SMUD Leads The Nation In Solar - reaches 10 MW mark
District's Solar Pioneer program booms as customers respond to energy crisis

source: press release 2002.01.18

The Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) recently reached the 10 megawatts milestone in solar electric power installations, enough to meet the annual needs of more than 3,300 homes. The 10 megawatts in over 1000 systems represents over half of all of the grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) systems in the U.S. Customers' interest in alternative energy sources surged dramatically during the energy crisis and helped SMUD expand its PV Pioneer program much faster than expected. With this achievement, SMUD continues to lead the nation in local solar installations.

With more than 1670 kilowatts of PV installed in 2001, nearly 1,200 kilowatts were installed as SMUD's PV Pioneer II solar electric power systems in more than 220 residential homes and commercial businesses in 2001. That's nearly seven times more than in 2000 when 178 kilowatts were installed in 60 residential homes and commercial businesses. SMUD also installed nearly 500 kilowatts in utility applications and an additional 331 kilowatts was supplied to partnering agencies outside of the service territory.

SMUD's PV II Pioneer program helps customers install photovoltaic cells on their rooftops and the power generated from the installations is net metered, allowing customers to be paid for electricity they generate but do not use. Net metering can cause the customer's meter to spin backward in some cases. "This demonstrates how solar electric systems can be a practical and cost-effective part of our energy crisis solution and how solar can provide real benefits to our customers," says Donald E. Osborn, SMUD's Superintendent for renewable generation.

The growth in solar installations will continue with the more than 2000 SMUD customers who have signed letters of intent to purchase their own net metered systems This is ten times the number of letters signed in 2000 and SMUD has tripled its staff and contractors to help meet the demand.

SMUD has also joined with local homebuilders to incorporate PV energy roofs in new home subdivisions. Under SMUD's Solar Advantage Home program, production homebuilders are able to offer new homebuyers commercially built homes that come with PV roofs as a standard feature. The systems are now available in 15 Sacramento new home communities. To date, nine builders have committed to an initial 133 homes producing 275 kilowatts. More than 20 of these homes were completed in 2001.

The demand for solar has also created local job opportunities. The CalSolar PV factory in Sacramento operated by TerraSolar Inc under license to Energy Photovoltaics Inc - SMUD's major PV module supplier, started production in 2001 providing most of the PV modules used in the SMUD PV programs. CalSolar employs 42 people and operates two daily shifts with plans for expansion to a third shift to meet customer demand.

SMUD installs solar photovoltaic installations and also assists local businesses with their solar projects. Some of the significant projects in 2001 include:
· Cal Expo Barns: 390 kW installed as 15 kW units on each of the 26 barns. This system provides power for the fairgrounds.
· The 12 kW PV system integrated into the new East End State Office building in downtown Sacramento, the first building integrated PV system included as part of the design and construction of a new large, commercial building in the western United States.
· More than 200 kW on 20 churches and other non-profits were added in 2001.
· A 28 kW array atop SMUD's Customer Service Center.
· A 10 kW PVPII system for TV Channel 10 that powers the "Weather Tower's" forecast display.
· 415 kW in additions to the SMUD Rancho Seco PV system.
· Several new Solarports (PV panels that provide cover for a parking lot shade structure) based on new, lower cost, smaller unit designs.

Other SMUD solar photovoltaic installations prior to 2001 include:
· Rancho Seco photovoltaic array, the world's largest, single site, PV power plant - now 3.9 MW.
· 540 kW Cal Expo Solarport, the world's largest parking lot solar electric shade structure.
· 500 kW array at SMUD training facility at Hedge Road.
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For more information see on the web: www.smud.org/pv