The document provides information about a solar 101 webinar hosted by CEFIA and SmartPower. It discusses the goals of explaining residential solar PV technology and the RFP process to communities. It covers the components of the Solarize CT program, including the Classic, Prime and Online models. It also summarizes the solar PV technology, incentives available through CEFIA, and financing options like the Smart-E loan and CT solar lease. The webinar aims to give communities a firm understanding of residential solar and next steps in the installer selection process.

1. Solar 101 Webinar
October 14, 2014

2. Who we are
• CEFIA - quasi-public authority leveraging public and private
funds to scale up clean energy deployment in CT
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– Administers Solarize CT program
– Provides incentives and financing products for residential solar PV
– Offers comprehensive program support
• SmartPower - nation’s leading non-profit marketing firm
promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy
– Organizes and supports local outreach campaigns
– Develops and maintains Solarize CT website and marketing tools
– Gathers weekly data and conducts surveys of participants

3. What is our goal today?
• Give your community a firm understanding of residential
solar PV and the RFP process, including:
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– Technology
– Incentives and Rebates
– Financing
• Explain the “next steps” in the installer selection process
(if applicable)
• Answer any questions so that you are comfortable with
this process and technology

4. Solarize Connecticut
• Based on proven model (OR and MA)
• Launched in CT in 2012 with 4 pilot communities
• Expanded to nearly 60 communities
• Provided hundreds of homes with clean reliable power
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5. Solarize Components
Solar. Simple. Together.
Classic
•18-week residential solar PV outreach campaign
•Single installer chosen through competitive process
•Discounted “tiered” pricing that decreases as volume of local sales increases
•Standard equipment package (alternative options available)
Prime
•18-week residential solar PV outreach campaign
•Single installer / Single price (chosen through competitive process)
•Standard equipment package (alternative options available)
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6. Solarize Components (cont’d)
Solar. Simple. Together.
Online
•18-week residential solar PV outreach campaign
•Homeowners directed to website (EnergySage) for installer selection
•Multiple installers available
•Customer reviews quote(s) online and can request on-site visit from installer(s)
•EnergySage solar advisors available to assist homeowner
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7. Solar PV Technology,
Incentives and RFP
Responses

8. Solar Photovoltaic (PV)
• Use sunlight to make electric power
• Typical system components:
– Solar panels
– Racks, wiring,
– Inverter (DC to AC power)
• Grid tied system(s):
DO NOT Provide back up power
• System Considerations:
– Shading, orientation
– Annual electric load
– Size to meet <100% of load
– Listed on CEC website

9. Siting Solar Systems
• A good site for solar:
– Sunlight: Full sun from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
– Minimal shading: even deciduous trees can block 40%-60%
of sunlight
– Azimuth: Facing due south, ± 30°
– Tilt:
• For PV – Latitude, adjusted for climate (in CT, 35°)
• For solar hot water - 0.9 x Latitude + 30° (for seasonal balance
– in CT, 68°)

10. How does PV work?
 Photons (sunlight) provide energy to “free” electrons
 “Free” electrons migrate to n-type Si layer
 Thin electrodes collect current
 Cells are grouped into panels to produce
useful voltages and currents
 Panels are grouped in “arrays” for
practical applications:

11. Typical Solar Installation
Solar Photovoltaic 16 kw
Panels
Crystalline PV Panels
Meter and Disconnects
Shading Analysis

12. Types of PV Panels
Crystalline PV Panels
Frameless PV Panel
Thin Solar Shingles

13. Types of Inverters
Microinverter: Central Inverter:

14. Inverters
Microinverter
• Located behind panel:
– One inverter per panel.
– Reduces shading concerns
(snow, trees, chimneys).
– Typically increase cost
(adder) but look at proposals
carefully.
– Typically 25 year warranty.
Central Inverter
•Most common (standard) type of
inverter.
•Lower upfront cost.
•Can be at a disadvantage in
shady locations.
•10-15 year warranties (typical)
New: DC Optimizer
(Solaredge)

15. Background - PV
Home –Roof-mount,
slanted
Flat Roof – rack-mounted
Ground - mounted
Pole-mounted (tacking system, seasonal adj.)

16. Back up Power Options
• Grid tied systems do not provide back up power. An external
(but can be integrated) system must be installed.
• Back up power options included: Battery back up, fossil fueled
generator, some inverters (centralized - SMA).
• Battery back up can be very expensive and can add $6,000 to
tens of thousands depending on amount of power desired.
Maintenance required.
• SMA Inverter will provide up to ~1,500 watts power in sunny
conditions. GFI outlet installed at inverter.

17. Incentives
• CEFIA incentives:
– Purchase (HOPBI – Homeowner Performance Based Incentive)
• 0-10 kW @ $.80/w
• > 10-20 kW @ $0.40/w
• Assumes 80% efficiency, based on utility usage. Current avg. ~90%
– Lease (PBI)
• 0-10 kW @ $0.125/kWh produced, paid quarterly for 6 year period
• > 10-20 kW @ $0.060/kWh produced, paid quarterly for 6 year period
• Federal tax credit of 30% (paid to system owner – purchase only)
• Installer incentives – certain installers may provide incentives for
early adopters or referrals
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18. How does Solarize Classic pricing Work?
• Installers bid at 3 Tiers or levels of installed capacity (i.e.,
cumulative kW sold in community):
– Tier 1 – < 150 kW
– Tier 2 – 150 – 250 kW (21.5 – “average” 7 kW systems)
– Tier 3 – > 250 kW (35.7 – “average” 7 kW systems)
• Price decreases for everyone based on final tier
achieved, regardless when contract is signed
• Installer may issue rebate or deduct from final payment
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19. How does Solarize Prime / Online pricing work?
Prime
•Installers bid at (1) price regardless of installed capacity
•Reminder - Standard equipment package (alternative options
available)
Online
•Resident signs up on website and gets estimate for savings from solar
•Installers bid on each home individually
•Homeowner reviews bids online and decide if they would like to have
onsite visit
•Reminder – Indiv. submitted equip. package (alt. options available)
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20. How does Solarize pricing Work?
• Prices expressed as $/w (1,000 w = 1 kW)
• Purchase price is price of system based on “Tier”
(Classic only)
• Lease price is price per kWh generated
• An “Adder” is an extra cost based on:
– non-typical site conditions (steep or flat roof, small system size,
ground-mounted system) or
– premium components (high efficiency panels, microinverters,
U.S. made)
• Adders typically expressed as $/w but may be flat rate
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21. Introduction
to Financing Products

22. Financing Options
▪ Installers may offer a variety of different options including:
▪ CEFIA Products:
▪ Smart-E Loan (63 solar PV installers approved);
▪ CT Solar Lease (19 solar PV installers approved);
▪ Independent Products:
▪ Private Lease (offered by individual installers or 3rd party);
▪ PPA (purchase power agreement);
▪ Other loan products (example: Admiral’s Bank, home equity loans)

23. Smart-E Loans
▪ Residential loan product for CT homeowners
▪ Low-interest financing with flexible terms
▪ 5 to 12 year terms, 4.49% to 6.99% rate
▪ Unsecured loan
▪ Easy application through local lenders
▪ 40+ energy improvements
▪ $25k* maximum
▪ 20% toward “other” related energy measures

24. Participating Lenders

25. CT Solar Lease
▪ 20-year lease for CT homeowners
– Credit scores ≥ 640 and DTI ≤ 45%
– Escalating payments (2.99% per year) or
fixed lease available for higher monthly price
▪ No money down*
* If Total System Cost <= $4.50 per Watt
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26. CT Solar Lease
▪ Additional benefit to homeowners
– Bundled insurance and warranty
management from Assurant
• One-call resolution for all issues
• Property and casualty coverage
• Multi-Year Warranty Management Program
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27. NEXT STEPS

28. Next Steps
• Meeting with town’s core organizers (may or
may not include you);
• Installer review meeting October 20th, 21st,
or 22nd (SmartPower will coordinate
scheduling with you);
• Interviews with installers on Tuesday,
October 28 (anticipate as much as a full day
commitment, depending on number of bids
for your community).
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29. Next Steps
• What are your priorities (for Classic and Prime)?
• It will be helpful if your group outlines priorities that will help you in
reviewing proposals and in describing your preferences. In the past
communities have had priorities such as:
– Preferences for installers using American made equipment
– Preference for an installer who is based locally
– Installer who has worked in the community previously
• Every town is different!
• What is important to you?
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30. Selection (Classic & Prime)
• Your community will be asked to identify installers with
whom you would like to work and to provide a written
rationale for each selection
• CEFIA will identify partnerships that best meet the needs
of the greatest number of communities based on your
feedback.
• CEFIA will consider a number of factors including the
number of bidding installers, installer capacity, and
geographic considerations in making final decisions, and
will weigh the priorities and rationale you outline.
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31. Once Installer is Chosen
• CEFIA will formerly award community to solar
installer
• SmartPower will work with town and installer to
schedule events, including planning meeting
with solar ambassadors, a program launch and
other outreach opportunities
• CEFIA/SmartPower will monitor installer activity
throughout 18-week program.
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32. CEFIA Info/Program Resources
• Websites:
– http://energizect.com/ (CEFIA/CEEF programs)
– http://www.solarizect.com
• People:
– Bill Colonis bill.colonis@ctcleanenergy.com 860-258-7828
– Kate Donnelly (SmartPower) kdonnelly@smartpower.org
– Bernie Pelltier (SmartPower) eosullivan@smartpower.org
– Robert Schmitt (CEFIA) robert.schmitt@ctcleanenergy.com
– Bob Wall (CEFIA) bob.wall@ctcleanenergy.com
– Madeline Priest (CEFIA) madeline.priest@ctcleanenergy.com
– Isabelle Hazlewood (CEFIA) isabelle.hazlewood@ctcleanenergy.com

33. Questions?

34. Appendix

35. SunShot Rooftop Solar Challenge
Tools for Municipalities
▪ CEFIA is offering tools to help simplify permitting
and reduce the cost of installing solar PV, including:
– Standard Solar PV Permit Application – Solar PV-specific permit
application that includes all the information municipal officials need to evaluate a
solar PV application.
– Free Online Permitting – Test drive online permitting during Solarize and
through 2014 for free and learn what works best for your municipality. Help CEFIA
develop an affordable, easy to use online permitting option for municipalities.
▪ Earn Clean Energy Communities (CEC) Points
– Receive CEC points for adopting the standard permit application,
piloting the online permitting system and other solar-friendly
permitting improvements.
▪ Work with CEFIA’s SunShot team:
sunshot@ctcleanenergy.com,
www.energizect.com/sunrisene

36. Basics of Solar Domestic Hot Water
Types of collectors: Evacuated tube
Flat plate
System Design

37. New Developments: Residential
Building-integrated PV and
Solar Thermal Panels
Built-in “skylight” Panels

38. Introduction
to Smart-E Loans

39. Participating Lenders
www.energizect.com/smarte

40. Marketing the Smart-E Loan
▪ Quick, easy, flexible
– Finance up to 20% related measures (roof repair,
asbestos remediation, etc.)
▪ Local lender, personal service
▪ Loan payments should be less than the energy
savings in most cases!
▪ Website: www.energizect.com/smarte

41. Marketing the Smart-E Loan
▪ Series of 5 great videos!
– General Smart-E
(http://youtu.be/whte1PSdne0)
– Go Solar
(http://youtu.be/DZDPMo1Yo8s)
– Make the Switch to Natural Gas
(http://youtu.be/uoGTdsanURE)
– HVAC
(http://youtu.be/PH3hDVj8Zw8)
– Comfort
(http://youtu.be/JLFX7bg7lt4)

42. Smart-E Marketing Promotion
▪ Limited Time Introductory Offer to
Smart-E!
▪ In partnership with CEFIA, lenders are
offering your customers:
– No Interest on Smart-E Loans for Six
Months

43. Introduction
to the CT Solar Loan

44. Marketing the CT Solar Loan
Sungage.net
Physical collateral
Solar Wealth™ Calculator
▪ The “Pitch” for CT Solar Loan
– Save more through ownership
– Low monthly payments for only 15
years and you own the system at the
end
– Peace of mind through extended
system and production warranties
– Easy on-line credit pre-qualification
and contracting
– Multiple flexible alternatives if you
move before end of loan

45. Introduction
to the CT Solar Lease

46. Marketing the CT Solar Lease
▪ The “Pitch” for CT Solar Lease
– Go Solar for no money down*
– Save on your electric bill from day one
• And lock in predictable bills for years to come
– Peace of mind through the life of your lease
• Insurance and warranty coverage bundled in, just one # to call
– The affordable way to go solar
• Pay a low fixed or escalated monthly payment – you choose
With the CT Solar Lease it’s never been easier to go solar!
* No down payment require if Total System Cost is less than or equal to $4.50 per Watt.

47. Available Materials and
Resources
CEFIA Marketing

48. Resources for Your Campaign
 Smart-E Loan, CT Solar Loan and CT Solar Lease
have additional marketing martials such as retractable
banners, posters and supplemental collateral pieces
(in addition to Solarize CT marketing materials).