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U.S. Solar Energy Demand Dynamics

Published by: Pike Research

Published: Jul. 23, 2009 - 80 Pages


Table of Contents


1. Executive Summary

1.1 U.S. Lags Europe in Solar

1.2 Federal Incentives Fall Short

1.3 Areas Seeing the Greatest Demand

1.4 The Biggest Disappointments of 2009

1.5 The Financing Roadblock

1.5.1 Remedies for the Financing Shortfall

1.6 Module Prices

1.7 Five-Year Outlook

1.7.1 Returns and Demand

2. Governmental Demand Creation Mechanisms

2.1 European Feed-In Tariffs Light the Fire

2.2 Japan Used Cash to Hook Investors

2.3 U.S. State Renewable Portfolio Standards

2.4 U.S. Federal Investment Tax Credits and Other Incentives

2.5 Incentive Mechanisms at the State and Local Levels

2.5.1 State Rebate Programs

2.5.2 Adopting European-Style Feed-In Tariffs

2.5.2.1 Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs)

2.5.3 Net Metering

2.5.4 Credit Multipliers and Set-Asides

2.5.4.1 Credit Multiplier Example

2.5.4.2 Solar Set-Aside in Addition to a Multiplier

3. Industry Demand Drivers

3.1 Legislation, Regulations, Incentives, and Subsidies

3.1.1 Module, BOS, and Installation Costs

3.1.2 Availability and Cost of Financing

3.1.3 DOE Loan Guarantees

3.1.3.1 DOE’s Solar Energy Technologies Program

3.1.4 Availability of Land for Utility-Scale Projects

3.1.5 Sizing Up the Rooftop Market

3.2 Credit Crunch

3.2.1 Eventual Financing Improvements

4. Economics Overview

4.1 Traditional Energy Sources

4.1.1 Short-Term Trends in Electricity Consumption

4.1.2 Regional Price Trends

4.1.3 Levelized Cost of Energy Analysis

4.1.3.1 LCOE Comparison between Power-Generating Technologies

4.2 Pricing

5. Segment Analysis

5.1 Residential Overview

5.1.1 Rebates from Utilities

5.1.2 Payment Methods

5.1.3 Aesthetic Premium

5.1.4 Absolute Power vs. Yield

5.1.5 Competing Technologies

6. U.S. Renewable Energy Demand Forecast

6.1 United States Continues to Lag Behind Europe

6.2 U.S. Energy Independence

6.3 The Stimulus Plan and Job Creation

6.4 The Pickens Plan

7. Regions and States

7.1 New Jersey

7.1.1 SREC Program Details

7.1.2 Utility Loan Programs

7.2 New York

7.2.1 Installers are the Gatekeepers

7.3 Connecticut

7.3.1 Rebate and Leasing Programs

7.3.2 Net Metering

7.4 Florida

7.4.1 Solar Energy System Incentives Program

7.4.2 Florida City Programs

7.4.2.1 Tallahassee

7.4.2.2 Gainesville

7.4.2.3 Orlando

7.5 North Carolina

7.5.1 NC GreenPower

7.5.2 Net Metering

7.6 Minnesota

7.6.1 Rebate Program (Xcel Energy)

7.6.2 Net Metering

7.6.3 Renewable Development Fund

7.6.4 PPAs

7.6.5 Residential Loans

7.6.6 RPSs

7.7 Texas

7.7.1 LoanSTAR Revolving Loan Program

7.7.2 Utility Rebates and Other Incentives

7.7.2.1 Austin Energy

7.7.2.2 Bryan Texas Utilities (BTU)

7.7.2.3 CPS Energy

7.7.2.4 Guadalupe Valley Electric Cooperative

7.7.2.5 Oncor Electric

7.7.3 State and Local RPS Targets

7.8 Colorado

7.8.1 Rebate Programs

7.8.2 Tax Exemptions

7.8.3 Net Metering

7.8.4 Solar Loans

7.9 Michigan

7.9.1 Rebates

7.9.2 Low-Income and Energy Efficiency Fund

7.9.3 Net Metering

7.9.4 Tax Exemptions

7.10 California

7.10.1 California Solar Initiative

7.10.2 New Solar Homes Partnership

7.10.3 Solar Loans

7.10.4 PPAs

7.10.5 Net Metering

7.11 Arizona

7.11.1 Tax Credits and Exemptions

7.11.2 Loan Programs

7.11.3 Rebate Programs

7.11.3.1 APS Renewable Incentive Program

7.11.3.2 SRP EarthWise Solar Energy Program

7.11.3.3 Sulphur Springs Valley EC SunWatts Rebate Program

7.11.3.4 TEP Renewable Energy Credit Purchase Program

7.11.3.5 Trico Electric Cooperative SunWatts Incentive Program

7.11.3.6 UES Renewable Energy Credit Purchase Program

7.11.4 City of Scottsdale

7.11.5 Net Metering

7.12 New Mexico

7.12.1 Tax Credits and Tax Exemptions

7.12.2 RECs

7.12.2.1 El Paso Electric Company

7.12.2.2 PNM

7.12.2.3 Xcel Energy

7.12.3 Net Metering

7.13 Washington

7.13.1 Solar Loans

7.13.1.1 Clallam County PUD

7.13.1.2 Clark Public Utilities

7.13.1.3 Ferry County PUD No. 1

7.13.1.4 Franklin County PUD

7.13.1.5 Klickitat PUD

7.13.1.6 Port Angeles Public Works & Utilities

7.13.1.7 Snohomish County PUD No. 1

7.13.2 Solar Rebates

7.13.2.1 Clallam County PUD

7.13.2.2 Franklin County PUD

7.13.2.3 Klickitat PUD

7.13.2.4 Orcas Power & Light

7.13.2.5 Port Angeles Public Works & Utilities

7.13.2.6 Richland Energy Services

7.13.2.7 Snohomish County PUD No. 1

7.13.3 PPAs and Net Metering

7.14 Oregon

7.14.1 Tax Credits

7.14.2 Grants

7.14.3 Production Incentives

7.14.4 Loan Programs

7.14.5 Rebate Programs

7.14.6 Net Metering

8. Company Directory

9. Acronym and Abbreviation List

10. Table of Contents

11. Table of Figures

12. Scope of Study, Sources and Methodology, Notes

List of Charts and Figures

Cumulative Installed PV Capacity, World Markets: 2003-2015

Percentage of Installations in Rebated Areas, United States: 2008

Major Private Equity and Venture Capital Players by Transaction, United States: 2008

Expected Unlevered Internal Rate of Return by State, United States: 2009

Levelized Cost of Energy Comparison, United States: 2009

Spot Polysilicon Prices, World Markets: 2008-2010

Polysilicon Consumption, World Markets: 2006-2010

Spot and Contract Polysilicon Prices, World Markets: 2008-2010

Polysilicon Supply Projections by Producer Experience, World Markets: 2005-2012

Wholesale Module Prices, United States: 2004-2009

Average Residential Cost per Watt by Region (Includes Installer Markup), United States: 2008

Cell and Module Margins, World Markets: 2008-2009

Average Installed Price by State, United States: 2008

Residential and Non-Residential PV Consumption, United States: 2002-2006

Annual Electricity Sales by Sector, United States: 1980-2030

Residential and Non-Residential PV Installations by State, United States: 2008

Preferred Method of Payment by Region, United States: 2008

Value of Premium on Aesthetic Appearance, United States: 2008

Importance of Cell Efficiency to Customers, United States: 2008

c-Si and Thin-Film Market Share, World Markets: 2006-2015

Approximate Cell Efficiency by PV Technology, World Markets: 2008

Average Installation Size by State, United States: 2008

Share of Competing PV Technologies, World Markets: 2008

Installed Capacity, World Markets: 2008

Annual PV Market Growth, United States vs. All Other Regions: 2006-2015

Major Market PV Share, United States, Germany, and Spain: 2006-2015

Solar PV Installations by State, United States: 2007-2008

PV Company & Employment Growth, United States: 1998-2007

Stimulus Bill Breakdown for Energy Spending, United States: 2009

Share of Electricity Generation by Petroleum, United States: 2008

Solar Energy System Incentive Program, Florida: 2009

Xcel Renewable Portfolio Standard Schedule, United States: 2011-2020

Map of Renewable Portfolio Standards, United States: 2009

Map of RPS with Solar Provisions, United States: 2009

U.S. Department of Energy Loan Guarantee Breakdown - Round 2, United States: 2009

Electricity Generation by Fuel Source, United States

Major Feed-in Tariffs by Selected County: 2009

Significant State Rebate Programs

Gainesville Feed-In Tariff Schedule

CT Solar Lease Payment Program

Washington Solar Loan Programs

List of Tables

Cumulative Installed PV Capacity, World Markets: 2002-2015

Major Feed-In Tariffs by Selected Country: 2009

DOE Loan Guarantee Breakdown - Round 2, United States: 2009

Major Private Equity and Venture Capital Players by Transaction: 2008

State by State Internal Rate of Return, United States: 2009

Renewable Energy Consumption, United States: 2008

Cell and Module Margins, World Markets: 2008-2009

PV Market Forecast by Country/Region, World Markets: 1996-2015

Abstract

The United States has become one of the more aggressive nations in promoting alternative energy technologies, but at the federal level tax credits and depreciation incentives are not currently enough to encourage sustainable demand growth. Instead, some states and municipalities have taken the lead in providing incentives through a variety of mechanisms ranging from upfront rebates and property tax credits to renewable energy credits and even European-style feed-in tariffs. Pike Research’s extensive interviews with both end-users and manufacturers conclude that for sustained growth in the U.S., incentives must be increased at the federal level. Due largely to the credit crisis, funding for solar projects has been tight. In the U.S., this has particularly been the case, because banks are unwilling to lend to projects that have undetermined cash flows.

Our five-year outlook is that the combination of federal and state incentives and falling module prices will work together to dramatically increase demand in the U.S. As more banks become comfortable with funding these projects, and find ways to securitize the cash flows, we believe it will become an attractive revenue stream for solar lending divisions. Utilities, which are just now getting serious about meeting RPS goals, will likely take the lead in developing new solar projects. Until now, they have been unsuccessful in getting support from their ratepayers who would see up to a 10% increase in their utility bills. However, we believe that the emphasis that the Obama administration is placing on climate change will eventually filter into the fabric of American society, propelling the U.S. into a global leadership position in solar PV market share by 2014, according to our most recent forecast.

This Pike Research report examines demand-side dynamics for solar PV projects in depth, analyzing government incentives, financing structures, and internal rates of return on a state-by-state level. Cost components for solar project development are quantified in detail, and the report also includes forecasts for leading solar PV markets around the world in addition to the U.S., providing a clear and actionable view of the size and timing of market opportunities.

Key questions addressed:
  • Which states provide the best subsidies to supplement federal tax credits?
  • How has the global credit crisis impacted solar demand, and what is the current financing environment?
  • What are recent trends in pricing for fully installed solar PV systems?
  • Why do lower installed costs have little impact without easing of credit?
  • What are the key government subsidy mechanisms for encouraging solar demand?
  • How will profitability be distributed within the solar value chain?
Who needs this report?
  • Utilities
  • Solar Project Developers
  • Solar Installers/Integrators
  • Solar Cell and Module Manufacturers
  • Solar Equipment Vendors
  • Government Energy and Environmental Agencies
  • Investment Professionals
  • Solar Industry Associations


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