WASHINGTON, DC, USA, August 22, 2007.
The Solar Electric Power Association has released its online Solar Programs Options Tool (SPOT).
The tool combines quantitative data with a short user survey to recommend and prioritise types of solar activities for further investigation by electric utilities which are interested in developing solar projects or programs. Recommendations are divided into utility-owned projects, customer project partnerships, and other program ideas, such as residential or commercial customer incentives, green pricing programs, educational programs and research projects.
“As more and more utilities across the country begin to recognise the value of both distributed and central station solar to the utility and its customers, SPOT will provide an initial decision-making framework to help them determine which program types best fit their needs,” explains Julia Judd of SEPA. “There are many different types of solar projects and programs that can be implemented, and prioritising the effort according to the utility’s goal(s) is an important first step.”
SPOT is integrated with the recently-released Peer Match tool, a searchable database that matches users with other utilities with solar program experience. A grant from the American Public Power Association will allow SEPA to release a similarly integrated case study database and expanded version of SPOT later this year.
“Whether driven by regulations, customer preferences, or corporate values, solar electricity is becoming an increasingly important renewable resource for electric utilities,” explains SEPA. SPOT recommends and prioritises solar electricity options for utilities, including residential & commercial incentives, solar generating plants, power purchase agreements, renewable energy credits (RECs) and green power pricing programs, as well as education, demonstration and research.
SPOT users provide basic information about their utility and then rank their solar goals and objectives. It also includes a peer matching service to pair utilities that have experience in a particular area or program. Over time, case studies of the various options will be developed for users.
SPOT was designed by experts in the U.S. solar industry and representatives of the utility sector to “help their utility peers develop new solar energy programs or enhance existing solar portfolios.” Members of SEPA can access the full capabilities of SPOT, while visitors have limited access to a demonstration version.
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