Alternative Energy Sources for San Diego

By Rick Smith

With our current energy crises, now may be the time to promote more use of solar power.

I can think of a few ways to implement a solar program in San Diego County. A similar program that was in place in the late 70's required developers to include solar heating and or cooling on all new construction. Consider a program to require new construction to integrate solar electric generation in new construction that would support the new construction and feed back into the power grid. Another approach that I favor would be a program designed to promote the purchase and installation of (primarily residential) grid-connected rooftop PV systems. Programs that are similar to ones in Sacramento and Germany described below.

Advantages of Photovoltaic Power

Photovoltaic solar power is one of the most promising renewable energy sources in the world. Compared to nonrenewable sources such as coal, gas, oil, and nuclear, the advantages are clear: it's totally non-polluting, has no moving parts to break down, and does not require much maintenance.

A very important characteristic of photovoltaic power generation is that it does not require a large scale installation to operate, as different from conventional power generation stations. Power generators can be installed in a DISTRIBUTED fashion, on each house or business or school, using area that is already developed, and allowing individual users to generate their own power, quietly and safely. Rooftop power can be added as more homes or businesses are added to a community, thereby allowing power generation to keep in step with growing needs without having to overbuild generation capacity as is often the case with conventional large scale power systems

But even when photovoltaic power is compared to other renewable energy sources such as wind power, water power, and even solar thermal power, there are some obvious advantages. First, wind and water power rely on turbines to turn generators to produce electricity. Turbines and generators have moving parts that can break down, that require maintenance, and are noisy. Even solar thermal energy needs a turbine or other mechanical device to change the heat energy of the sun into mechanical energy for a generator to produce electric power.

Photovoltaic power, by contrast, is generated directly from the sun. PV systems have no moving parts, require virtually no maintenance, and have cells that last for decades.

PV Pioneers of Sacramento

Siemens Solar was awarded a contract to supply on a turn-key basis (100) 4 kW residential rooftop systems. These systems are owned and operated by SMUD, but are sited on the homes of "solar pioneers", SMUD ratepayers who have volunteered to host these systems, and to pay a 15% surcharge for the electricity generated by them.

1,000 Roofs Program

The German "1,000 Roofs" program is designed to promote the purchase and installation of 2,250 (primarily residential) grid-connected rooftop PV systems having a capacity range between 1 and 5 kWpeak through the use of incentive in the form of a 70% direct subsidy (50% federal, 20% state). To date, over 1,100 systems have been installed. Siemens Solar has played a major role in this program, supplying over half of all PV modules installed to date as well as supplying inverters. Structurally, this system most resembles a DSM program in the sense that individual end-users are incentivized to purchase and install hardware through a subsidy mechanism.

This program is being very well documented, and copious amounts of data gathered. In spite of the fact that slight differences exist between German and U.S. operational and structural utility characteristics, the lessons learned from this program will be invaluable to future U.S. grid-connected PV rooftop projects.

Guidelines from the German Federal Ministry for Economics and Technology on the 1000 rooftops solar energy program

1.Low-interest loans will be offered for setting up and expanding photovoltaics plants from an installed peak power of around 1kWp.
2.Those authorized to apply are private citizens. Small and medium-sized commercial enterprises and the self-employed can apply provided they have the approval of the EC Commission to do so.
3.The loan will be granted under the following conditions Interest rate: Currently 0% p.a Period of loan: up to 10 years, of which the first 2 years have no repayments. Residual debt waiver: after 9 years have expired, final 10th year payment waived, provided the plant is still being operated and the questionnaire sent out on loan approval has been returned.
4.Applications should be submitted, on the forms provided to local credit institutes (local bank). The loan will be made by the Bank for Reconstruction and Development (BRD). The project to be financed may not be started until the application has been submitted.
5.The local bank has the discretion of whether, instead of granting a loan, to pay the subsidy value as a fixed amount and to handle the loan processing internally.
6.Aggregation with other promotions is possible, provided the total promotion does not exceed the cost of the measures.
7.Use will be verified after conclusion of the investment through a certificate of use (form).

A program can be funded with a combination of Federal, State, county and SDG&E monies. Funds from SDG&E community re-investment funds. County from current surplus. State from re-authorization of the current solar rebate program.