New Opportunities for Solar Energy in MN
Lissa Pawlisch, CERTs
2015 Midwest Farm Energy Conference
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
CERTs:
Minnesotans Building a
Clean Energy Future
Mission: We connect individuals and their communities
to the resources they need to identify and implement
community-based clean energy projects
Partnership
Solar comes in three flavors
1. Electric (PV)
2. Thermal: Air Heat
3. Thermal: Hot Water
Solar in MN Economy
Source: MN DEED. October 2014. MN Clean Energy Economy Profile. http://mn.gov/deed/images/Solar%20Energy.pdf
Solar Prices are Falling
Sources: http://cleantechnica.com/2014/09/04/solar-panel-cost-trends-10-charts/
and http://mn.gov/deed/images/Solar%20Energy.pdf
Installations are Climbing
Source: Stacy Miller, MN Dept of Commerce. Presentation at Gateway to Solar Conference, Nov. 2014.
Popp Family Farm
 Business: Dairy & Crop Farm
 Location: Royalton, MN
 Approach: Renewable Energy
 Technology: 10kW Solar PV,
20kW Small Wind Turbine
 Annual Energy Savings:
26,500 kWh
 Total Project Cost: $102,000
 Cost to Owner: $26,810 after
grants and rebates
 Funding: REAP, Utility
Gibbs Dairy Farm
 Business: Dairy Farm
 Location: Altura, MN
 Approach: Renewable Energy
 Technology: 166 PV panels,
39,840 watt system
 Annual Energy Generation:
30% of farm’s electricity
 Total Project Cost: $184,000
 Cost to Owner: <$40,000 after
Xcel rebate, federal tax credits
 Good candidate for REAP
Reese Family Dairy Farm
 Business: Dairy Farm
 Location: Goodhue County
 Approach: Renewable Energy
 Technology: Four 4x8’ Solar
Skies solar hot water collectors
 Annual Energy Savings:
4,700 kWh
 Total Project Cost: $14,000
 Cost to Owner: $9,000 after a
CERTs Seed Grant
 Good candidate for REAP
Minnesota is sunny enough
Drivers of MN Solar
Federal Investment tax credits –
• 30% through 2016
• Accelerated Depreciation
• Falls to 10% in 2017
2013 Policy
• 1.5 % Solar Energy Standard
• Xcel’s Community Solar Garden
requirement (>600 MW in queue)
• Made in MN Solar Incentives
• Net Metering updates
1.5%
Solar by
2020:
400 MW
Total as
of 2014:
19 MW
But siting still matters
Finding the sunniest places
The Minnesota Solar
Suitability App displays solar
insolation and solar
photovoltaic (PV) potential
with 1 square meter
resolution for the entire
state of Minnesota. It was
created using Lidar data and
GIS technology.
http://maps.umn.edu/solar
Solar doesn’t work for
everyone
Photo from: http://www.greenbeltsolar.com/solar_shading_article.html
Photo from: http://www.forrent.com/apartment-community-profile/1019896.php, Rosedale Estates II
Community Solar Gardens
Centrallylocated solar
PV systems
that provide
electricity to
participating
subscribers
Utility by Utility
Current projects
Current projects – map view
Runestone Electric Association
http://www.runestoneelectric.com/informationsafety_comm_solar.cfm
Kandiyohi Power Cooperative
http://www.kpcoop.com
/communitysolar/
Projects under consideration
Complete the
interest form:
http://agralite.coop
/sites/agralite/files/
PDF/Solar%20form
.pdf
Made in MN Solar Thermal
 Statewide Rebates Available!
 Single family residential
dwellings up to $2,500
 Multiple family residential
dwellings up to $5,000
 Commercial installations
up to $25,000
Solar-Powered Furnaces
Solar Wall
Finding solar companies
theCleanEnergyBuilder.com
Resources for assistance
www.cleanenergyresourceteams.org/greatrenewables
Questions?
Lissa Pawlisch
CERTs Director
University of Minnesota
Regional Sustainable
Development
Partnerships & Extension
pawl0048@umn.edu
612-624-2293
CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org