Not everyone can install solar panels on his or her own roof. Many people live in apartments or have roofs that are shaded by trees or other buildings. Shared solar systems, also referred to as community solar or “solar gardens,” have the potential to allow everyone to own their own solar panels. An investor or cooperative member in a shared system receives a credit on his or her electric bill through Virtual Net Metering or a specialized shared solar tariff. Solar gardens have become increasingly popular in the United States, the European Union, and Australia. Shared solar offers the potential to power millions of people in urban areas worldwide, and for rural electrification in developing countries. This is an important tool to conserve fossil fuels and reduce air pollution.

1. Powering Planet Earth:
Community and Shared Solar
Worldwide
Joy Hughes, Solar Gardens Institute
joy@solargardens.org
Joy Hughes - Powering Planet Earth: Community and Shared Solar Worldwide - LCES 2014

2. Solar for All?
Almost everyone wants to own solar, but …
Shaded Roofs Apartments
(credit: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas)
Affordability Grid Congestion
Joy Hughes - Powering Planet Earth: Community and Shared Solar Worldwide - LCES 2014
Credit: Larry Moore CEphoto, Uwe Aranas
via Wikipedia

3. Terminology
Shared Solar -or- Solar Garden
Joy Hughes - Powering Planet Earth: Community and Shared Solar Worldwide - LCES 2014
A single solar array with power credited
to multiple users.
Virtual Net Metering
Electricity credited directly to a utility
customer’s bill.
Community Solar
A broader term, including shared solar,
crowdfunded solar, and rooftop bulk
purchase.
Ellensburg Solar Community, Washington
Arizona Community Solar Plant

4. Ownership
Utility Owned
Joy Hughes - Powering Planet Earth: Community and Shared Solar Worldwide - LCES 2014
Utility owns and manages shared solar
array.
Example: Sacramento Municipal, California
Third Party
Utility contracts with a private company to
own and manage the array.
Example: SunShare, Colorado Springs
Cooperative
Array owned directly by community
members.
Example: Westmill co-op, UK
SMUD Solar Shares, California
Westmill Cooperative Solar Farm, UK

5. Shared Solar
Cash and Energy Flow
Joy Hughes - Powering Planet Earth: Community and Shared Solar Worldwide - LCES 2014

6. Finance
Crowd Funding
Joy Hughes - Powering Planet Earth: Community and Shared Solar Worldwide - LCES 2014
Project raises donations from many
people, typically for a nonprofit or
house of worship. Example: Re-volv
Solar Shares or Bonds
Issue a security based on the output of
one or more solar projects. Example:
Solar Mosaic
Solar Savings Account
A certificate of deposit that is invested in
solar projects and earns a rate of return
based on their production.
Kehila Synagogue, California

7. Advantages
Economy of Scale
Joy Hughes - Powering Planet Earth: Community and Shared Solar Worldwide - LCES 2014
Lower cost per watt than rooftop solar
Portability and Transferability
Customers may move and use the same
subscription. Subscription may be sold,
donated, or inherited.
Grid Support
Arrays may be located to best relieve grid
congestion, e.g. near substations.
Example: New York City solar
empowerment zones
City University of New York
Solar Empowerment Zones

8. United States
Joy Hughes - Powering Planet Earth: Community and Shared Solar Worldwide - LCES 2014
Over 50 Megawatts
Community and shared
solar in these 10 states,
and many municipal and
rural utilities.
Solar Gardens Laws
Now effective in 10 U.S.
States. Requires investor-
owned utilities to
implement shared solar.

9. Canada
Joy Hughes - Powering Planet Earth: Community and Shared Solar Worldwide - LCES 2014
Over $3 million invested
Cooperative issues
SolarShare bonds for
small investors.
Toronto Renewable
Energy Cooperative
23 solar projects using the
Ontario feed-in tariff (FIT).
TREC Energy Cooperative, Ontario

10. United Kingdom
Joy Hughes - Powering Planet Earth: Community and Shared Solar Worldwide - LCES 2014
£25 million
government funding
For rural and urban
community renewables in
2014
Large Cooperatives
Shared projects up to
5 Megawatts in many
locations, supported by
Feed-In Tariff
Westmill Cooperative Solar Farm
Brixton Energy Solar

11. Australia
Joy Hughes - Powering Planet Earth: Community and Shared Solar Worldwide - LCES 2014
Strong Community
Support
Community Solar idea has
captured the imagination
of many communities.
High Solar Irradiance
Shared projects installed or
under construction
throughout the country.
Farming the Sun Community Solar
Tathra Community Solar

12. Germany
Joy Hughes - Powering Planet Earth: Community and Shared Solar Worldwide - LCES 2014
World Leader in
Community Solar
800+ Energy
Cooperatives
Over 200,000
member / investors
Supported by strong
feed-in tariff
Horb Ecumenical Energy Cooperative, Stuttgart

13. Developing World -
Rural Electrification
Joy Hughes - Powering Planet Earth: Community and Shared Solar Worldwide - LCES 2014
Sub-Saharan Africa
India and Bangladesh
Grameen Shakti - over 1000
shared “micro-utility”
projects using micro-finance
Only 31% of the population
has access to electricity -
Alliance for Rural
Electrification
Sangar Island, India
Alliance for Rural Electrification

14. Opportunities for China
Joy Hughes - Powering Planet Earth: Community and Shared Solar Worldwide - LCES 2014
World Leader in PV Installation
Growing Urban Population
Significant fraction of people in
apartment blocks
Strong manufacturing base, potential
for rapid implementation
High Savings Rate
Interest in secure and productive
investments
China PV - Wikipedia

15. Thank You! 谢谢
Joy Hughes - Powering Planet Earth: Community and Shared Solar Worldwide - LCES 2014

16. Contact
Joy Hughes - Powering Planet Earth: Community and Shared Solar Worldwide - LCES 2014
solargardens.org
(blog, email list, training)
Joy Hughes
joy@solargardens.org