The recent announcement by Tesla Motors that their patents would be released as open source has put the spotlight on open source and open standards within the renewable energy industry. Open source and open standards play a huge role in the computer and Internet industries. Just think of the impact of the open source architecture of the PC and the open communication standard HTML. Google built its business on the open source Apache server and the open source Android operating system. In the solar industry, Tioga Energy released an open source solar power purchase agreement. Could open standards and open source benefit the shared and community solar industry segment?
1. Joy Hughes - Open Standards for Community Renewables - Solar 2014
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Open Standards for
Community Renewables
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Joy Hughes, Solar Gardens Institute
joy@solargardens.org
2. Joy Hughes - Open Standards for Community Renewables - Solar 2014
Open Standards / Open Source:
A Growing Movement
Open Solar
Outdoor
Test Field
3. Joy Hughes - Open Standards for Community Renewables - Solar 2014
Shared Solar Cash and Energy Flow
4. Joy Hughes - Open Standards for Community Renewables - Solar 2014
The Cost of Community Solar
Array Type Cost Per Panel
Cherryland Electric (MI) Utility Direct $395
Colorado Springs - SunShare Third Party $550
Vernon Electric (WI) Third Party $600
Colorado Springs - CEC Third Party $624
Holy Cross (CO) Third Party $725
Connexus Energy (MN) Third Party $950
United Power (CO) Utility Direct $1050
5. Joy Hughes - Open Standards for Community Renewables - Solar 2014
Opening up Shared Renewables:
Opportunities
• Communications Protocols
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• Utility Billing Software
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• Business Structures
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• Finance models
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6. Joy Hughes - Open Standards for Community Renewables - Solar 2014
Benefits of Open Standards
For Shared Renewables
• Lower cost to subscribers
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• Lower barriers to entry for developers
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• Less work for utilities and billing software providers
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• Opens door to community initiated projects
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• Makes smaller projects possible
7. Joy Hughes - Open Standards for Community Renewables - Solar 2014
Open Communication Protocol
• Synchronize database between utility and service
provider
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• Add and cancel subscribers, change subscription
size
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• Track subscriber moves and other changes
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• Track system production
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8. Joy Hughes - Open Standards for Community Renewables - Solar 2014
Less Need for Tax Equity
• Warning: I am not a lawyer!
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• Investment tax credit step down to 10% end 2016
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• IRS notice 2013-70 - subscribers may claim tax
credit for offsite solar
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• Example: Kehila Synagogue
Piedmont, CA
Nonprofit finance (Re-Volv)
Nonprofit install (SunWork)
22kW rooftop - $2.80/W
no ITC
9. Joy Hughes - Open Standards for Community Renewables - Solar 2014
Simplifying Securities Law
• Utility, nonprofit and cooperative exemptions
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• Direct public offerings (DPOs)
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• JOBS Act
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• Avoid need for securities registration
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The “Howey Test”
!1.investment of money due to
2.an expectation of profits arising from
3.a common enterprise
4.which depends solely on the efforts of a promoter or third party
10. Joy Hughes - Open Standards for Community Renewables - Solar 2014
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Thank you!
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Joy Hughes, Solar Gardens Institute
joy@solargardens.org
719-207-3097
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