The Effect of Solar on Home Sales Prices

-- By Ben Hoen, Ryan Wiser, Peter Cappers, and Mark Thayer
    Ernest Orlando Laurence Berkeley National Laboratory

An increasing number of homes with existing photovoltaic (PV) energy systems have sold in the U.S., yet relatively little research exists that estimates the marginal impacts of those PV systems on home sales prices. A clearer understanding of these effects might influence the decisions of homeowners considering installing PV on their home or selling their home with PV already installed, of home buyers considering purchasing a home with PV already installed, and of new home builders considering installing PV on their production homes. This research analyzes a large dataset of California homes that sold from 2000 through mid-2009 with PV installed. Across a large number of hedonic and repeat sales model specifications and robustness tests, the analysis finds strong evidence that California homes with PV systems have sold for a premium over comparable homes without PV systems.

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The Drivers of the Levelized Cost of Electricity for Utility-Scale Photovoltaics

--by Matt Campbell

For more than three decades, utility-scale solar generated electricity has been dismissed as too costly. But the cost of solar generated electricity is consistently coming down, while the cost of conventional electricity is increasing. Advances in solar cell technology, conversion efficiency and system installation have allowed utility-scale photovoltaics (PV) to achieve cost structures that are competitive with other peaking power sources. The calculation of the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) provides a common way to compare the cost of energy across technologies because it takes into account the installed system price and associated costs such as financing, land, insurance, transmission, operation and maintenance, and depreciation, among other expenses. Carbon emission costs and solar panel efficiency can also be taken into account. The LCOE is a true apples-to-apples comparison.

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The New Economics of Commercial Solar

Understanding the true value of any business decision requires that you weigh the total benefit against the total cost of that decision, whether you are upgrading machinery, purchasing land, or installing solar technology. In effect, you must determine which option delivers the greatest possible return on your investment a reality.

Our webinar will lead you through the 4 essential topics one needs to consider when assessing solar economics.

Main Webinar Topics:

• Financing Options 
• Solar Project Incentives
• Measuring Total Return from a Solar Investment
• SunPower Capabilities

Webinar Speaker:

Terence Sobolewski, Business Development Manager, East, SunPower Corp

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Commercial Solar Solutions for Arizona Public Utility Customers

Thanks to a unique program with Arizona Public Utility (APS), SunPower is able to use existing APS solar rebates to help their customers start saving on electricity from day one. This webinar is designed to help businesses and government agencies understand the solar rebates and incentives that are available to APS customers. We will also discuss how to best assess the total return on solar over the entire life of an installation. Finally, we will provide an overview of SunPower’s turnkey solar solutions, designed to produce the most possible electricity so that our customers realize the greatest saving on energy costs.

Main Webinar Topics:

• How to take advantage of solar rebates from APS
• Achieve the greatest return on a solar project
• SunPower’s turnkey solar solutions

Webinar Speaker:

Rick Whisman, Managing Director, National Accounts West, SunPower Corp

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Valuing the Return on Commercial Solar Projects

With rising grid electricity prices and declining solar technology costs, the economic benefits of solar power are becoming increasingly difficult for leading businesses to ignore. Transitioning to solar can save money on energy today and hedge against rising utility rates tomorrow. However, before moving forward with solar, it is important to determine the total energy and savings available over the life of a photovoltaic (PV) installation.

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Solar For Business and Government: More Power. A Better Investment.

Solar PV is an excellent investment that can provide a long-term, stable cash flow. The return on investment should be central to the choice of PV systems, and SunPower’s unique technology can help maximize economic return.

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