Discovery Center Photovoltaic Parking Canopy

1. Discovery Center Photovoltaic Parking Canopy Manhattan City Comission 8 September 2009 Joe King Coriolis architecture - energy Lawrence, Kansas

2. Project Concept Manhattan is developing a Discovery Center as part of a comprehensive South End development plan. Incorporating photovoltaics would be consistent with the centers educational and environmental focus.  Placing the PV panels (modules) on parking lot canopies that would also provide shade an winter protection.

3. How PV Works Photovoltaics (PV) is the direct conversion of sunlight to electricity. PV discovered in 1839 (French), perfected by Bell Labs and NASA. Today’s PV cells are made from many materials, but mostly silicon, and have efficiencies of a few percent to over 40 percent.

4. Solar Resource

5. Kansas Solar Resource Map http://www.tatankaresources.com/KSSolarMap/Kansas%20Solar%20Resource%20Map.pdf

6. Kansas Solar Resource Map

7. PV System Components Cells are the basic building blocks, mono-crystalline on the left, multi-crystalline, and thin film. Cells are grouped into modules, often but not always frame, sandwiched in glass, and circuited to increase voltage.

8. PV Efficiency

9. Photovoltaic Market Expansion Current economic downtown is also affecting PV expansion, but industry observers still forecast dramatic growth. One current forecast sees 49% compound annual growth with production capacity reaching 42 GW in 2013.

10. Utility Scale Projects Nellis AFB, Nevada Alamosa, Colorado Leiberosa, Germany

11. Parking Canopy Projects Kyocera San Diego USPS San Francisco Applied Materials Sunnyvale • Parking lots offer potential sites for PV installation using canopies over stalls or entire lots. • Dual use of real estate in often large open areas • Photovoltaic array close to building electrical loads • Shading to reduce heat island and hot cars in summer • Protection from snow and ice in winter • Potential for electric car charging integration

12. PV System Costs

13. PV System Costs

14. Manhattan PV Performance

15. PV PerformanceVaries by Orientation and Time of Day

16. Multi-Year Performance

17. Discovery Center Electricity Use

18. Canopy Concept • Design exploration • North end preferred because it has less shading • Canopies over parking for vehicle shading and not over aisles to reduce risk of vehicle impact • Perimeter less cost effective “half width” rows not covered and perimeter landscaping is anticipated • North-south parking aisle alignment forces the structure into the same form resulting in more complicated structure • Column pier bollards are aligned to minimize impact

19. Canopy Concept

20. Canopy Concept Shadows - 4:00 PM 21 Dec Shadows - 6:00 PM 21 Jun Looking Northwest Looking West-Northwest

21. Canopy Concept • Canopy PV array configuration • Three rows, each 37 ft-8 in E-W, two-hundred-eleven ft–six in N-S, covering 7,967 sq ft per row, a total of 23,902 sq ft, covering 126 parking spaces • Each row has 15 sub-arrays, each 37 ft -8 in E-W, 10 ft N-S, slope 25 degrees and each sub-array has a N-S footprint of nine ft and a gap of 5 ft (in plan) to minimize shading. • The total array surface is 16,950 sq ft • Array peak rated capacity of 170 – 340 kW. A net array efficiency greater than about 12 % would accommodate 200 kW array design limit set by Kansas net metering statute.

22. Kansas Renewable Portfolio Standard • Kansas enacted renewable energy portfolio legislation in 2009. Public utilities (municipals exempt) required to have renewable generation with a capacity totaling 20 percent of their peak load by 2020.

23. Kansas Net Metering • Kansas also enact-ed net metering legislation in 2009. Public utilities (not all) are basically required to let the meter run both ways for some customers. • Many implementa-tion details have not yet been resolved.

24. Kansas Net Metering • Affected utilities • Limited to one percent of the utility’s peak demand during the previous year • are required offer to the customer-generator a contract that is identical in structure and monthly charges to that offered non-generators and shall not charge the customer any added standby, capacity, interconnection or other fee • Generation in excess is carried to the next month but balance lost at end of year • 25 kW limit residential, 200 kW commercial • Many issues await KCC rules

25. Federal Incentives • Accelerated depreciation – 5 year • Investment tax credit - ITC for solar energy property for eight years through December 31, 2016. Cash grants in lieu of ITC for commercial solar PV projects.  The PV system must be placed in service in 2009 or 2010 or, if construction begins in 2009 or 2010, placed in service by the end of 2016.   Might be applicable with innovative financing. • Clean Renewable Energy Bonds (CREBs) • Other stimulus grant prospects

26. Kansas Incentives • Property tax exemption • Net metering • Potential role in RPS (some states have solar set-asides, Kansas does not) • Some state provide less, others much more • Seewww.dsireusa.org for details on other states

27. Financing Mechanisms • Innovative packaging of multiple incentives available from federal, utility, state, and local sources are driving PV development in some states but that does not really work in Kansas • Balance Sheet Finance • Tax-Advantaged Debt (bonds, CREBs) • Tax-Exempt Lease • Service Contract (PPA) • Pre-Paid Service Contract (PPA)

28. Westar Rates and Position [Under Westar Energy’s current rate schedule the Discovery Center would pay an average of around $0.06/kWh. Recent and proposed rate increases are expected and the rate impact of state and anticipated federal renewable energy requirements as well as carbon reduction mandates has not been quantified. Rates in the near future of $0.08 – 0.10/kWh are likely. ] “It was determined that Westar Energy will not partner on building the solar panels at this time.   We have our own renewable projects going on and just cannot fund another.  Westar was very impressed with the City's plan but unfortunately will not be a partner.   Westar may be interested in providing an energy education exhibit / information for the public at the Discovery Center as Jason mentioned. “ Kelsey McCabe, Westar

29. Findings Global photovoltaic module production is expanding rapidly. Grid price parity, particularly when carbon costs are considered, is now anticipated in some areas. Maturing of manufacturing capability, distribution channels, installation skills, codes, and financing networks specific to PV allow lead players to achieve lower cost installations. Kansas project costs will reflect local markets’ limited PV experience. Locals that have aggressively promote PV have employed many of financial incentives. Few are available in Kansas.

30. Findings Non-tracking south facing PV modules will produce around 1.5 kWh per year per watt of rated capacity, 1-1.25 kWh net. PV systems of 100 - 500 kW that cost $8.00/W recently may decline to $6.00/Watt over the next two years and a goal of $4.00/watt is not unreasonable. Absent additional incentives PV electricity would likely cost $0.36 - $0.45/kWh. This is three to four times the near term highest anticipate utility cost, not counting climate legislation costs.

31. Options • Do Not Proceed But Continue Watching PV Market Evolution • Pursue Detailed Design and Financing Options for a 200 KW PV Parking Canopy System • Follow KCC Net Metering rules development • Continue to investigate financing options, particularly grants and CREBs • Develop full design documents with option to only rough in below grade electrical • Electrical rough-in only

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33. Photovoltaic Airplane Helios By AeroVironment for NASA