Download Publications

 An overview on how SolarTech is working to help consumers separate the “wheat from the chaff” in the confusion that is often impeding solar PV purchase decisions. The Solar Energy Estimate tool (SEE Report) can be found on www.solarhub.com and is designed to enable faster consumer buying decision.

4th Annual SolarTech 2012 Leadership Summit - Opening Remarks, "Industry tipping points - Where do we go from here?", presented by Doug Payne, Executive Director, SolarTech.

Learn more about the role of FERC, what they do and the agency's priorities, presented by Carl Pechman PhD., Economist in the Office of Energy Policy & Innovation (OEPI).

Policy Landscape 4 - "Facilitating Customer Access to Solar PV", presented by Kevin T. Fox, Co-Founder Keyes & Fox, LLP (representing IREC).

Policy Landscape 2 - "The Road Ahead: 2012", presented by Adam Browning, Executive Director, Vote Solar.

"Steps to a Sustainable Future", presented by Steve Malnight, Vice President Customer Energy Solutions, PG&E.

Policy Landscape 1 - "Intersection of Political, Capital, and Market Forces in 2012", presented by Donnie Fowler, CEO/Founder, Dogpatch Strategies.

Policy Landscape 3 - "Integration of Political, Capital, and Market Forces in 2012", presented by Sara Birmingham, Director of Western Policy, SEIA.

"The U.S. Solar Market: Where We Stand and Where We're Headed", presented by Shayle Kann, Managing Director, Solar, Greentech Media Research.

An overview of the SolarTech Workforce Innovation Collaborative (SWIC) program: "Innovative Model for Workforce Development", presented by Doug Payne, Executive Director, SolarTech.

Closing Day 2 - a reporting to the Executive Desk on findings, solution path, market gaps, top priorities, next steps for execution & adoption, challenges,  presented by each of the SolarTech Committee Chairs: Installation, Finance & Performance, Permitting & Interconnection, and Workforce.  

Final SWIC presentation at the California Workforce Association Summit Sept 5, 2012

Final White Paper Overview of the SWIC/SWAM Workforce Development Grant for California EDD

SWIC Roadmap White Paper from Annual SolarTech Summit, 2012

End of Project report submitted to the California EDD for the SWIC Workforce Development Grant

SWIC Final Funding Observations and Proposals on Funding the Next Generation of Solar Workers

This document represents one element of a suite of documents for a successful commercial distributed generation solar PV project.

The tax-structured incentives set up by the federal government to help supplement the cost of solar installations, create a significant amount of complexity in the financing process of renewable power plants. While that is true, solar developers have different financing options for their projects in the current environment. In order to help developers obtain financing, SolarTech, in collaboration with Dirk Michels of K&L Gates, has prepared both a Basic Due Diligence Checklist and an In Depth Due Diligence Checklist.

A brief tutorial of the various financing options available to solar project sponsors just entering the business.

This document (including companion spreadsheet) collects the critical information about a solar photovoltaic system. By capturing specific details about the host, equipment, construction, and layout of the system, financing institutions can perform due diligence necessary to evaluate the expected system production. The Request For Information (RFI) is intended for integrators or installers to complete and submit to financing institutions.

Rule 21 Wroking Group Notes of August 19, 2011

The application and approval process for solar PV construction permits is well recognized by the industry as inefficient with hidden costs borne by the integrator.

For microinverters and AC (Alternating Current) PV (Photovoltaic) modules, a need exists for clear and consistent installation methods and code interpretations, which enable safer, more efficient installations, and reduction in the cost to own a solar system. This Summary guide promotes the aforementioned by providing information about microinverter and AC PV module technologies, nationally recognized listing standards, listing processes, and industry-accepted methodology for installation, in compliance with the NFPA (National Fire Protection Agency) 70: NEC (National Electric Code).

This document is an outline of the SolarTech Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) Agreement templates, which is a component of a suite of documents that can help ensure the successful deployment of a commercial distributed generation solar PV project. Whereas a PPA (Power Purchase Agreement), Loan Agreement, or Operating Lease Agreement handle the front-end financing relationship, an EPC agreement handles the execution phase of the project. Subsequently an Operations and Maintenance (O&M) agreement handles the ongoing operational aspects of the project.

This report presents an Expedited Permit Process for small-scale photovoltaic (PV)systems. The Solar America Board for Codes and Standards (Solar ABCs) recommendsthat local jurisdictions use this Expedited Permit Process for awarding building permitsto installers of small PV systems. Use of this process simplifies the requirements for thecontractor submitting the request and reduces the time needed for the local jurisdictionproviding structural and electrical review of the permit application.

This fact sheet summarizes the findings and recommendations ofa new study report from the Solar America Board for Codes andStandards (Solar ABCs).,– A Standardized Process for the Review of Small-Scale PV Systems.

San Francisco's Submission to the DOE Rooftop Challenge to Streamline Solar PV Permitting.

The SF Environment, a department of the City and County of San Francisco, is one jurisdiction that has listened to industry, examining processes, and working with other city departments to enact solutions.

The result of their efforts is pretty straight forward. By reducing the permitting and inspection process burden, they enable more solar projects which directly results in:

1.      More solar jobs

2.      Economic development in a time of economic stagnation

3.      Lower carbon emissions and less dependence on fossil fuels.

4.      Enabled improved compatibility between the City and County’s solar rebate program and the process that integrators and consumers must follow in order to build systems qualifying for the rebate.

At the same time, SF Officials do not expect any additional impact to public safety than would otherwise have been possible.

The following report is a “How To” document describing how SF Environment approached the problem, built consensus, and worked with building officials and Inspectors to achieve a solution mutually agreeable and beneficial to all stakeholders.

To gain a better understanding of the residential photovoltaic permitting process, and to see where it has the potential to be standardized, the San Jose State University Permitting Committee Team, under SolarTech's guidance, conducted a survey of 33 San Francisco Bay Area cities.

SolarTech just released the latest in its annual Permitting studies. This latest study is significant in a number of ways. Not only is this most statistically valid study to date of solar PV integrator and building official perceptions towards the permitting and inspection issues, it also offers a compelling dashboard model recommendation the industry should adopt for reporting trends and improvements in permitting and inspection cycle times.

About this Report: This is a summary of the SolarTech PV Adoption Consumer Study. The study was conducted under the sponsorship of SolarTech and SJSU Research to analyze awareness, preference, attitude, and perception of solar energy by 163 single family residence owners in Santa Clara County, California.