Engineering topics

Sandler, Simon

Publications and source records attributed to Sandler, Simon.

10 records

DOE OSTI2024

State Policies and Programs for Community Solar

The purpose of this dataset is to summarize current community solar policies and related stipulations by state in the United States. The dataset is updated multiple times per year. The current version is the first file located below. Previous versions of the dataset published before August of 2024 can be found in the dataset below labeled “ARCHIVE_State Policies and Programs for Community Solar_Before 08.24.“ This list has been reviewed, but errors may exist, and the list may not be comprehensive. NLR invites input to update or add to the database. Please submit updates, additions, and corrections to Jenna Harmon (Jenna.Harmon@nlr.gov) and Sonja Berdahl (sonja.berdahl@nlr.gov).

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2024

Community Solar Policy Landscape and Pathways to Meaningful Benefits: A Review of Equitable Access and Household Savings

As of August 2024, community solar legislation and policies have been implemented in 24 U.S. states and localities, including the District of Columbia. These policies have driven significant growth in the community solar market. The states that have enacted legislation accounting for over 62.8% of the country's installed capacity. Community solar policy designs are evolving, with many states expanding programs, enhancing equitable access, and ensuring household savings.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2024

DEPRECATED - State Policies and Programs for Community Solar (2024 Q3 Update)

This data set is no longer current – The most current data and all historical data sets can be found at https://data.nlr.gov/submissions/249 The purpose of this dataset is to summarize current community solar policies and low-income stipulations by state in the United States as of June 2024. The "State_Program" sheet summarizes the key policy details for each state. This list has been reviewed, but errors may exist, and the list may not be comprehensive. NREL invites input to update or add to the database. To submit updates, additions, or corrections please find contact information on the current data set page linked above.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2024

Community Solar Program Design Considerations & Modeling Inputs

Designing and modeling a community solar (CS) program is a complex process with numerous variable inputs that are interconnected. Modeling a CS program can be useful to inform the programs design itself while also providing stakeholders of all types with information. Accurate data inputs and assumptions are key to ensuring that a model is informative and as representative of real market conditions as possible. This report is an exploration of community solar program modeling considerations, especially as it relates to data inputs such as capital costs, administrative fees, and subscription size, using a CS program in North Carolina as a case study.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2024

Community Solar Subscription Credit Considerations and Case Study

Together New Orleans (TNO) requested technical assistance through the US Department of Energy's (DOE's) National Community Solar Partnership (NCSP). The National Community Solar Partnership is a coalition of community solar stakeholders working to expand access to affordable community solar to every U.S. household and enable subscribers and their communities to realize meaningful benefits, such as reduced energy burden, increased resilience, community ownership, and equitable workforce development. TNO asked for a subject matter expert from NCSP to review the Entergy New Orleans (ENO) proposed revised Rate Schedule for Community Solar Generating Facilities. TNO requested that the proposed methodology for subscription credits for applicable residential and non-residential rate schedules be reviewed to determine the expected credit rate. The aim behind the analysis is to provide TNO and engaged stakeholders with an informed understanding of the proposed rate schedule before making decisions on the appropriate rate design for community solar (CS) subscriptions. This report is an exploration of CS subscription credit rate calculation considerations using the CS program in New Orleans as a case study. The report provides a framework for modeling CS credit rates in addition to topics that may be helpful to address when undertaking program design or rule making.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2024

DEPRECATED - State Policies and Programs for Community Solar (2024 Q2 Update)

This data set is no longer current – The most current data and all historical data sets can be found at https://data.nrel.gov/submissions/249 The purpose of this dataset is to summarize current community solar policies and low-income stipulations by the state in the United States as of April 2024. This list has been reviewed, but errors may exist, and the list may not be comprehensive. NREL invites input to update or add to the database. To submit updates, additions, or corrections please find contact information on the current data set page linked above.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2024

Jackson County Community Solar Modeling Results [Slides]

Jackson County, via the U.S. Department of Energy's Communities LEAP (Local Energy Action Program) requested support on the topic of Community Solar in their area. NREL completed a technical and financial modeling exercise to determine the potential for developing community solar in the region. The analysis performed determined that the current policy and economic environment, in large part due to Illinois's Solar For All program, is advantageous to the deployment and growth of community solar in Illinois. Across all 6 scenarios modeled, including current minimum and maximum financial incentives, the economics yielded positive net present values for both the project owner and its subscribers. The analysis shown in this presentation is only one of the first steps in deploying community solar and suggests Jackson County should pursue next steps. Such actions could include refining project economics, partnering with local utilities, policy makers, and developers to identify potential projects and outreach opportunities, and educating and engaging community members.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2023

National Community Solar Partnership Technical Assistance: Together New Orleans [Slides]

This product is the outcome of a National Community Solar Partnership (NCSP) Technical Assistance (TA) request. TA is provided to NCSP members at no cost and upon request. Some TA, this project included, is later generalized and published to help educate the broader community, share findings, and provide best practices. Together New Orleans submitted a TA request to the NCSP aiming to obtain a third-party analysis on several rate compensation structures that could make project development more financially advantageous.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2023

Community Solar Program and Subscription Design

This slide deck provides an overview of community solar program design and subscription models. It introduces and explains the different elements of community solar program and subscription design, and proves proven practices and considerations when designing a community solar program. This slide deck was developed for a continuing education course hosted by the American Public Power Association (APPA).

community solar↗

DOE OSTI2021

SPECs Early-Stage Decision Model: User Manual

The SPECs Early-Stage Decision (ESD) model is central to the SPECs procurement solutions toolkit. The ESD model is an Excel-based spreadsheet model, which provides information about the economic and strategic value of a proposed battery-storage project or solar-plus-storage (solar-plus) project. The model can be used to explore combinations of storage-related project value streams in order to define a potential project, while educating co-op decision-makers about project benefits and costs. A sensitivity analysis function speeds the development of "what-if" scenarios. A gap analysis function solves for top-priority metrics and supports the inclusion of hard-to-monetize strategic values, such as the value of storage to defer costly system upgrades in light of increasing distributed solar and other distributed energy resources (DERs). Model outputs include the utility data, assumptions, and use-case scenarios that are recommended content for the requests for proposals (RFPs). The model may also provide an initial "sanity check" for RFP responses, supporting further discussions among utility staff, vendors and stakeholders. The ESD is not a "finance-grade" modeling tool, and users are cautioned to be mindful of its limitations, but the model has been reviewed by users, who recommend it as a way to drive faster and better project design and planning, as well as to facilitate better communications with vendors, grid partners, and stakeholders.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗