Last DSIRE Review: 01/08/2013
Program Overview:
| State: |
Delaware |
| Incentive Type: |
Utility Rebate Program |
| Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies: |
Solar Water Heat, Solar Space Heat, Photovoltaics, Wind, Geothermal Heat Pumps, Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels |
| Applicable Sectors: |
Commercial, Industrial, Residential, Nonprofit, Schools, Local Government, Agricultural, Institutional |
| Amount: | General amounts below
PV: 33.3% of installed costs
Solar Thermal: 50% of installed costs
Wind: 33.3% of installed costs
Fuel Cells: 50% of installed costs
Geothermal Heat Pumps: lesser of $500 - $600/ton (varies by efficiency) or 50% of installed costs |
| Maximum Incentive: | General limits below
PV: $15,000 for residential, $30,000 for non-residential
Solar Thermal (domestic water): $3,000 for residential, $10,000 for non-residential
Solar Thermal (radiant heating): $5,000 for residential, $10,000 for non-residential
Wind: $15,000 for residential, $30,000 for non-residential
Fuel Cells: $15,000 for residential, $30,000 for non-residential
Geothermal Heat Pumps: $2,500 - $3,000 for residential (varies by efficiency), $20,000 for non-residential |
| Eligible System Size: | Minimum: 500 W (for small wind only)
Maximum: No specific limit, but systems must be designed to serve only on-site energy needs |
| Equipment Requirements: | Full five-year warranty required for all systems; grid-connected electricity generating systems must generally meet applicable IEEE and UL standards; PV modules must be UL-1703 certified; solar thermal systems must be SRCC certified (OG-300 for residential and OG-100 for non-residential); geothermal heat pumps must have a minimum EER of 14.0 and COP of 3.0 |
| Installation Requirements: | Systems must generally be installed by a participating contractor; grid-connected or off-grid systems are eligible; solar PV and solar thermal systems must meet orientation, shading, and aesthetics requirements; wind energy systems may be reviewed for wind resource adequacy |
| Ownership of Renewable Energy Credits: | Customer-generator |
| Funding Source: | DEMEC Green Energy Fund (9 individual utility funds) |
| Program Budget: | $363,000 annually across 9 municipal utilities (based on financial records); varies by month |
| Start Date: | 2007 |
| Web Site: |
http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/energy/services/GreenEnergy/Pages/G...
|
Authority 1:
Date Enacted:
|
26 Del. C. ยง 363
07/21/2005
|
Authority 2:
Date Effective:
|
Municipal Utilities' Green Energy Fund Program Regulations
04/11/2012 (as amended)
|
Authority 3:
Date Enacted:
|
S.S. 1 for S.B. 119
07/28/2010
|
Summary:
Note: The municipal electric utilities serving New Castle, Clayton, Lewes, Middletown, Smyrna, and Seaford do not offer any rebates for individual renewable energy systems. Please see the program web site for further information on the use of green energy funds in these jurisdictions. Please also note that the renewable energy incentives offered by the city of Dover are summarized in a separate entry because they are structured differently than those offered by Delaware's other municipal utilities (view the Dover Green Energy Incentive Program).
Delaware's municipal utilities provide incentives for solar photovoltaic (PV), solar thermal, wind, geothermal, and fuel cell systems installed by their electric customers. Eligibility is limited to systems that are intended to supply on-site energy needs. Incentives are available to both residential and non-residential member-owners, generally up to $15,000 for residential systems and $30,000 for non-residential systems. Both grid-connected and off-grid PV and wind energy systems are eligible for incentives, but systems must serve loads that would otherwise be served by the electric utility. Solar thermal systems used for domestic water heating or in radiant heating applications must reduce or eliminate the need for electric or gas heated water.
Incentive levels and limits vary by technology, system size and sector as follows:
- Solar Water Heating: 50% of installed costs, up to $3,000 for residential systems that pre-heat water for hot water systems, $5,000 for residential systems used in radiant heating applications, and $10,000 for all non-residential systems.
- PV: 33.3% of installed costs, up to $15,000 for residential systems and $30,000 for non-residential systems
- Wind: 33.3% of installed costs, up to $15,000 for residential systems and $30,000 for non-residential systems
- Fuel Cells: 33.3% of installed costs, up to $15,000 for residential systems and $30,000 for non-residential systems.
- Geothermal Heat Pumps: $500 or $600 per ton (based on efficiency), up to $2,500 or $3,000 for residential systems (based on efficiency) and $20,000 for non-residential systems
It is important to note that several exceptions to the amounts above exist for certain municipal utilities. The cities of New Castle, Clayton, Lewes, Middletown, Smyrna, and Seaford do not offer any rebates for individual renewable energy systems.
Systems are subject to a variety of equipment, installation and warranty requirements, including limitations on system orientation and shading for solar energy systems. The Delaware Energy Office processes applications and conducts technical reviews for this program. The program rules do not specify the ownership of renewable energy credits (RECs) associated with system energy production; however, net metering customers in Delaware retain ownership of RECs unless they voluntarily relinquish such ownership.
Background
Under the 2005 Delaware renewable portfolio standard (RPS) legislation, municipal utilities were allowed to opt out of the RPS schedule if they met certain other requirements. One such requirement was that they contribute to the existing Green Energy Fund for investor-owned utilities or create their own green energy fund supported by an equal surcharge (i.e. $0.000178/kWh). All of Delaware's municipal utilities opted out of the RPS requirements and established their own green energy funds.
In 2010 the Delaware RPS was amended by SS 1 for S.B. 119 and the section (26 Del. C. § 363) detailing the obligations of electric cooperatives was slightly revised. While these amendments change several other opt-out requirements, the provision mandating green energy fund contributions in the event of an opt-out remains unchanged. |
