1. Incentives and Tax Credits Federal, state, and private incentives and tax credits exist to encourage the use of renewable energies. Federal, state, and private incentives and tax credits exist to encourage the use of renewable energies. California is the leading state for incentives California is the leading state for incentives Incentives and tax credits are based on: Incentives and tax credits are based on: –Type of renewable energy technology –The amount of electricity produced –Size of the system www.DSIREUSA.org

2. Incentives in Vermont Mainstay Energy is a private company, in New England, offering renewable energy system owners financial incentives. Mainstay Energy is a private company, in New England, offering renewable energy system owners financial incentives. Eligible technologies: Eligible technologies: –solar PV –wind –biomass –geothermal electric –hydroelectric –hydroelectric

3. Pricing Example: 2kW System A 2 kW system can produce up to 3,000 kWh per year: Cost before incentives $16,000 Cost before incentives $16,000 Incentives ($9,450) Incentives ($9,450) Net cost $6,550 Net cost $6,550 Annual utility bill savings $214 Annual utility bill savings $214 Decrease in loan payments $456/yr. Decrease in loan payments $456/yr. Annual savings $658 Annual savings $658

4. Surplus Energy can be fed back to the grid in two main ways: Usually occurs with large scale energy producers. Eg. commercial, institutional, and industrial buildings Wholesale price Wholesale price Net metering Net metering

6. The Big Three USA, Japan & Germany Japan and the USA are the two biggest exporters of PV cells and modules. Around 1.2 million solar thermal systems have been installed in the United States. 80% residential users. Germany is the leading PV market in 2003. About 20,000 solar electricity systems were installed, which yielded almost twice the volume installed in the previous year Over 90% of solar PV installations are in grid-tied applications in Germany (www.solarbuzz.com)

7. Japanese PV industry is the worlds largest and is growing rapidly Around 50% of the world's solar cell production is manufactured in Japan.

8. For those Who Need Convincing Roof tile technology modules Roof tile technology modules Rolls (Thin Film) Rolls (Thin Film) Hazardous wastes are not a large threat Hazardous wastes are not a large threat Silicon not intrinsically harmful Silicon not intrinsically harmful

9. With anticipated technology: With anticipated technology: –Multicrystalline 2-4 years –Thin Film 1-3 years 87%-97% of the energy input and output in solar energy is non-polluting 87%-97% of the energy input and output in solar energy is non-polluting –Production and transportation taken into account

10. If PV modules of 10% average efficiency on.1% of the Earth’s surface they would supply enough electricity for the world’s total energy load If PV modules of 10% average efficiency on.1% of the Earth’s surface they would supply enough electricity for the world’s total energy load Start up cost high but running cost is low in comparison to other energy systems Start up cost high but running cost is low in comparison to other energy systems After installation PV arrays require no fuel After installation PV arrays require no fuel PV arrays have little or no moving parts PV arrays have little or no moving parts Require far less maintenance than other renewable energy systems Require far less maintenance than other renewable energy systems