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With the arrival of Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs) in Massachusetts, the economic viability of solar has improved dramatically. Unlike state and federal rebates and tax credits, there is still a lot of uncertainty about how much SRECs are worth and how long they will be around. Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs) are tradeable certificates that represent all the positive environmental attributes of electricity generated from a solar electric system. Each time a solar system generates 1,000 kilowatt hours (1 MWh) of electricity, an SREC is issued which can then be sold or traded separately.
Massachusetts SRECs are priced at market value rather than a fixed price. The price floor is established by the Solar Credit Clearinghouse Auction which may purchase SRECs not sold on the open market at a $300/MWh fixed rate minus a 5% administrative charge. The price ceiling is created by the Solar Alternative Compliance Payment (ACP), or the penalty that utilities must pay if they do not meet their SREC requirement mandated by the Renewable Portfolio Standard. The ACP is currently priced at $600/MWh, but can be reduced in future years based on supply and demand. Based on this information, it is safe to safe that a home or business with a solar installation can receive between $285/MWh and slightly less than $600/MWh this year. That's a pretty wide range.
From my perspective (and please let me know if your interpretation differs), the owner of a solar installation has two options. You can roll the dice and try to sell your SRECs on the open market through an aggregator and try to get closer to the price ceiling of $600/MWh. From my conversations with Knollwood Energy, one of the largest SREC aggregators in the Northeast, they are optimistic about the value of SRECs generated in 2010. If you installed your PV system in January 2010, then you would record the electricity generated for the first quarter (January 1 to March 31) at the beginning of April. The market value would be determined about one quarter and two weeks after the end of the first period which would be the mid-July timeframe and solar system owners would be paid soon after. In the open market arrangement, there is some ambiguity to how long SRECs will be available in Massachusetts. The market for SRECs opened on January 1, 2010 and it will only support 400 MWh of new solar (PV) capacity. The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources stated on their website that there is no way of knowing when that goal will be reached, but the state initially targeted they would reach this goal in 2016.
The other option is a term agreement at the price floor through the Solar Credit Clearinghouse Auction. Each solar installation will be given a set term of years during which it will have the right (but not the requirement) to deposit Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs) into the Auction Account. The term begins at 40 quarters or 10 years for Compliance Year 2010; however, it may be adjusted downward by two years annually. All projects installed in a given year will be given the same term established for that year. As mentioned above, the auction rate is set at a fixed rate of $285/MWh. Therefore, you know exactly what you're getting for a 10 year period. The timing of payment differs from selling SRECs on the open market through an aggregator. The auction for SRECs generated in calendar 2010 will be held the following July, - July 2011. That means that a PV system owner who decides they want to deposit their SRECs into the Auction Account will have to wait until they can cash in on the value of these credits.
If you are in the process of evaluating a PV system, pay attention to what your solar installer predicts is the value of SRECs and also look at the duration of payment. They should be showing you the most conservative calculation. Do not pick a solar installer just because they promise a higher value for your SRECs. Their own best interest is to show an aggressive valuation that shows you the quickest payback. On paper, it may look like you're getting the best bang for your buck from this installer, but they will not be the entity that will be exchanging or paying you for SRECs. If you see anything above $285/MWh, ask to speak to the SREC aggregator that gave them this pricing. A good solar installer should be educating you about the options and should help you navigate the SREC process.
About this Author
Mona Reese is the co-founder of Brightstar Solar (http://www.brightstarsolar.net), a New England-based company that markets, designs, and installs photovoltaic systems. The company enables its residential, commercial, and non-profit customers to create their own electricity safely, dependably, and with an attractive return on investment.
If you're interested in more information about solar photovoltaic installations, go to our home page or for more information about a free solar evaluation please go to: http://www.brightstarsolar.net/contact-us/
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