Last DSIRE Review: 01/15/2013
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: | PV: $0.35 - $1.25/W in general; $0.70 - $2.55/W for non-profits
Solar Thermal: $1.00/annual kWh displaced
Wind: $0.35 - $1.25/W
Fuel Cells: generally 20% of installed costs, except 35% for non-profits
Geothermal Heat Pumps: $700 - $800/ton |
| Maximum Incentive: | PV: $7,500 for residential, $15,000 for non-residential, non-profits
Solar Thermal: $2,500 for residential, $7,500 for non-residential, non-profits
Wind: $2,500
Fuel Cells: $7,500 for residential, $10,000 for non-residential, non-profits
Geothermal Heat Pumps: $3,000 for residential, $10,000 for non-residential, non-profit |
| Eligible System Size: | Wind: 500 W minimum
|
| Equipment Requirements: | Systems must carry a full five-year warranty and meet applicable UL, IEEE, and NEC standards; 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 18.0 and COP of 3.6 |
| Installation Requirements: | On- and off-grid systems are eligible; systems must be installed by a participating contractor; 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, of which Dover is one) |
| Program Budget: | $128,000 estimated annually for Dover (based on 2008 retail electricity sales); varies by month |
| Start Date: | 2007 |
| Expiration Date: | None |
| Web Site: |
http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/energy/services/GreenEnergy/Pages/G...
|
Authority 1:
Date Enacted:
Date Effective:
|
26 Del. C. ยง 363
07/01/2005
06/01/2006
|
Authority 2:
Date Effective:
|
Municipal Utilities' Green Energy Fund Program Regulations
03/01/2011 (as amended)
|
Summary:
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. The green energy programs offered by the state's municipal utilities occasionally vary from city to city. The Dover Green Energy Incentives program is unique in that the incentive levels and limits are distinctly different from those offered by the other municipal utilities, as well as those offered by Delmarva Power and the Delaware Electric Cooperative. For information on the incentives offered by other utilities, please visit the DSIRE Delaware page. The incentives offered in Dover are detailed below.
Solar PV
- General Incentive: $1.25/W for the first 5 kW of capacity (0-5 kW), $0.75/W for the next 5 kW (5-10 kW), and $0.35/W for the next 40 kW (10-50 kW). The maximum incentive is $7,500 for residential projects and $15,000 for non-residential systems.
- Non-profit Incentive: $2.55/W for the first 5 kW of capacity (0-5 kW), $1.50/W for the next 5 kW (5-10 kW), and $0.70/W for the next 40 kW (10-50 kW). The maximum incentive remains $15,000 for non-profit systems.
Solar Thermal (Domestic Hot Water, Radiant Heat): $1.00 per annual kWh saved, up to $2,500 for residential systems and $7,500 for non-residential systems
Wind: The incentive is $1.25/watt (W) for the first 5 kilwatts (kW) of capacity (0-5 kW), $0.75/W for the next 5 kW (5-10 kW), and $0.35/W for the next 40 kW (10-50 kW) with a maximum incentive for all sectors set at $2,500
Geothermal Heat Pumps:$800/ton for the first two tons of and $700/ton for additional capacity, up to $3,000 for residential systems and $10,000 for non-residential and non-profit systems.
Fuel Cells: 20% of installed costs, up to $7,500 for residential systems and $10,000 for non-residential and non-profit systems.
Systems are subject to a variety of equipment, installation and warranty requirements, including limitations on system orientation and shading for solar energy systems. In addition, to encourage energy conservation, an energy audit requirement has been instituted for both residential and non-residential customers as a condition of eligibility. 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. |
