Solar Energy Systems

Growing Solar in Colorado
CO APA Annual
Conference
Crested Butte, CO
October 1, 2014
Agenda
• Overview
How does Colorado stack up?
Renewable basics
• Supporting Solar at the Local Level
Plan basics
Regulatory basics
• Solar Installations
Common misconceptions
Where does solar fit?
• Case Study: Fort Collins
OVERVIEW
(source: NREL http://www.nrel.gov)
2012
Colorado
69.9 MW installed
104,093 sq. miles
Germany
7.6 GW (7600MW) installed
137,000 sq. miles
Data Source: Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)/ Map: NREL http://www.nrel.gov)
Community Solar Gardens Act
HB1342 approved 2010
Solar Garden means
•
Generates 2 megawatts (MgW)
or less
•
Located in or near a community
•
Includes “subscribers” – retail
customer who owns a subscription
to the power generated.
Subscribers own a “share”
Permit/Review Fee Limitations
HB11-1199/CRS 30-28-113
•
All solar installations less than 2 MW
•
Limits all permit and development review fees
• $500 residential
• $1,000 commercial
Solar Facility Components
25 MW solar farm from higher perspective
Power stations – Inverters & Transformers
Solar Facility Components
Street view: 19 MW, 118 acre solar farm, Arizona. Solar
farm views generally limited to fence and first row of
modules.
Fence – 6’ required by National Electric Code,
often w/3 strands barbed wire
Renewables Basics
1 Kilowatt
= 1,000 watts
(kW)
1 Megawatt
= 1,000,000 watts
(MW)
1 Gigawatt
= 1,000,000,000 watts
(GW)
Renewable Generation
1 Megawatt installed solar capacity powers ~180 homes (in CO) uses 5-10
acres
Ranges from 79 in TN to 216 in CA, avg. of 164
(source: SEIA 2013 http://www.seia.org/policy/solar-technology/photovoltaic-solar-electric/whats-megawatt)
1 Megawatt installed wind capacity fuels 240-300 homes (US)
Renewable Employment
US Wind industry employs 80,000 (end of 2012)
US Solar industry employs 120,000 (SEIA 2013)
Solar soccer stadium in Mainz, Germany
SUPPORTING SOLAR AT THE LOCAL LEVEL
Why Address in your Plans and Regulations?
• Reinforce community’s support
for solar
• Remove potential barriers
• Create predictability for property
owners and installers
Photo: Clarion Associates
12
Policy Considerations
• Establish policy direction
regarding renewable
energy/sustainable
development practices
generally
• Define what types of solar
energy systems are
encouraged and where
Photo: Clarion Associates
13
Regulatory Considerations
• Clarify what types of solar systems
are allowed and where
• Mitigate potential nuisances
associated with solar equipment
(e.g. visual impacts, encroachment)
• Define and protect solar access
Photo: www.ebuild.com
14
Baseline Considerations
Zoning Code and Subdivision Regulations
SECTION
TOPICS TO ADDRESS
Permitted Uses
Primary vs. accessory
Dimensional Standards
Height, lot coverage, setbacks
Development Standards
Screening, placement (on building or
site), site planning for solar access (lot
and building orientation)
Definitions
Types of solar systems, solar access, and
related terminology
15
Types of Regulations
BASELINE
Solar Energy Systems
(Accessory Uses)
Solar Energy Systems
(Primary Uses)
Solar Access Ordinances
OPTIONAL
Solar Siting Ordinances
Solar-Ready Homes
Photo: www.hmgf-ugm.org
16
Solar Energy Systems (Accessory Uses)
TYPICAL REQUIREMENTS
If building mounted, placement
on side and back roof slopes
encouraged
Typically must meet district
height, lot coverage, and setback
requirements
Photo: Clarion Associates
17
Solar Energy Systems (Primary Use)
TYPICAL REQUIREMENTS
Defined as solar farms, solar gardens,
solar power plants, or “major” solar
facilities
Generally allowed in a narrower range
of locations but becoming more
prevalent in urban settings
Height limits
Lot coverage limits
Fencing and enclosures
Photo: Solar Thermal Magazine
18
Solar Access Ordinances
TYPICAL REQUIREMENTS
Protection of solar access
Minimize shade on adjoining properties
through limits on
Building height and massing
Tree and landscaping placement
Solar access permits
Source: New York Times
19
Optional Considerationa: Solar Siting Ordinances
TYPICAL REQUIREMENTS
Minimum number of lots must be
“Solar-Oriented Lots”
Flexible setbacks to maximize solar
access
Streets designed to maximize solar
access
www.portlandonline.com
20
Optional Considerations: Solar Ready Homes
TYPICAL REQUIREMENTS
Structural/roof specifications
Solar “stub-ins” required for new
homes to support future
photovoltaic panel or solar hot water
heater installation
Installation of PV Conduit or hot
water pipes required on south, east,
or west-facing roofs
Photo: www.correctsolarinstallation.com
21
Getting Started: Available Resources
SOLAR INSTALLATIONS
Large Scale Renewables:
Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) & CPV
•
•
•
•
Concentrating PV
Power Tower
Parabolic Trough
Dish Sterling
Photovoltaic Energy
E seeking A:
Lonely electron seeks to bond with and
fill void in that special atoms’ life
for many exciting sun-filled days
Crystalline silicon
Semiconductor = multi-, poly-, or
mono-crystalline + phosphorous
Thin Film
Semiconductor = cadmium telluride
(CdTe)
Large Scale Renewables – Photovoltaics
Jacksonville Solar
15 MW – Jacksonville, FL
Solar Farm Visual Impact
Array
Approximately
6 feet tall
Module
Large Scale Photovoltaic Project Facts
No glare
• Less reflective than water and windows and
compatible with nearby residential, office, or
aviation uses
Very low noise
• 45 decibels at 10 meters from the inverters, which
is slightly less noise than a refrigerator makes
Safe
• Photovoltaic modules are enclosed in glass, carry
a 25 year warranty, meet all applicable electrical
and safety standards
Low voltage
• Far lower voltage than transmission lines – No
EMF impacts
Solar Farm Community Benefits
Employment – For large plants, 120+ workers on-site during peak construction;
100,000+ construction labor hours
Economic Development – Can generate millions of dollars in local purchases during
construction in addition to local wages paid
Air Emissions – Produces ZERO air emissions
Water – PV plants require no water to operate, produce ZERO wastewater
Storm water – precipitation passes between modules, supporting vegetation beneath
arrays. Neutral-to-positive impact on storm water runoff.
City/Fire services – PV plants generally have no on-site employees or traditional
buildings, require very limited city services, minimal public infrastructure needs,
no traffic impacts
Small Scale/Distributed vs. Utility Scale
Residential solar costs:
 $4-6/Watt AC
 $0.19/kWh in LA to $0.29/kWh in Seattle (without incentives)
http://cleantechnica.com/2013/07/09/solar-costs-and-grid-prices-on-a-collision-course/#1ukrEcI75zcs0A4r.99
Utility scale solar costs (2 – 50MW):
$2-$2.50/Watt AC
$0.06-$0.09/kWh (fixed for 20-30 yrs)
Residential solar costs:
 ~2x utility scale solar to install
 ~3x as much for electricity generated
Grid cost – Residential Retail Rates
$0.067 per kWh in Seattle to over $0.170 per kWh in New York City
http://cleantechnica.com/2013/07/09/solar-costs-and-grid-prices-on-a-collision-course/#1ukrEcI75zcs0A4r.99
Siting Solar Farms
Considerations
• Interconnection to the electrical grid, access to distribution lines
• Size/capacity 5-10 acres/MW
• Site conditions insolation,
topography, greenfield/brownfield,
zoning/land use,
wetlands/washes/streams,
floodplain, vegetation, endangered
threatened species
•Image of Wyandot bare to built site
Land Use & Zoning Mistakes
Solar and Wind Farms ≠ Industrial Land Use
Industrial zoning and land use characteristics:
Access to major transportation corridors, water, sewer = EXPENSIVE
Often urban, smaller parcels = EXPENSIVE, too small
Employment
Nuisances (noise, traffic, pollution)
Tonopah/Arlington Area Plan:
INDUSTRIAL: “major employment centers,” Uses permitted in this category
include warehousing, storage, distribution activities, and manufacturing
Requiring change of land use/zoning for solar amounts
to spot zoning , “stranded” industrial zoned land
PV should not be restricted to Public Utilities zoning
PV & wind ≠ traditional power plants. Do not need:
Massive amounts of water for cooling
On-site personnel
Fuel delivery via rail, road, or pipeline
Appropriate PV Land Use
- PV is a good neighbor, temporary land use, not an industrial land use
- Allow PV and wind in most zoning and land use designations (particularly
agricultural and rural) with:
-
Special use permit,
-
Conditional use permit,
-
Solar/Wind overlay district,
-
OR similar
CASE STUDY: FORT COLLINS
Commercial Solar – Fort Collins
Solar – Fort Collins Light and Power
Solar Trends
Cost Trends (Grid Power vs. Solar Power)
Leasing
Fort Collins Solar Programs
Rebates
Solar Gardens
Solar Power Purchase Program – “FCSP3”
Resources - Norm Weaver, [email protected]
Local Solar Trend
PV - Cumulative Installed Capacity
Q1 2013
Capacity (DC kW)
2,000
1,372
1,500
1,494
1,071
1,000
348
500
0
13
22
36
44
722
63
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Year
Fort Collins Solar Code
•
Acknowledge that solar collectors are a visible symbol of
our commitment to sustainability.
•
Draw no regulatory distinction between where electricity
is produced or received.
•
Integrate solar collectors into architectural form.
•
Scale solar generation standards based on the amount of
land coverage not the power generated.
Solar Energy Systems as an Accessory Use
•
•
•
Permitted in all Zone Districts “by-right”
Exempt from rooftop screening requirement
Ground mounted units subject to height/setbacks for accessory buildings
Fort Collins Solar Code: Principle Uses
Small-Scale
<0.5 acres
Solar Garden
Medium-Scale
0.5 – 5 acres
Large-Scale
> 5 acres
Evaluating Candidate Solar Sites
Large-Scale Solar Energy Systems
Size: Greater than 5 Acres
Where: Industrial, Employment Zones and
brownfield/non-habitable sites under Basic
Development Review
Design Standards:
•
30’ setback/100’ from residential
•
7’ Vinyl clad Security fence/knox box
Example: CSU 5.3 MW on 30 acres
•
Full-cut off light fixtures
•
Accessory building height limit
•
Electrical interconnection underground
•
Additional screening may be required to protect
sensitive views.
Medium-Scale Solar Energy Systems
Size: 0.5 - 5 Acres
Where: Industrial or Employment Districts
under Basic Development Review; Type I in
all other zone districts
Design Standards:
•
Principal Building Setbacks
•
Accessory building height limit
•
Electrical interconnection
underground
•
7’ Vinyl clad of decorative security
fence/knox box, if ground-mounted.
•
Full-cut off light fixtures
Example: Pickle Plant Solar Garden
Small-Scale Solar Energy Systems
Size: < 0.5 Acres
Where: Type I in UE, RF, RL, LMN and NCL zones;
Basic Development Review in all other districts
Design Standards:
•
Located within in principal building
setbacks
•
May be varied under hardship criteria if
needed for solar performance.
•
Accessory building height limit
Solar Sculpture Park
Cameron Gloss, AICP
Planning Manager, City of Fort Collins
[email protected]
970-221-6750
Director, Clarion Associates
[email protected]
303-830-2890
Megan Day, AICP
[email protected]
303-275-3261
Darcie White, AICP
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
QUESTIONS?

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