Clean Power Finance Launches Database of Local Permitting Rules

Matt Ziskin, Renic Gunderson and James Tong of CPF demonstrate the online solar permitting database at SPI in Orlando. Photo: Seth Masia

As ASES launched its Solar Freedom Now campaign, CPF began demonstrating the prototype for a national database of local permitting rules and practices.

According to James Tong, senior director for program management, the National Solar Permitting Database (demo here) will be a wiki-style compilation of rules and procedures reported by installers across the country. The goal is to log an installer-perspective review of permitting in every jurisdiction in the nation, so that local solar businesses can plan projects efficiently, and even affect local rulemaking and inspection practices.

A CPF press release described the project this way:

The National Solar Permitting Database is designed to streamline complex and time-consuming solar permitting processes by aggregating permitting data and standards from Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) around the United States in a single online location. Installers and solar professionals will be able to search the database quickly for complete and accurate information on permitting requirements, saving themselves time and money and allowing them to focus on selling more solar. The database, supported by a $3MM grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s SunShot Initiative, will be available to the entire industry for free.

“Permitting is a widely recognized pain point in the solar sector, but we think this project can change that,” said James Tong, director of government programs management at Clean Power Finance. “Collecting permitting information in a database that is available to all solar integrators without charge will dramatically improve time and cost savings for both solar professionals and AHJs and help lower the overall installed cost of solar.”

The database relies on solar professionals and AHJs submitting permitting information for the areas in which they operate: the more participation, the more comprehensive and useful the database will be. A number of key industry players from a variety of solar industry sectors have already signed up to participate, including Paramount Solar, SunWize Technologies, Next Step Living, B.E. Solar, PvPermits and Real Goods Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ: RSOL). Real Goods contributed data covering 5,500 zip codes.

“We’re very happy to help Clean Power Finance with the National Solar Permitting Database,” commented John Schaeffer, founder and residential president at Real Goods Solar, Inc. “We believe this program will help significantly in sorting out the confusion from numerous jurisdictions around the country, thereby reducing cycle time, design and administration costs. Ultimately, we will be able to set better expectations with customers, which will foster profitable growth in new solar markets.”

A wide variety of AHJs and service providers have also committed to support development of the database. Burnham Energy, a national service provider for solar installers, and AHJs from states as disparate as Wisconsin and California recognize the potential time and financial benefits of the project and are happy to contribute data.

“The current, state of solar permitting represents a challenge for everyone involved in the process, including AHJs, installers and homeowners looking to go solar,” said Carla Din, director of the East Bay Green Corridor, a partnership that is working with nine cities totaling over 950,000 residents in the San Francisco East Bay to standardize permitting and inspection processes for rooftop distributed generation (DG) solar projects. “AHJs faced with limited budgets and time, reduced staff and increasing demand for DG solar will also benefit from a smoother, more informed permitting process. This is an excellent opportunity for AHJs and solar professionals to work together to make information-sharing easier.”

Panasonic Moves Smartly Into Building-Energy Markets

When Panasonic acquired Sanyo in 2010, it was part of a well-planned strategy to diversify away from the hyper-competitive, low-margin consumer electronics business, and into longer-margin business-to-business segments. Sanyo’s premium HIT bifacial PV product, in particular, looked like the smart way to enter the energy business.

Then came the Fukushima disaster, and Panasonic’s timing now looks prescient.  According to Jim Doyle, president of the company’s new EcoSolutions “domain” in the United States and Canada, Panasonic lobbied diligently for the new Japanese feed-in tariff (now valued at about 50 cents per kilowatt-hour). As the FIT launched this summer, Japanese domestic module sales spiked 72 percent for second quarter, over the same quarter in 2011. HIT module deliveries never flagged as Panasonic began consolidating production in three factories to improve efficiency – Oregon for ingots and wafers, Japan for conductor printing, and Mexico for module assembly.

Now the company has begun shipping improved three-tab, anti-reflective 235 and 240-watt modules carrying the Panasonic label, and a 19-percent module-efficiency rating.

The company’s goals are much broader than selling profitably in the module space. “We want to be a valuable partner for other large businesses involved in energy efficiency,” Doyle said. He listed a wide range of products now manufactured by EcoSolutions: LED lamps, light and HVAC controls, home-energy management products and systems, smart metering, insulation, efficient large and small appliances. The demonstration EcoHouse, he points out, is 80-percent Panasonic-made. And the company can finance energy projects using its own internal short-term resources, and subsequent “take-out” (medium- to long-term) financing from Japanese banks.

“We’ll pull all those products into theU.S.when the time is right for them,” Doyle said. Early target markets will be electrical contractors and commercial building construction.

3M Creates Anti-Dirt Coating for PV, CSP

3M has introduced a water-based coating for glass-fronted PV modules and glass concentrating mirrors, said to shed dust and dirt to improve annual power production about 5 percent.

According to lab manager Doug Huntley, the hydrophilic film is applied in the field using a roller (like a paint roller). After 30 seconds, it can be squeegeed. Material cost for a standard 2-square-meter PV module will be about $1.

A year of testing in theArizonadesert demonstrates the efficiency of the nano-coating on a utility-scale array angled for optimal insolation, where dust can fall off. “It’s less efficient on horizontal modules,” Huntley said.

The remaining question: Will it shed snow?  We’ll find out.

Press Release:

ST. PAUL, Minn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–3M’s Renewable Energy Division has teamed with Gossamer Space Frames to unveil a new parabolic trough solar collector technology designed to significantly reduce equipment and installation costs for CSP systems used in power generation. The Large Aperture Trough 73 (LAT 73) features a concentration factor of over 100x and an aperture size of 7.3 m, both world benchmarks for the industry.

Photo Credit: Goassamer

The system combines the durability, design flexibility, and high reflectivity of 3M™ Solar Mirror Film 1100 with the mechanical design innovations of Gossamer Space Frames; the result is a CSP solar collector system that reduces the installed cost of a parabolic trough solar field by over 25 percent. The demonstration system is fully operational and is installed at the Sunray Energy facility in Daggett, California. Sunray is owned and operated by Cogentrix Energy, LLC (Cogentrix) and is the longest operating CSP facility in the United States. An event and ribbon cutting ceremony hosted by Cogentrix, 3M and Gossamer is planned for May 2, 2012, at the Sunray facility to introduce the demonstration system.

“The LAT technology is an exciting development for the CSP industry, as it demonstrates the possibilities in solar concentrating technology,” said Dr. Dan Chen, business development manager, 3M Renewable Energy Division.

“By combining 3M innovations in materials and Gossamer Space Frames innovations in structure and alignment, we are leading the industry on a new cost-reduction trend,” said Glenn Reynolds, President and Co-founder of Gossamer Space Frames. “Many in the industry thought the re-birth of CSP was not possible, but we are delighted to prove them wrong. Not only does this design revitalize CSP, but the entire system comprises U.S.-manufactured components that, in turn, helps to create U.S. jobs. We are thrilled to continue leading the way in CSP.”

3M Renewable Energy Division and Gossamer Space Frames, located in Huntington Beach, Calif., worked together closely on the LAT 73. The system’s technical and economic viability is enabled by 3M Solar Mirror Film 1100 reflector panels, which are 50 percent lighter than glass, and offer 94.5 percent reflectivity (solar weighted total hemispherical reflectance). The combination of the film’s superior optical performance and light weight enables the high accuracy, large aperture collector design. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has verified performance of the system, measuring an optical accuracy of more than 99 percent.

“We are pleased to be the first site for this state-of-the art technology,” said Sid Frymyer, General Manager of Sunray Energy. “Innovative developments like this help demonstrate the on-going advancements that lower the cost of solar energy within the U.S. power supply mix.”

The new system began operating in October 2011 and provides a peak of approximately 275 kw of electricity to the output of the Sunray facility, all of which is provided under contract to Southern California Edison.

3M and Gossamer Space Frames have received significant interest in the LAT 73 system from the global CSP industry. A second LAT 73 project is underway in the Southern U.S., with the project commissioning scheduled for June 2012.

For more details and downloadable information, visit: www.3m.com/presskits

About 3M
3M captures the spark of new ideas and transforms them into thousands of ingenious products. Our culture of creative collaboration inspires a never-ending stream of powerful technologies that make life better. 3M is the innovation company that never stops inventing. With $30 billion in sales, 3M employs about 80,000 people worldwide and has operations in more than 65 countries. For a record-setting eighth consecutive year, 3M received the 2012 ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy for its comprehensive worldwide energy conservation efforts. For more information, visit www.3M.com or follow @3MNews on Twitter.

3M is a trademark of 3M Company.

About Cogentrix
Cogentrix is a leading developer, owner and operator of independent power in North America. Cogentrix was founded in 1983 and has continually been at the forefront of the development and evolution of the independent power market. Cogentrix has been directly responsible for the development, engineering, construction and operation of fossil and renewable power facilities with a combined generating capability in excess of 5,000 MWs.

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