| State: |
District of Columbia |
| Incentive Type: |
State Rebate Program |
| Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies: |
Solar Water Heat, Solar Thermal Electric, Photovoltaics |
| Applicable Sectors: |
Commercial, Residential, Nonprofit, Multi-Family Residential, Private Schools |
| Amount: | Solar PV: $0.50/W DC
Solar Thermal: 20% of installed cost
|
| Maximum Incentive: | Solar PV: $10,000 per site per program year
Solar Thermal (residential): $2,000 per system per program year
Solar Thermal (non-residential): $6,000 per system per program year |
| Eligible System Size: | 1 kW DC minimum; system must be sized not to exceed on-site consumption |
| Equipment Requirements: | Solar PV System: must be new and have a performance meter; larger systems (100 kW+) must have a performance meter with remote communications capability; system must carry a one-year warranty; meter must carry a five-year warranty and solar panels must carry a ten-year warranty.
Solar Thermal System (<10,000 kWh/year):Collectors shall be rated and certified OG-100 by the SRCC, and the actual energy output shall be determined by an onsite energy meter that meets performance standards established by OIML. System must carry a one-year warranty; meter must carry a five-year warranty and solar panels must carry a ten-year warranty.
Solar Thermal System (>10,000 kWh/year): Systems shall be rated and certified by the SRCC, and the energy output shall be determined by the SRCC OG-300 annual systems performance rating protocol; or the SRCC OG-100 solar collector rating protocol; or an onsite energy meter that measures the actual energy output and meets performance standards established by OIML. System must carry a one-year warranty; meter must carry a five-year warranty and solar panels must carry a ten-year warranty. |
| Installation Requirements: | PV systems must be grid-connected; both solar PV and solar thermal systems must be installed by a licensed contractor (self-installations not permitted); one-year warranty on installation required; automatic freeze protection is required on solar thermal hot water systems. |
| Ownership of Renewable Energy Credits: | Customer-generator |
| Funding Source: | Sustainable Energy Trust Fund (public benefits fund) |
| Program Budget: | $2 million annually (as defined by statute)* |
| Web Site: |
http://ddoe.dc.gov/service/renewable-energy-incentive-program-rei...
|
In February 2009, the District Department of the Environment (DDOE) introduced the Renewable Energy Incentive Program (REIP), a rebate for solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. In April 2012, solar thermal systems became eligible for the REIP program. The REIP is funded through the Sustainable Energy Trust Fund which is supported by a public benefits charge on utility bills. The DDOE reportedly also plans to introduce incentives for additional technologies, including wind, geothermal, and methane/waste gas capture. However, as of this writing, rebates are not available for these technologies.
Most PEPCO customers within the District of Columbia are eligible for incentives under this program; however, the federal government, the D.C. government, and public schools are specifically identified as ineligible. PV systems must be at least 1 kW in order to qualify and should be sized not to exceed on-site energy consumption as measured for the previous 12 months. There is no maximum system size, although incentives are capped at $10,000 per site per fiscal year. The current incentive for PV systems is $0.50/watt.
There is currently no information available on minimum or maximum system size requirements for solar thermal systems. Although equipment requirements are dependent upon if a system generates more or less than 10,000 kWh per year.
The current incentives for Solar Thermal residential systems are 20% of the installed cost up to a maximum of $2,000. The current incentives for solar thermal non-residential systems are 20% of installed cost up to a maximum of $6,000
Applicants must get a site assessment and conduct a pre-qualification application to get a reservation number. Once the pre-qualification application is approved, the applicant must complete a final application. If funds run out for a given year, applicants hold their place in line for one year with their reservation number and may receive funding the next year. The system must be completed within six months of the award date. If the system is not completed, the applicant may get a six month extension. If the system is not completed at the end of the extension, then the rebate must be returned to DDOE.
Projects must be located within the District of Columbia and applicants must be customers of PEPCO. Projects receiving incentives must be grid-connected and must follow the interconnection, operation, and metering guidelines set by Pepco and the DC Public Service Commission. Large systems must have remote communication capabilities for monitoring of the performance meter.
For more information, additional requirements and program history please view the Solar PV Program Guidelines or Solar Thermal Program Guidelines.
* While the this level of funding remains memorialized in the D.C. Code, funding for the program has been diverted to other uses at least twice in the recent past. The currently authorized amount of $ 1.1 million for Fiscal Year 2011, $2 million in Fiscal Year 2012, and $1 million for Fiscal Year 2013.
