Community Solar is changing the way people view renewable energy. 43 states have had at least one community-solar facility since the United States passed its first community solar legislation. Its popularity grows and more people and businesses are able to use renewable energy to save money. Education is an important part of community engagement.
The Physical Structure
Solar farms are large, aggregative projects in which multiple homes or businesses have shares in a larger solar farm. Developers all over the country are creating farms from 350kW to 150+MW. One megawatt can power approximately 160 homes. A typical 5MW site could power over 800 homes and businesses.
These solar projects are built in areas that have a high solar resource. They produce between 1200 kWh and 950 kWh per kW. This is approximately 93-95% to 93% of the total available solar energy in the area. Community solar is 10-15% more efficient than roof-mounted systems and can provide more value than other on-site systems.
Modern Digital Energy: Remote Metering
The energy produced by a farm directly correlates with how many energy credits are generated. Each state uses a different system to calculate these credits. New York’s method is the Value of Distributed Energy Resources (VDER) Value Stack. These value calculators consider the cost of electricity, demand-reduction value, and environmental impact to determine a project’s rate.
Your Monthly Expenses
Clients have three options to access community solar: they can buy panels, sign long-term power purchase agreements or subscribe to a farm through shorter subscription-style agreements. Companies and developers often specialize in one type of solar access. ESD Solar offers customers all three options at one location. This gives customers the best deal.
Purchasing customers save an average of 20-30% on their utility bills each month, while subscriptions and PPAs can offer savings of up to 10-15%.
There are many resources to help you learn more about community solar. It is best to get involved locally and learn about the reimbursement and regulations in your state. ESD Solar provides tons of free content to help you understand the market and determine which option is best for you. If you are unsure, you can do a quick Google search or call to get the answers you need.
This post was written by Daniel Massaad, owner and expert solar technician at Energy Solutions Direct! ESD Solar offers knowledgeable and efficient solar companies in Lakeland FL! Our licensed and certified contractors are masters of their craft; with years of experience servicing the great Tampa Bay area and beyond, the choice is simple. ESD excels at offering you the best in solar value!
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