First-Year Solar Energy Report – August, 2017

  This energy report is based on data over the first full year since the Union Church 20 kilowatt system of solar panels began generating, from July, 2016 through the end of June, 2017.  The report consists of three observations corresponding to the three main projections made in “A Proposal for Installing a Substantial Number of Solar Panels on Union Church” we (the Properties Board) presented to the Church Council and subsequently to the Congregation:

1. The 20 kilowatt system installed should “generate about 25% of our electrical usage.”
2. It should take 15-21 years to repay the Hutchins Fund $36,000 from savings on energy and demand charge, depending on how electrical and demand charge rates change over time.  The higher rates go, the faster repayment will occur.
3. It is “reasonable and conservative at this point” to assume that “a 20 kilowatt system would save 10% on demand charge.”

Three observations drawn from the first year’s data:

1. The solar panels generated 34.3% of the first year’s electrical usage. (26,285/76,625 = 0.343)  This appears to be due to the panels’ generation rate and a continuing decrease in the amount of electricity we are using.
2. The Hutchins Fund was reimbursed $1,968.27 over the first year.  At that rate full repayment would occur in 18.29 years. (36,000/1968.27 = 18.29).  If electric and demand charge rate go up over time as expected, the rate of repayment will increase.
3. The percentage saved on demand charge during year one was 9.9%.

Altogether the first year’s data is very encouraging.