Renewable Energy Project Development Resource Directory
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| Title | Author | Content Type | Topic | Sub-Topic | Energy Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CICV Solar Roadmap (More Info) |
Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia | Template | RFPs & Contracts | Contract Best Practices | Solar |
| This solar policy and program roadmap contains guidance on how to transform the local solar market. Each recommendation is supported with relevant reports, case studies, examples, and templates to assist local and regional implementation efforts. | |||||
| Solar Master Plan: Washington & Lee University (PDF) (25 pp, 3.5MB) (More Info) |
Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia; Optony Inc. | Publication | Project Development Process, RFPs & Contracts | Contract Best Practices | Solar |
| The CICV team provides colleges with the information necessary to incorporate solar energy into their long-term planning processes through tailored information that is relevant to their local utility, government, etc. This sample plan is a template other colleges and universities can utilize in their planning process. | |||||
| Innovations in Wind and Solar PV Financing (More Info) |
Cory, J. Coughlin; T. Jenkin, NREL; J. Pater Summit; Blue B. Swezey, Applied Materials | Publication | Project Financing Options | Financing Structures | Solar, Wind |
| This study surveys some of the current issues related to wind and solar photovoltaic (PV) energy project financing in the electric power industry, and identifies both barriers to and opportunities for increased investment. | |||||
| Survey of Solar at Colleges and Universities: Midwest focus (More Info) |
Janna Cohen Rosenthal, Second Nature | Presentation | Project Development Process | Other | Solar |
| An update on the survey of 680 participating colleges in the American College and University President's Climate Commitment, including findings on common financing mechanisms and renewable energy goals. | |||||
| Harnessing the Sun: A Case Study of Solar Energy Deployment at Agnes Scott College (More Info) |
Agnes Scott College | Case Study | Project Financing Options | Financing Structures | Solar |
| This case study reveals how Agnes Scott College, a small independent college in Georgia, successfully deployed solar arrays on its campus and includes detailed information on the technical aspects of each project. Specifically, it covers creative financing, innovative design, and partnerships. | |||||
| Solar Securitization and the Solar Access to Public Capital (SAPC) Working Group (More Info) |
NREL | Template | Project Financing Options | Financing Structures | Solar |
| NREL's Solar Access to Public Capital (SAPC) working group was designed to open capital market investment for solar assets via securitization and other financial innovations. SAPC Standard Contracts were designed to improve consumer transparency, reduce transaction costs in the solar asset contracting process, and facilitate the pooling of the associated cash flows so that they may be securitized and sold in the capital markets. | |||||
| GPP Webinar: Solar Procurement Templates and Tools for Higher Education (More Info) |
EPA | Tools & Resources | Project Development Process | Project Feasibility Tools & Resources | Solar |
| This webinar provides specific strategic and tactical guidance for higher education institutions interested in pursuing options for solar power on their facilities, and offers a host of resources that schools can use to shape and manage the solar procurement process to a successful outcome. | |||||
| System Advisor Model (SAM) for Financial Analysis of PV (More Info) |
NREL | Tools & Resources | Project Economics & Evaluation | Project Feasibility Tools & Resources | All |
| The System Advisor Model (SAM) is a performance and financial model designed to facilitate decision-making for people involved in the renewable energy industry: project managers and engineers, policy analysts, technology developers, and researchers. SAM makes performance predictions and cost-of-energy estimates for grid-connected power projects based on installation and operating costs and system design parameters that you specify as inputs to the model. | |||||
| The Renewable Energy Contracts Library (RFP and PPA Resources) (More Info) |
NREL | Tools & Resources | Project Development Process, RFPs & Contracts | Financing Structures, Contract Best Practices | All |
| The Renewable Energy Contracts Library provides many contracts, forms, and permits required during the development cycle and could relieve some of the due diligence pressures on developers, which could help to maintain project timelines and reduce total costs. | |||||
| Guide to Purchasing Green Power: Renewable Electricity, Renewable Energy Certificates, and On-Site Renewable Generation (More Info) |
DOE; EPA | Publication | Purchasing Green Power | Financing Structures | All |
| This Guide to Purchasing Green Power is intended for organizations that are considering the merits of buying green power, as well as those that have decided to buy it and want help doing so. | |||||
| A Net Metered Solar Project Benefits ALL Ratepayers (More Info) |
Eastern Mennonite University | Case Study | Project Development Process, Project Economics & Evaluation | Contract Best Practices | Solar |
| This article featuring Eastern Mennonite University is a case study of how a commercial scale photovoltaic installation benefitted the municipal electric company and its customers. | |||||
| Solar PV Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) Calculator (XLSX) (34K) (More Info) |
EPA | Tools & Resources | Project Economics & Evaluation | Project Feasibility Tools & Resources | Solar |
| Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) Calculator assists in evaluating informal/unsolicited bid pricing. | |||||
| Navigating the Challenges of Renewable Energy Purchasing and PPAs (PDF) (4 pp, 145K) (More Info) |
Philip Santiago, Association of Climate Change Officers (ACCO) | Fact Sheet | Project Financing Options, Purchasing Green Power | Financing Structures | All |
| ACCO caught up with Kevin Rabinovitch (Global Sustainability Director-—Mars Incorporated) and Chris O'Brien (former Director, Office of Sustainability—American University, now Director, Higher Education Programs—Altenex LLC) to find out what lessons they learned as they built successful renewable energy programs at their organizations. | |||||
| Ramping Up Renewables with Power Purchase Agreements, PPAs (PDF) (10 pp, 4.3MB) (More Info) |
Green Gigawatt Partnership | Publication | Project Financing Options | Financing Structures | All |
| Higher Education has a unique set of characteristics positioning it with the opportunity to ramp up renewable energy while reducing energy costs and controlling energy price risk. | |||||
| Google's Green PPAs: What, How, and Why (PDF) (6 pp, 428K) (More Info) |
Case Study | Project Financing Options | Financing Structures | All | |
| This paper attempts to show how Google has answered these questions and met its principles in a way that makes business sense for them. They also hope that this will serve as a useful starting point for other companies that want to buy renewable power. | |||||
| Capital Partners Solar Project- Harnessing Collective Buying Power to Procure Solar (More Info) |
Amit Ronen, Director, George Washington Solar Institute | Presentation | Project Financing Options | Financing Structures | Solar |
| Under this Partnership, George Washington University, American University, and the George Washington University Hospital have collectively entered into a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement with Duke Energy. Learn about a new business model in which nonprofit institutions collectively solicited competitive bids to secure a large portion of their electricity supply from solar PV. | |||||
| RECs: Making Green Power Possible (More Info) |
EPA | Presentation | Purchasing Green Power | Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) | All |
| This EPA video addresses common questions and concerns about the role and benefits of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs). RECs represent the environmental and other non-power attributes of renewable electricity generation and are a component of all renewable electricity products. | |||||
| The Rise of Corporate PPAs: A new driver for renewables (More Info) |
Baker & Mckenzie; Clean Energy Pipeline | Publication | Project Financing Options | Financing Structures | All |
| This report provides market intelligence into corporate renewable PPAs and the various ways to negotiate, document, and finance corporate renewable PPA transactions. It is based on a survey of over 100 senior executives and complemented by in-depth interviews with high-level individuals active in the market. | |||||
| CICV Collaborative Procurement RFP (More Info) |
Tyler Espinoza, Optony Inc. | Presentation | RFPs & Contracts | Contract Best Practices | Solar |
| The Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia (CICV) issued a request for proposals to acquire 37 MW of solar across 15 partnering campuses in late 2015. Hear about the collaborative procurement RFP process, lessons learned, and their next steps in this recording. | |||||
| Using Power Purchase Agreements for Solar Deployment at Universities (More Info) |
NREL | Fact Sheet | Project Financing Options | Financing Structures | Solar |
| NREL's fact sheet provides guidance to universities on the process of using PPAs and how PPAs can make economic sense for campus solar deployment. This document can support university stakeholders charged with the financial planning of campus solar projects. | |||||
| George Mason University RFP for Renewable Energy Certificates (More Info) |
George Mason University | Example | RFPs & Contracts | Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), Contract Best Practices | All |
| RFP for Renewable Energy Certificates issued by George Mason University. | |||||
| Solar Powering Your Community: A Guide for Local Governments (More Info) |
DOE | Publication | Policies & Regulations, Project Financing Options, Project Development Process | Interconnection Policies, Financing Structures, Contract Best Practices | Solar |
| This DOE guide is a comprehensive resource created to assist local governments and stakeholders in designing and implementing a strategic local solar plan. It includes examples and models that have been field-tested in cities and counties around the country that can help stimulate ideas or provide a framework for a comprehensive solar plan for a community. | |||||
| A Guide to Community Shared Solar: Utility, Private, and Nonprofit Project Development (More Info) |
DOE SunShot Initiative | Publication | Policies & Regulations, Project Development Process | Interconnection Policies | Solar |
| By exploring the range of incentives and policies while providing examples of operational community shared solar projects, this guide will help communities plan and implement successful energy projects. | |||||
| The Solarize Guidebook (More Info) |
DOE SunShot Initiative | Publication | Project Development Process, Project Financing Options | Regulated Market Barriers, Contract Best Practices | Solar |
| This guidebook is intended to be a roadmap for project planners and solar advocates who want to create their own successful Solarize campaigns. It describes the key elements of the Solarize Portland campaigns and variations from projects across the country, along with lessons learned and planning templates. | |||||
| Homeowners Guide to Financing a Grid-Connected Solar Electric System (More Info) |
DOE | Publication | Project Financing Options | Financing Structures | Solar |
| This guide provides an overview of the financing options that may be available to homeowners who are considering installing a solar electric system on their house. | |||||
| Banking on Solar: An Analysis of Banking Opportunities in the U.S. Distributed Photovoltaic Market (More Info) |
David Feldman; Travis Lowder, NREL | Publication | Project Financing Options | Financing Structures | Solar |
| This report provides a high-level overview of the developing U.S. solar loan product landscape, from both a market and economic perspective. | |||||
| Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE) (More Info) |
NC Clean Energy Technology Center | Tools & Resources | Policies & Regulations | Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), Interconnection Policies | All |
| DSIRE is the most comprehensive source of information on incentives and policies that support renewables and energy efficiency in the United States. DSIRE is operated by the N.C. Clean Energy Technology Center at N.C. State University and is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. | |||||
| Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC) Markets: Status and Trends (More Info) |
Lori Bird, Jenny Heeter; Claire Kreycik; NREL | Publication | Policies & Regulations | Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) | Solar |
| SREC markets have emerged in nine U.S. states and Washington, D.C., as a method to meet compliance with solar carve out provisions of renewable energy portfolio standards, setting requirements for solar generation or capacity. This report examines the status and trends of SREC markets. | |||||
| PVWatts® Calculator (More Info) |
NREL | Tools & Resources | Project Economics & Evaluation | Project Feasibility Tools & Resources | Solar |
| Estimates the energy production and cost of energy of grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) energy systems throughout the world. It allows homeowners, small building owners, installers, and manufacturers to easily develop estimates of the performance of potential PV installations | |||||
| Green Power Partnership Tools and Resources (More Info) |
EPA | Tools & Resources | Purchasing Green Power, Project Development Process | Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), Project Feasibility Tools & Resources, Financing Structures | All |
| The Green Power Partnership provides a variety of current and relevant tools and resources relevant to green power purchasing including: Tools and Calculators, Green Power Incentives, Glossary of Terms, Related Links, Resource Library, Frequently Asked Questions. | |||||
| Transparent Cost Database (More Info) |
OpenEI | Tools & Resources | Project Economics & Evaluation, Project Development Process | Project Feasibility Tools & Resources | All |
| This database collects program cost and performance estimates for EERE technologies in a public forum where they can be viewed and compared to other published estimates. The database includes literature on technology cost, performance estimates, and levelized costs (both current and future projections) for electricity generation, biofuels, and vehicles. | |||||
| Community Shared Solar: Policy and Regulatory Considerations (More Info) |
NREL | Fact Sheet | Policies & Regulations, Project Financing Options | Financial Reporting Considerations, Regulated Market Barriers | Solar |
| This paper explores the ways in which the shared solar business model interacts with existing policy and regulations, including net metering, tax credits, and securities regulation. It presents some of the barriers that shared solar projects may face, and provides options for creating a supportive policy environment. | |||||
| Solar Energy Project Development Issues: Preliminary Considerations (More Info) |
Practical Law Company | Publication | Policies & Regulations, Project Development Process | Interconnection Policies | Solar |
| A discussion of some of the issues that solar developers and their counsel should consider when developing a solar energy project, including land acquisition, solar resource analysis, permitting, transmission, and interconnection. | |||||
| Interconnection Background (More Info) |
Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) | Website | Policies & Regulations | Interconnection Policies | All |
| The Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) provide background on interconnection standards that govern the processes by which distributed clean energy projects physically connect to the utility grid. | |||||
| The Open PV Project (More Info) |
NREL | Tools & Resources | Project Development Process, Project Economics & Evaluation | Project Feasibility Tools & Resources | Solar |
| The Open PV Project is a collaborative effort between government, industry, and the public that is compiling a comprehensive database of photovoltaic (PV) installation data for the United States. This database serves as a web-based resource for users to easily explore and understand the current and past trends of the U.S. PV industry. | |||||
| Dynamic Maps, GIS Data, & Analysis Tools: Solar (More Info) |
NREL | Tools & Resources | Project Development Process, Project Economics & Evaluation | Project Feasibility Tools & Resources | Solar |
| Solar maps provide monthly average daily total solar resource information on grid cells. The insolation values represent the resource available to a flat plate collector, such as a photovoltaic (PV) panel, oriented due south at an angle from horizontal to equal to the latitude of the collector location. This is typical practice for PV system installation, although other orientations are also used. | |||||
| Solar Research & Resources Links (More Info) |
SEIA | Tools & Resources | Policies & Regulations, Project Development Process | Contract Best Practices, Project Feasibility Tools & Resources | Solar |
| Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) provides a list of solar research and resources related to: government; laboratories; solar power market research and consulting; state solar programs and policies; nonprofits and advocacy; international solar organizations; and solar installation codes, standards, and certification. | |||||
| Understanding Differences in Utility Views Toward Solar (More Info) |
DOE Solar Market Pathways | Publication | Policies & Regulations, Project Financing Options | Financing Structures | Solar |
| To increase the deployment of solar electricity generation in your area, three key questions you need to answer are: who owns the utility (i.e., is it investor-owned, publicly owned, or member-owned); does the utility operate in a competitive retail energy market; and does the utility itself own generation facilities, like power plants or solar farms? | |||||
| Incorporating Demand Response Into Community Solar Programs: A Module of the CSVP High-Value Community Solar Program Design Guide (More Info) |
Olivine Inc.; Extensible Energy LLC | Publication | Project Development Process | Contract Best Practices | Solar |
| The primary objective of this guide is to assist utility solar program managers in including appropriate demand response (DR) measures for co-marketing to enhance the value of distributed solar—and particularly of utility-driven community solar. | |||||
| Purdue University Solar Endowment Campus PV Roadmap (More Info) |
Purdue University | Case Study | Project Financing Options, Project Development Process | Contract Best Practices | Solar |
| Purdue University campus photovoltaic project roadmap. | |||||
| Illinois State University Solar Pathways Campus PV Development Roadmap (More Info) |
Illinois State University | Case Study | Project Development Process | Contract Best Practices | Solar |
| Illinois State University (ISU) is participating in the Solar Pathways program funded by the Department of Energy through the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) to create a development plan for a shovel-ready solar array system on the university campus. | |||||
| California NEM-V Market Assessment: A Snapshot of the Current State of the NEM-V Market in California | Center for Sustainable Energy; California Solar Energy Industries Association; Interstate Renewable Energy Council | Publication | Policies & Regulations | Other | Solar |
| This Virtual Net Metering (NEM-V) Market Assessment Report is intended to summarize the current state of California’s NEM-V market. This report is simply a snapshot of tariff adoption to date. | |||||
| Solar and Storage For Energy and Resiliency: A guide for consideration (More Info) |
Utah Clean Energy; DOE SunShot Initiative |
Publication | Policies & Regulations, Project Development Process | Other | Solar |
| The growing frequency of extreme weather events and the very real threat of a significant earthquake in Utah drives the need for resilient backup power systems. A self-generation power system comprised of solar photovoltaics coupled with battery storage not only provides robust backup power in the event of an emergency but also helps manage day-to-day energy usage. | |||||
| PV Development Considerations for US Universities (More Info) |
Midwest Renewable Energy Association; TurningPoint Energy | Presentation | Project Financing Options, Project Development Process, Purchasing Green Power | Financing Structures | Solar |
| This presentation covers photovoltaic (PV) development considerations for universities, including structuring solar development teams, best practices for PV development, university financial options for PV investment, and best practices for PV procurement. | |||||
| Agnes Scott College Campus Solar Project (More Info) |
Susan Kidd, Executive Director Center for Sustainability, Agnes Scott College | Presentation | Project Financing Options, Project Development Process | Financing Structures | Solar |
| Susan Kidd, Director of Sustainability at Agnes Scott College, a small independent college in Georgia, led a presentation revealing how the college successfully deployed solar arrays on its campus. In January 2015, the college completed the installation of five solar photovoltaic arrays, which now produce 342,200 kWh per year. The presentation will include detailed information on creative financing, innovative design, and key partnerships. | |||||
| Model Land Lease and Solar Easement Agreement (More Info) |
The University of Minnesota Law School Environmental Law Clinic In Conjunction with: Minnesota Renewable Energy Society (MRES) |
Template | RFPs & Contracts | Contract Best Practices | Solar |
| Model land lease and solar easement agreement for community solar gardens. | |||||
| A Guide to Sample Community Solar Garden Leases (More Info) |
The University of Minnesota Law School Environmental Law Clinic In Conjunction with: Minnesota Renewable Energy Society (MRES) |
Publication | RFPs & Contracts | Contract Best Practices | Solar |
| This guide includes definitions and plain language explanations of provisions for land lease agreements. These explanations are meant to shed light on what each provision means, why it is important to the lease, and point out some place where changes could be made. | |||||
| Using Power Purchase Agreements for Solar Deployment at Universities Presentation (More Info) |
Jenny Heeter; Eric O'Shaughnessy, NREL | Presentation | Project Financing Options | Financing Structures | Solar |
| This presentation covers the NREL fact sheet "Using Power Purchase Agreements for Solar Deployment at Universities." It aims to familiarize interested parties with using Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) for solar deployment. | |||||
| Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia: Request for Proposals for Solar Photovoltaic Projects (More Info) |
Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia | Example | RFPs & Contracts, Project Financing Options | Contract Best Practices | Solar |
| The Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia's (CICV's) request for proposals from qualified firms to construct and finance solar photovoltaic (PV) systems at the campuses of some of its member colleges. | |||||
| Solar Market Pathways for Independent Colleges in Virginia (More Info) |
DOE | Fact Sheet | Project Development Process | Other | Solar |
| Fact sheet on the Solar Market Pathways for Independent Colleges of Virginia (SMP-ICV) program. | |||||
| Capital Partners Solar Project: Frequently Asked Questions (More Info) |
Capital Partners Solar Project | Case Study | Project Financing Options, Project Development Process | Contract Best Practices | Solar |
| This fact sheet provides an overview of the Capital Partners Solar Project and answers frequently asked questions. | |||||
| Corporate Renewable Energy Purchases Can Trigger Dodd-Frank Swap Reporting Requirements (Legal Update) (More Info) |
Mayer Brown | Publication | Project Financing Options, Project Development Process | Financial Reporting Considerations | All |
| Corporate investment in renewable energy is occurring both on- and offsite, and through both direct ownership and long-term purchase or similar agreements. Offsite long-term agreements, however, can raise an unexpected reporting issue under related Dodd Frank Act requirements. | |||||
| Project Finance Primer for Renewable Energy and Clean Tech Projects (More Info) |
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati | Publication | Project Financing Options, Project Development Process | Financing Structures | All |
| This primer provides an overview of project finance for renewable energy investors, with a focus on the pros and cons, as well as a survey of key concepts and requirements, including tax incentives and monetization strategies in the renewable energy sector, and other key structuring considerations in determining whether to project finance. | |||||
| Understanding Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) (More Info) |
EPA | Presentation | Purchasing Green Power | Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), Financing Structures | All |
| EPA's James Critchfield discusses some of the strategies used by colleges and universities to address this issue, including ensuring that the role, value, and trade-offs involved with monetizing renewable energy certificates (RECs) or in participating in financial structures where a third party retains ownership of the associated RECs is well understood. | |||||
| Lincoln Park Shines: University of Minnesota Duluth (More Info) |
University of Minnesota Duluth | Presentation | Project Economics & Evaluation, Project Development Process | Other | Solar |
| This presentation discusses the University of Minnesota Duluth's initiative to provide senior engineering students with opportunities to solve real-world problems and improve professional communication skills and to advance energy efficiency and the installation of renewable energy technologies in Duluth. | |||||
| Financing Solar In Virginia (More Info) |
Secure Futures, LLC | Presentation | Project Financing Options | Financing Structures | Solar |
| This presentation covers third-party ownership, the Eastern Mennonite University Project, innovative financing options, and why financing is handled differently in Virginia. | |||||
| Distributed Solar Interconnection Challenges and Best Practices (More Info) |
Solar Electric Power Association | Publication | Project Development Process | Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), Project Feasibility Tools & Resources | Solar |
| This report covers distributed solar interconnection challenges and best practices. | |||||
| A State-Level Comparison of Processes and Timelines for Distributed Photovoltaic Interconnection in the United States (More Info) |
NREL | Publication | Project Development Process | Interconnection Policies | Solar |
| This report presents results from an analysis of distributed photovoltaic (PV) interconnection and deployment processes in the United States. | |||||
| Freeing the Grid: State Grades - Interconnection (More Info) |
Freeing the Grid | Website | Policies & Regulations | Interconnection Policies | All |
| This website provides grades for each state based on their interconnection policies. | |||||
| Best Practices in PV System Installation (More Info) |
NREL | Publication | Policies & Regulations | Other | Solar |
| This Installation Best Practices Guide is designed to improve solar asset transparency for investors and rating agencies, provide an industry framework for quality management, and reduce transaction costs in the solar asset securitization process. It is intended to outline the minimum requirements for third-party ownership providers. | |||||
| Analysis of Web-Based Solar Photovoltaic Mapping Tools (More Info) |
NREL | Publication | Project Economics & Evaluation | Project Feasibility Tools & Resources | Solar |
| A PV mapping tool visually represents a specific site and calculates PV system size and projected electricity production. This report identifies the commercially available solar mapping tools and summarizes the source data type and resolution, the visualization software program being used, user inputs, calculation methodology and algorithms, map outputs, and development costs for each map. | |||||
| Interconnecting PV on New York City’s Secondary Network Distribution System (More Info) |
NREL | Publication | Policies & Regulations, Project Development Process | Interconnection Policies | Solar |
| To assess ways to improve the interconnection process, NREL conducted a four-part study on New York City. | |||||
| The Impacts of Commercial Electric Utility Rate Structure Elements on the Economics of Photovoltaic Systems (More Info) |
NREL | Publication | Policies & Regulations | Regulated Market Barriers | Solar |
| This analysis uses simulated building data, simulated solar photovoltaic (PV) data, and actual electric utility tariff data from 25 cities to better understand the impacts of different commercial rate structures on the value of solar PV systems. | |||||
| Photovoltaic Systems Interconnected onto Secondary Network Distribution Systems – Success Stories (More Info) |
NREL | Publication | Policies & Regulations | Interconnection Policies | Solar |
| This report examines six case studies of photovoltaic (PV) systems integrated into secondary network systems. The six PV systems were chosen for evaluation because they are interconnected to secondary network systems located in four major Solar America Cities. | |||||
| Feed-in Tariff Policy: Design, Implementation, and RPS Policy Interactions (More Info) |
NREL | Publication | Policies & Regulations | Regulated Market Barriers | All |
| This report explores the design and implementation of feed-in tariff (FIT) policies, including a policy definition, various payment structures, and payment differentiation options. The report also discusses the interaction between FIT and RPS policies. | |||||
| Decoupling Utility Profits from Sales: Issues for the Photovoltaic Industry (More Info) |
Solar Electric Power Association | Publication | Policies & Regulations | Regulated Market Barriers | Solar |
| This white paper provides an overview of the problem with revenue loss and a background on net metering and its specific impact on the problem. The paper then goes on to more specifically define and discuss decoupling and alternatives to decoupling, followed by a decoupling case study of a hypothetical utility. | |||||
| The Impact of Retail Rate Structures on the Economics of Commercial Photovoltaic Systems in California (More Info) |
LBNL | Publication | Policies & Regulations | Regulated Market Barriers | Solar |
| To achieve a sizable and self-sustaining market for grid-connected, customer-sited photovoltaic (PV) systems, solar will likely need to be competitive with retail electricity rates. This report examines the impact of retail rate design on the economic value of commercial PV systems in California. | |||||
| SunShot Initiative Fact Sheet: Photovoltaics (More Info) |
DOE | Fact Sheet | Policies & Regulations, Project Financing Options | Other | Solar |
| The SunShot Initiative supports research and development to aggressively advance PV technology by improving efficiency and reliability and lowering manufacturing costs. | |||||
| Best Practices for Interconnection Processes: Southern California Rooftop Solar Challenge (More Info) |
Center for Sustainable Energy California; Energy Policy Initiatives Center; DOE | Publication | Policies & Regulations | Interconnection Policies | Solar |
| This report provides a summary of the best practices in the three major interconnection process categories among the local utilities in the Rooftop Solar Challenge team area, including: 1) Information Access, 2) Application Access and Application Submission, 3) Processing Time, and 4) Inspections. |
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| Shared Solar: Current Landscape, Market Potential, and the Impact of Federal Securities Regulation (More Info) |
NREL | Publication | Policies & Regulations, Project Development Process | Financial Reporting Considerations | Solar |
| This report provides a high-level overview of the current U.S. shared solar landscape and the impact that a given shared solar program’s structure has on requiring federal securities oversight, as well as an estimate of market potential for U.S. shared solar deployment. | |||||
| Connecting to the Grid Guide 6th Edition (More Info) |
Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) | Publication | Policies & Regulations | Interconnection Policies | All |
| This guide introduces readers to the issues surrounding policy and technical considerations of grid-integrated, renewable energy. | |||||
| Model Interconnection Procedures (More Info) |
Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) | Publication | Policies & Regulations | Interconnection Policies | All |
| This edition of IREC’s Model Interconnection Procedures synthesizes a number of best practices in the evolution of safe and reliable connecting renewable energy systems to the utility grid. | |||||
| The Intersection of Net Metering and Retail Choice: An Overview of Policy, Practice, and Issues (More Info) |
Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) | Publication | Policies & Regulations | Regulated Market Barriers | All |
| Every state has a different set of laws and regulations that make it difficult for retail choice companies working in multiple states at once. This report clarifies how net metering works in these complex environments. | |||||
| Solar Power Purchase Agreements: a Toolkit for Local Governments (More Info) |
Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) | Publication | Project Financing Options | Financing Structures | Solar |
| Designed to overcome the common challenges and costs associated with Solar Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), IREC’s comprehensive toolkit provides a full suite of legal resources and related documents in a user-friendly format. | |||||
| Regulation, Innovation, and Experimentation: The Case of Residential Rooftop Solar (More Info) |
L. Lynne Kiesling, Northwestern University; Mark Silberg Northwestern University |
Publication | Policies & Regulations | Regulated Market Barriers | Solar |
| Recent innovations in smart grid and distributed energy technologies, innovations in solar industry financial and business models, and utility concerns about their financial viability in the face of such innovations, motivate this analysis of the regulatory institutions and their features that may be conducive to lower barriers to innovation in electricity. | |||||
| Best Practices in PV System Operations and Maintenance (More Info) |
NREL | Publication | Project Development Process, RFPs & Contracts | Contract Best Practices | Solar |
| This guide is designed to improve solar asset transparency for investors and rating agencies, provide an industry framework for quality management, and reduce transaction costs in the solar asset securitization process. It is intended to outline the minimum requirements for third-party ownership providers. | |||||
| SEFA Consumer Solar Contract Best Practices Checklist (More Info) |
Solar Energy Finance Authority (SEFA) | Fact Sheet | Project Development Process, Purchasing Green Power | Contract Best Practices | Solar |
| Consumer checklist for selecting a solar installer. | |||||
| Best Practices in Commercial and Industrial (C&I) PV System Installation (More Info) |
NREL | Publication | Project Development Process, Project Economics & Evaluation | Financial Reporting Considerations | Solar |
| This guide is designed to standardize and improve solar asset transparency for investors and rating agencies, provide an industry framework for quality management, and reduce transaction costs in the solar asset securitization process. It outlines the minimum requirements for commercial and industrial solar project developments. | |||||
| Credit Enhancements and Capital Markets to Fund Solar Deployment: Leveraging Public Funds to Open Private Sector Investment (More Info) |
NREL | Publication | Project Financing Options, Policies & Regulations | Financial Reporting Considerations | Solar |
| This report examines the various types of credit enhancements that could be used to drive capital market investment in the solar asset class. | |||||
| Purchasing Power: Best Practices Guide for Collaborative Solar Procurement (More Info) |
Joint Venture, Optony, Inc.; World Resources Institute | Publication | Project Development Process, Purchasing Green Power | Financing Structures | Solar |
| This report demonstrates how governments and businesses can save money by joining together to buy solar power. The guide presents an innovative approach to solar power purchasing that can yield 10 to 15 percent lower costs and save 75 percent of administrative time and fees, while helping participants negotiate better contract terms to save money in the long run. | |||||
| Solar Power Purchase Agreement (More Info) |
NREL | Template | RFPs & Contracts | Contract Best Practices | Solar |
| Standard residential lease and commercial power purchase agreement (PPA) contracts for use by developers, customers, and third-party finance providers in the solar industry. | |||||
| Solar Power System Contracts (More Info) |
Arizona Office of the Auditor General | Fact Sheet | RFPs & Contracts | Contract Best Practices | Solar |
| To maximize the benefits of solar power system contracts, Arizona school districts need proper planning and attention to detail. This fact sheet outlines the best practices districts should take. | |||||
| Solar PV O&M Standards and Best Practices – Existing Gaps and Improvement Efforts (More Info) |
Sandia National Laboratories | Publication | Project Development Process | Project Feasibility Tools & Resources | Solar |
| To mitigate risks to PV system availability and performance, standardized procedures for operations and maintenance (O&M) activities are needed to ensure high reliability and long-term system bankability. | |||||
| A Best Practice for Developing Availability Guarantee Language in Photovoltaic (PV) O&M Agreements (More Info) |
Sandia National Laboratories | Publication | Project Development Process, RFPs & Contracts | Contract Best Practices, Project Feasibility Tools & Resources | Solar |
| This report identifies both best-practice elements and gaps that must be addressed to improve communication of equipment operational states and failure modes for the benefit of all parties to a PV operations and maintenance services contract. | |||||
| Why Power Purchase Agreements Make Sense (More Info) |
SunPower | Publication | Project Financing Options | Financing Structures | All |
| The government wants on-site solar, solar developers want to build more projects, and the investment community is always interested in financing profitable projects. All of this creates jobs and allows for reinvestment in the next stage of the solar industry. A power purchase agreement (PPA) is the financial tool that can bring it all together. | |||||
| Outlook on Administration: Campus Leadership Challenges (More Info) |
Harriet Meyers, University Business | Publication | Project Development Process | Internal Stakeholder Engagement | All |
| This article discusses how experts in higher education administration and management predict that 2015 will bring intense and sometimes surprising governance, financial, and legal challenges to the sea of potential worries for university leaders. A few critical issues that will bubble to the surface involve financial health, academic performance, student wellness, and continuity in leadership. | |||||
| Campus Solar Photovoltaic Installations Database (More Info) |
AASHE | Tools & Resources | Project Development Process | Project Feasibility Tools & Resources | Solar |
| AASHE's Campus Solar Photovoltaic Installations database contains information on 585 solar photovoltaic installations on 333 campuses in 46 states and provinces. | |||||
| Higher Education Solar Development: RFPs and Contract Issues (More Info) |
EPA | Presentation | RFPs & Contracts | Contract Best Practices | Solar |
| This presentation by James Critchfield, EPA Green Power Partnership; Jonathan Whelan, Optony, Inc.; Merrill Kramer, Sullivan & Worcester; and Dennis Carlberg, Boston University explores the complexities of issuing Request for Proposals (RFP) and developing contracts, as well as identifying institutional administrative issues and opportunities for solar deployment. | |||||
| Solar Utilization in Higher Education Networking & Information Sharing Group: Contract, RFP, and Administrative Issues Discussion (More Info) |
EPA | Presentation | RFPs & Contracts | Contract Best Practices, Internal Stakeholder Engagement | Solar |
| This presentation by James Critchfield, EPA Green Power Partnership discusses the key contracts, Request for Proposals (RFPs), and administrative issues in higher education. | |||||
| Speaking the CFO's Language: The case for energy efficiency (More Info) |
DOE | Presentation | Project Development Process | Internal Stakeholder Engagement | All |
| Better Buildings Challenge Partners, USAA Real Estate Company; University of California, Irvine; and Kohl's, shared their best practices for communicating the value of building energy efficiency projects and working with financial decision-makers to make those projects happen. | |||||
| Solar Powering Your Community: Key Elements of Solar Requests for Proposals (More Info) |
NREL | Presentation | RFPs & Contracts | Contract Best Practices | Solar |
| This presentation covers the key elements of a solar requests for proposals (RFP). | |||||
| Procuring and Implementing Solar Projects on Public Buildings (More Info) |
DOE | Presentation | RFPs & Contracts | Contract Best Practices | Solar |
| This presentation outlines good practices for PV & SWH RFP processes, describes how to avoid five common PV & SWH pitfalls, and illustrates practices and pitfalls with a case study. | |||||
| Steps to a Successful Solar Request for Proposal (More Info) |
The Solar Foundation | Publication | RFPs & Contracts | Contract Best Practices | Solar |
| This publication summarizes the steps for preparing a successful request for proposal. | |||||
| PV Pricing worksheet (More Info) |
EPA | Tools & Resources | Project Economics & Evaluation, Project Development Process | Project Feasibility Tools & Resources | Solar |
| This PV Pricing worksheet enables transparent and comparable vendor pricing. | |||||
| PV RFP Evaluation Matrix (More Info) |
EPA | Tools & Resources | Project Economics & Evaluation, Project Development Process | Project Feasibility Tools & Resources, Contract Best Practices | Solar |
| Proposal evaluation criteria matric allows easy comparison across proposals. | |||||
| Solar RFP Issuance Checklist for Facilities Managers (More Info) |
EPA | Tools & Resources | RFPs & Contracts, Project Development Process, Project Economics & Evaluation | Contract Best Practices | Solar |
| Solar RFP issuance checklist for facilities managers. | |||||
| Solar Proposal Response Checklist (More Info) |
EPA | Tools & Resources | RFPs & Contracts, Project Development Process, Project Economics & Evaluation | Contract Best Practices | Solar |
| Response checklist for solar proposals. | |||||
| Solar Procurement Templates & Tools for Higher Education (More Info) |
Ben Foster, Senior Vice-President, Optony Inc. | Presentation | Project Development Process, Project Economics & Evaluation | Project Feasibility Tools & Resources | Solar |
| This presentation provides an overview of templates and tools for high education solar procurement, procurement process outline, system specifications, vendor proposal checklist, pricing template, and evaluation criteria. | |||||
| Corporate Energy Sourcing: A New Engine For Renewables (More Info) |
Portfolio Media, Inc. | Publication | Project Financing Options, Purchasing Green Power | Financing Structures, Internal Stakeholder Engagement | All |
| This article summarizes the tools available to corporations that want to procure renewable energy and to developers who want to sell to corporate end users. | |||||
| Guidelines for Renewable Energy Claims: Guidance for Consumers and Electricity Providers (More Info) |
Center for Resource Solutions | Publication | Making Renewable Energy Claims | Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) | All |
| This issue brief provides guidance to consumers and electricity providers about renewable energy claims. | |||||
| Guidance for Renewable Energy Marketing Claims (More Info) |
Vermont Attorney General’s Office | Publication | Making Renewable Energy Claims | Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) | All |
| The Vermont Attorney General’s Office and Department of Public Service issued this guidance to clarify that all marketers of renewable energy projects must comply with the rules that prohibit deceptive marketing statements. | |||||
| The 50 States of Solar (Q1 2016 Policy Review): A Quarterly Look at America’s Fast-Evolving Distributed Solar Policy and Regulatory Conversation (More Info) |
North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center | Publication | Policies & Regulations | Regulated Market Barriers | Solar |
| The purpose of this report is to provide state lawmakers and regulators, electric utilities, the solar industry, and other energy stakeholders with timely updates on how states are choosing to study, adopt, implement, amend, or discontinue policies associated with distributed solar photovoltaics (PV). | |||||
| Solar Power Purchase Agreements (More Info) |
EPA | Website | Project Financing Options, Purchasing Green Power | Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) | Solar |
| Green Power Partnership webpage that covers "What Is a Solar Power Purchase Agreement (SPPA)?" | |||||
| Solar Request for Proposals & Procurement Guidance (More Info) |
DOE | Template | Project Development Process, RFPs & Contracts | Contract Best Practices | Solar |
| Customizable templates to facilitate installing solar on your building. | |||||
| State Policy Opportunity Tracker (SPOT) for Clean Energy (More Info) |
Center for the New Energy Economy | Website | Policies & Regulations | Project Feasibility Tools & Resources | All |
| The State Policy Opportunity Tracker (SPOT) for Clean Energy serves as a hub of information on both existing state clean energy policies and, uniquely, future policy opportunities. | |||||
| CivicPACE for Colleges and Universities (More Info) |
The Solar Foundation | Presentation | Project Financing Options | Financing Structures | Solar |
| Alex Winn, Program Director, The Solar Foundation discusses ways colleges and universities can creatively finance solar through the CivicPACE model and others. | |||||
| Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia: Collaborative Solar Procurement RFP (More Info) |
Optony | Presentation | RFPs & Contracts | Contract Best Practices | Solar |
| This presentation covers the Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia's collaborative solar procurement process. | |||||
| Solar Request for Proposals & Procurement Guidance (More Info) |
U.S. Department of Energy Better Buildings | Template | RFPs & Contracts | Contract Best Practices | Solar |
| This guidance document includes a customizable templates to facilitate installing solar on your building. | |||||
| Solar Photovoltaics Cost Proposal Comparison Tool | U.S. Department of Energy Better Buildings | Template | RFPs & Contracts | Contract Best Practices | Solar |
| This template was prepared with support from partners in the Better Buildings Alliance's Renewables Integration Technology Solutions Team to assist building owners in procuring solar. | |||||
| Seven Steps to Selecting a Solar Provider (More Info) |
U.S. Department of Energy Better Buildings | Fact Sheet | Project Development Process, RFPs & Contracts | Contract Best Practices | Solar |
| This resource highlights best practices to selecting a commercial solar provider. Business owners interested in going solar can take the steps included in this fact sheet to install an on-site solar photovoltaic (PV) system. | |||||