HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-03-14-SLC-Solar Install Opts
Town of Lexington
Solar Installation Options
March 14, 2012
Agenda
•Solar Industry Update
–Overview
–Solar Incentives
–Solar Energy Performance & Economics
•Town of Lexington Electricity Use & Budget
•Potential Solar Sites
•Cash Flow Models & Financial Analysis
Sustainable Lexington Committee Presentation2
Solar Industry Overview
•Rapid growth
•Lower costs
•Higher efficiency
•Higher reliability
•Longer life
Sustainable Lexington Committee Presentation
Solar Incentives
•RPS Solar Carve Out Program
–Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs)
–10 year production incentive
–Most recent price closed at $530 / MWh
•Commonwealth Solar Rebates
–Not available for systems over 10kW
•30% Federal Tax Credit
•Accelerated & Bonus Depreciation
–6 year MACRS plus 50% bonus depreciation
Sustainable Lexington Committee Presentation4
SREC Overview
•Production-based incentive
–1 certificate for each MWh produced
–First 10 years of operation
•SRECs sold at market price
•DOER operates clearinghouse
auction @ $300 / MWh floor price
•Cap on SREC price set by 10
year ACP rate schedule
•Utilities purchase SRECs from
system owners to avoid payment
of ACP
Sustainable Lexington Committee Presentation
PV Solar Energy Assumptions
•Total system cost dropping rapidly
–$3.50 to $4.00 / watt for 100 kW systems
–$3.00 to $3.75 / watt for MW size systems
•30+ year expected lifespan
–25 year 80% performance warranty
–0.3% actual annual power decline
•Operations & Maintenance costs
–Annual cost of $22 / kW
•Inverter reliability and costs improving
–$0.25 / watt @ 15 years
Sustainable Lexington Committee Presentation
Solar Energy Performance
•Ground mount system (no shade)
–250 kW system size / acre
–1 MW system generates 1,171 MWh / year
–180solar azimuth, 15fixed tilt angle
•Flat roof mounted system (no shade)
–7 kW system size / 1,000 square feet*
–Generates ~8.2 MWh / year
*Usable area
Sustainable Lexington Committee Presentation
Town Electricity Usage
•Municipal Buildings
–2,500,000 kWh per year
–$480,000 budget for 2012
–2.2 MW solar needed to meet demand
•School Buildings
–6,700,000 kWh per year
–$1,280,000 budget for 2012
–5.7 MW solar needed to meet demand
Sustainable Lexington Committee Presentation
Potential Solar Sites
•DPW Hadley Building & Garage
•Hartwell Avenue
•School Buildings
Sustainable Lexington Committee Presentation
Hadley Building – Solar Potential
•Hadley is an outstanding solar site
–Large white roof (56,000 ftusable space)
2
–164& 195azimuth
–390 kW array
–455,000 kWh / yr
•Electricity demand
–403,000 kWh / yr
•Hadley could be our first net positive building!
Sustainable Lexington Committee Presentation
PPA Solar Economics – Hadley
Sustainable Lexington Committee Presentation
Solar Economics – Hadley
Town Financed
Sustainable Lexington Committee Presentation
Hartwell Avenue Site
Excellent Solar Site
12 Solar Acres
NSTAR Substation
3 MW Installation
3.5M kWh / Year
Year 1 Income
$1.75M SRECs
$330K Savings
Positive Cash Flow*
$10,700,000
*20 Years
Sustainable Lexington Committee Presentation
Hartwell Avenue PPA
Sustainable Lexington Committee Presentation
Hartwell Ave Installation
Town Financed
Sustainable Lexington Committee Presentation
3MW Environmental Benefits
Over the next 20 years a 3MW solar energy system will generate 67,017,243 kWh of clean electricity.
This is the equivalent of
Your town’s PV system will
This is the equivalent of
preserving
save a total of eliminating
8,304 acres
4,289,103 lbs. 5,252,333 miles
of eastern mountain forests.
of COemissions each yearof driving each year
2
Sustainable Lexington Committee Presentation
Municipal & School Buildings
2.7 MW Total
47% of school’s
electricity
1 st Year Income
$1.5M SRECs
$292K savings
Positive Cash
Flow*
$8,500,000
*20 Years
Sustainable Lexington Committee Presentation
Municipal Rooftops - PPA
Sustainable Lexington Committee Presentation
Municipal Rooftops – Town Financed
Sustainable Lexington Committee Presentation
Solar Energy Conclusion
•Solar Power potential:
–Can supply 67% of Town’s electricity
–Cash Flow Positive from day 1
–Lock in electricity rates for 20+ years
–Positive cash flow $19 million over 20 years
–First net positive buildings
–Huge environmental benefits
•160 million pounds of COover 20 years
2
•Equivalent to taking 830 cars off the road
Sustainable Lexington Committee Presentation