• Concentrating Solar Power
• Photovoltaics
• Reducing Grid Integration Costs & Technology Risks
• Accelerating Deployment
  • Customer Acquisition Costs
  • Financing & Contracting Costs
  • System Design & Engineering Costs
  • Permitting, Interconnection, & Inspection Costs
  • Installation & Performance Costs
  • Operations & Maintenance Costs
  • Policy & Regulatory Environment
  • Business & Customer Maturity

Reducing Installation and Performance Costs for Solar Projects

Labor costs represent a significant portion of total costs for solar systems like photovoltaics (PV). Workers who are involved in the installation of systems have a critical role in reducing both upfront and lifecycle costs of PV systems. A well-trained installer is a more efficient and is able to innovate ways to reduce installation time, troubleshoot issues in real time, and understand on-the-job safety protocols. By following best practices in areas such as wire sizing and caulking, skilled installers can reduce the personnel expenses associated with the need to return to a site to correct problems. Although the effect is not observed in upfront system costs, subpar installation practices effectively increase ownership cost by limiting system performance. A well-trained installer can install a system to maximize system performance as well as to prevent future fire and safety hazards.

The PV industry can adopt more efficient installation procedures, guided by an improvement in the quality and availability of quality training. Improved training efforts will help the industry reduce labor costs and maximize system performance.

Additionally, some state and local regulations require specifically skilled, trained, or certified staff for solar PV projects. These regulations and requirements vary widely; some states require solar-specific licenses, some states require an electrical license with no solar-specific component, and some states require certification to participate in a rebate program. These differences restrict workforce mobility and add complications for a business seeking to operate across jurisdictional boundaries.

Advances in technology, such as interlocking panels, also will increase installation efficiency, although these hardware-based technology solutions are being pursued under other Solar Energy Technologies Program initiatives.

By reducing costs and eliminating market barriers, Market Transformation efforts strive to meet the SunShot Initiative goal to make large-scale solar energy systems cost-competitive by 2020.

Market Transformation is addressing installation and performance costs through these activities:

• Solar Outreach Partnership
• Solar America Showcases
• Solar America Communities and Solar America Cities
• Solar America Cities Special Projects
• Education, Training, and Workforce Development