ceived from MassCEC (if applying for a Common- gram are required to report production to Mass- wealth Solar II rebate), the installer can proceed to CEC’s Production Tracking System. Systems up to install the solar PV system. Installation typically 10kW in nameplate capacity can report manually or involves delivery of materials to the site, site prepa- automatically. Systems over 10kW will be required ration, electrical work (wiring, inverter installation, to report automatically via a Data Acquisition Sys- etc.), and installation of the solar PV array. Solar PV tem (DAS) in order to participate in the SREC pro- installations can occur over a short period of time gram. A DAS can add to the total system cost for a relative to other construction projects. As noted solar PV project and may require periodic fees. above, the written contract should be clear about the timeline of the project.

16 Massachusetts Residential Guide To Solar Power Bigstock H OMEOWNER'S SO L AR PV C EC KL IST

Homeowner’s Solar PV Checklist

Preliminary Questions ❑ Do I know how much electricity I currently ❑ Do I know where there is shading on my roof ❑consume and how much it costs? ❑(or on my property) during different times of the day and at different times of year? ❑❑Do I have a south-facing roof? If not, do I have property with open space that might accommo- ❑ Do I want to purchase and own the solar PV date a ground-mounted solar PV system? ❑system, or do I want to work with a third-party company and either buy the electricity generated through a or pay a monthly lease payment?

Purchasing and Contracting ❑ Am I comfortable with the installer’s knowl- ❑ Does the installation contract clearly lay out what ❑edge and experience? ❑is included and what is not included in the price? ❑ Does the installer have credible references? ❑ Do I want or need a DAS installed to measure, ❑ ❑track, and record power produced, or do I want ❑ Is the installer adequately insured to protect to track system production manually? ❑me, as well as the company’s employees and subcontractors? ❑ Does the proposed payment schedule protect ❑me by allowing payment to be withheld until ❑❑Does the contract include performance specifi- the system: 1) passes local code inspections, 2) cations for the system being installed, including receives utility interconnection approval, and 3) an estimate of the power that will be produced is shown to be operating properly? annually or under different conditions? ❑ Are all warranties clearly stated with informa- ❑tion on how to exercise them?

Post Installation ❑ Has the installer tested and activated the system? ❑ Has the installer left descriptive materials and ❑ ❑equipment operating manuals as reference ❑❑Have all necessary inspections occurred? materials?

Massachusetts Residential Guide To Solar Power 17

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