Duke Rebates Are Active and Asheville’s Solar Installers Are Competing
A study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory explains that on average, large solar installation companies quote their projects $.37/W higher then smaller solar installers. According to the study, smaller solar installation companies are more likely to compete with each other’s quotes to remain relevant in the industry, thus keeping each other’s prices in check.
The Solar Energy Industries Association has North Carolina ranked at number 2 with 3,784.80 MW of installed solar. Already a leader on the utility scale, NC is projected to become a leader in residential solar due to a 2017 law that allows for residential solar leasing. With over 6,836 completed solar installations, projections for 2018 are high and local solar installers are gearing up (SEAI 2017).
The competition is fierce and January 2018 marks the beginning of a new era in solar financing. The state of North Carolina has enacted a new law (House Bill 589) that requires all public energy providers, including Duke Energy, to offer solar rebates starting January 1, 2018. While the rebate stipulations have not been released, NC solar customers will be able to apply for rebates from both the federal government as well as Duke Energy. Combined, these rebates are meant to save home and business owners thousands on their solar installations. North Carolina owned solar installers have responded and are gearing up for an influx of solar installations.
Asheville has various local solar installers and these companies, including SolFarm Solar are competing for the lead in the solar market. We are urging customers to do their research, shop around and talk with various local solar installers to find the right match. As previously stated, larger companies can get away with quoting higher prices because they are able to provide the illusion of stability or trust due to their size. It’s important for customers to be matched with a solar installer who can provide exactly what they need for their energy goals and budget.
Links:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory. (2018, April). Using Residential Solar PV Quote Data to Analyze the Relationship between installer pricing and Firm Size. Retrieved from https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy17osti/68010.pdf
Solar Energy Industries Association. (2017). North Carolina Solar Retrieved from https://www.seia.org/state-solar-policy/north-carolina-solar
Yes Solar Solutions. (2018) Federal Tax Credit and North Carolina Solar Rebate Retrieved from https://www.yessolarsolutions.com/solar-panels-for-your-home-nc-sc/solar-tax-credits-nc-sc/
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Solar Creating Universal Energy Access
Solar helps areas all over the world acquire energy for the first time. Microgrids could enable the 1.2 billion people without access to a grid to produce electricity. They will help achieve the universal energy access goal of providing 195 million more people with energy by 2030.
What It Looks Like Now
Most of the off-grid areas are in Africa and East Asia. There is a push to provide universal energy through an expansion of transmission and a variety of production methods. Many communities in sub-Saharan Africa cannot be connected to the gird, so renewables are the answer. With political goals and market growth aligning, off-grid energy is more feasible than ever.
More than 30 percent of off-grid Kenyans use solar. Some financing programs hope to help solar reach 70 percent of Uganda’s rural population. Asia is quickly following suit. In many instances, these solar systems just provide light and phone charging capabilities, but production is expanding to include fans and TVs.
For some countries, solar is even improving a tourism market. Ecotourists look for the pristine wilderness in the countries utilizing off-grid solar. Safari lodges use more energy than the communities using off-grid solar because the clientele using them are usually from areas with stable energy sources and expect phone charging capabilities, lights, and even refrigerators, washing machines, and air conditioning or heat.
What It Could Mean
Eventually, with solar, communities will have access to services only available with energy like internet and quality of life will improve. The situation improves environmentally as well. Off-grid communities do produce some pollution. It is not anywhere near the scale of developed countries like America or Europe or developing countries like China. However, off-grid communities do burn wood, releasing carbon dioxide. Some wealthier communities even use diesel generators. If these methods of light and heat generation could be replaced with solar, that would be 1.2 billion people’s energy being produced by solar instead of diesel or wood.
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Solar Arrays Give Homeowners a Boost in the Housing Market
Solar arrays are an investment. Those who choose to invest make their money back. Those lucky enough to live in areas with high solar rebates and incentives will make back that money quicker and maybe even 
come out with a profit.
The value of solar panels go beyond rebates and tax cuts though. Homeowners who installed solar panels sold their homes for an extra $15,000 dollars because of photovoltaics on their roof. Berkeley Lab ran the study about the sale of homes with photovoltaics because realtors will have to able to price solar arrays accurately as the become more common.
Not only do houses with solar panels sell for more, but they sell faster. Low energy bills and positive environmental impact are a big plus for many potential buyers.
But Keep in Mind…
Different aspects may affect the amount of money solar panels add to the home. The age of the system and the roof can lower the benefit. The surrounding area may make a positive or negative impact. If the homes around are middle-class or lower, many of those buyers will not want to shell out extra for solar. The appearance of the home may also limit the amount of money the panels are worth to a potential buyer. If panels are on the front of the house, it may be considered ugly (though we certainly do not think so!).
The extra $15,000 applies to owned solar arrays. Homeowners should keep leases, loans, and warranties in mind while trying to sell. Leases can be transferred, but the buyer must agree to take on those payments. Loans have to be paid, and warranties may or may not be transferable to a second homeowner.
Other than reducing carbon footprints and helping society make steps to a cleaner world, solar panels can give homeowners a little kickback for their investment even when they need to leave it behind for opportunities else where.
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Words to Know in the Solar Industry
The jargon of the solar and energy industries can be confusing. Knowing common words in articles will make researching solar easier.
Duck Curve
This term applies to municipal operations more than individual arrays.
The generation of solar peaks around midday while energy demand peaks in the evening. When plotted on a line graph this data looks like the side of a duck, the dip in the middle being the back and the head being the peak around evening. This curve characterizes a challenge solar and renewables face.
Solutions include storage, production diversification, and conservation incentives.
Grid
Power plants, transmission systems, and houses or corporations receiving energy create the basic power grid. With personal energy production like solar panels, individuals can now put the energy they produced on the grid. In North Carolina, Duke Energy buys that energy through an equivalent deduction in power bills.
Meter
Power companies keep track of customers’ energy use through meters.
Net Metering
When individuals have a power production source, the energy they produce but don’t use goes on the grid, decreasing the energy amount on the meter as it is sent into transmission lines. Net metering works like net gain. The energy the customer pays for takes into account the energy they put on the grid.
Solar Array
A solar array refers to the panels and how they are set up at a site.
Solar-plus-storage
A large challenge for renewables has been the necessity of using it as it is produced. Because of this, a household may not use all of the energy produced by solar panels in the daytime when people are working but will need it in the evening when energy production is reduced or stops altogether.
This issue was solved by the invention of a storage battery. It stores energy to be used later on.
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Prepare for Autumn Creating a Fall in Solar
Crisp evenings, pumpkin spice lattes, sweaters, boots, and scenic vistas. Fall brings many eagerly awaited perks. However, due to Earth’s rotation, America, and the rest of the Northern Hemisphere, is tilting away from the sun during autumn. In fact, the autumnal equinox is marked by the North Pole being as far from the sun as it will be all year.
Because of this, light waves in the fall are more indirect. Indirect light and greater distance from the sun spurs drops in temperature and less solar energy production. This compounded by shortened daylight hours also caused by Earth’s tilt. Because of this, solar panel owners will see a drop in production during fall, but there are things one can do to better utilize September sun.
Change Tilt of Solar Panels
As the angle of sunlight changes, the angle of solar panels need to change for optimum production. While summer and winter shifts are customary, an autumnal shift could be helpful as well. Be sure to discuss how panels should be tilted in the winter versus the summer with a professional.
Mid-autumn Cleaning
Solar panels can operate with a little grime, so there is no need to clean them often, but a cleaning during autumn could help boost production a little. Unless the array is really dirty, a garden hose should do the job. Otherwise, a spray bottle of warm soapy water and a soft cloth will do. Just clean the surface, not the wiring underneath.
Be sure not to clean at noon on a sunny day. Solar panels get hot, so the morning or evening is better for cleaning. For roof arrays, owners may want to consider professional solar panel cleaning companies. Regardless, always consult with the solar panel manufacturer. They may have advice.
Conservation
There is no way to get summer-time production during the fall, but what cannot be generated may be conserved. Take advantage of balmy temperatures by opting for a blanket instead of turning on the heat or opening windows instead of turning on the air conditioning. In general, be aware of lights on in rooms not being used and vampire technology that uses energy even when it is turned off like a TV or computer.
Enjoy colorful hikes and scarves guilt-free. Solar panels will generate energy as long as the sun shines, and a few steps can optimize that production.
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Total Solar Eclipse in WNC
The coming and going of the summer solstice brought with it much excitement on our end for all things sun related. Of course, we’re always excited for all things sun related, but these few weeks have much in store for us as we prepare for the solar eclipse. We believe the solar eclipse will firmly knock people’s socks off, and we don’t want anyone to miss it!
By all accounts, WNC is well positioned to experience this most anticipated astronomical events in recent memory, and people are getting very excited for it. On August 21, 2017 a total solar eclipse will make it’s way across the continental United States, starting in Lincoln Beach, Oregon and ending in our neighboring state in Charleston, South Carolina.
Nicknamed “The Great American Eclipse”, this is an event that is sure to inspire awe and wonder in all who manage to catch it.
Lucky viewers within the 70 mile wide path of totality will be able to witness a total solar eclipse, while those that fall outside of that ribbon will only have access to a partial eclipse. Although the total solar eclipse is the more coveted event of the two, either sight is bound to be stunning!
While the total solar eclipse will not be seen in Asheville proper, the surrounding lower regions of WNC will be prime viewing territory for this awe-inspiring event. Check out the image below to see the projected path of the eclipse. The closer your position to the yellow, middle line, the longer you will be able to view the full totality.
The total eclipse is set to enter North Carolina at 2:33:29 pm in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The surrounding counties of Graham, Macon, Swain, Jackson, and Transylvania will also be in the path of totality, with a host of events planned in each of these locations to celebrate.
All told, the total eclipse will be viewable in North Carolina for roughly 16 minutes.
So what exactly is a total solar eclipse? Why is it special?
Image Credit: Rick Fienberg, TravelQuest International and Wilderness Travel
A total solar eclipse is a rare event in which the Earth, moon, and sun line up so that the moon completely obscures the sun, leaving only the corona, the sun’s atmosphere, visible from behind the blockade of the moon. This is possible because, despite the fact that the sun is roughly 400 times larger in diameter than the moon, the moon is also 400 times closer to the Earth- thus making their size appear relatively the same.
The video below demonstrates how the rotation and angle of each celestial object changes the direction of the shadow and creates the resulting partial and total eclipses.
This phenomenon is particularly exciting as it is the first time in almost 100 years a total solar eclipse spanned the length of the United States! On June 8, 1918, a total solar eclipse crossed the United States from Washington to Florida- a path very similar to our upcoming show.
Lucky for everyone today, the next predicted total solar eclipse to cross the US is set to happen a short 28 years from now, on August 12, 2045!
How can I see it?
Good question, and a very important one! A common misconception is that it is safe to look up at the sun during a solar eclipse. This is not the case even slightly. Permanent eye damage and/or blindness can result from staring at the sun. The only time that it is safe to look up at a solar eclipse without eye protection is during the few minutes of totality, when the sun is completely blocked by the moon.
Otherwise you must be wearing protective eye equipment (and no, sunglasses do not count) or using an alternate method. A variety of “special-purpose solar filters” are available for purchase online, mostly in the form of eyeglasses (think 3D movie glasses) and run fairly cheap. Or, if you’re crafty and want to give it go, you can always make a pinhole projector!
Are there any events happening?
You bet! WNC will be teeming with solar themed festivals, outings, and educational events.
Some of the highlights include:
- An Eclipse festival in Cashiers, NC
- A moonlight run in Cullowhee, NC
- Special dark (dark!) stout released by Sneak E Squirrel Brewery
- Solar Eclipse Pale Ale to be released by Catawba Brewing Co.
- Viewing of the solar eclipse from the top of Clingman’s Dome in Great Smoky Mountains National Park (note: you will need to get tickets for this!)
- Total solar eclipse viewing at the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI). Tickets can be bought here.
Check out the full listing of Jackson County events here, and be sure to check out happenings in Asheville as well!
Quick note and word of caution, this event is expected to bring thousands of tourists/travelers/eclipse chasers to the WNC region. Rough estimates project anywhere between 18,000 and 63,800 people will be traveling to North Carolina just to see the eclipse. Heavy traffic is expected to gridlock streets the closer to the event it gets, so make a plan before August 21st and leave as early as possibly to avoid the traffic!
We sincerely hope that everyone has a chance to view this incredible event, as it is something that many people have described as “beyond wonder”. The Great American Eclipse website has an especially poetic passage about the Splendor of Totality:
You cannot completely prepare yourself for the sight of a total solar eclipse. When totality arrives, you will experience primal emotions and wonderment at the unspeakable beauty of the corona and the panoply of colors and light as you’ve never seen before. You will involuntarily scream, gasp, or perhaps cry at this astounding vision.
When you look at the eclipse, you will perceive the blackest black imaginable surrounded by the Sun’s ever-changing atmosphere, the corona. The quality of light is stupendous with an amazing light show of iridescence, scintillation, and delicate colors.
Another realization that may hit you during totality is that you are watching the solar system in motion. In real-time, you can perceive the relative motions of the Moon around Earth and the Earth around the Sun.
Even for those who have seen it before, a total solar eclipse is an intensely emotional experience. You will feel ecstasy, wonder, and regret when it is over. You will immediately discuss plans to see the next one.
We hope that this event elicits all of these emotions and more, and leaves viewers with a resounding appreciation for the presence of the sun. While the actual solar eclipse is not that great for solar panels (no light = no energy) it is an event that brings people together to discover and discuss the wonders of our solar system; any event that furthers the education and appreciation of our most awesome source of energy is an event that we can all get behind!
Also, if you would like some excellent resources on the upcoming eclipse be sure to check out these two websites:
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