HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Works Solar PV Case StudyWhat is a Community
Solar Garden?
CITY OF EDINA COMMUNITY SOLAR GARDEN CASE STUDY
Community Solar Gardens are
generally large solar PV (photo-
voltaic) arrays that community
members can subscribe to.
Subscribers receive energy credits to
their utility bill without any solar
installations on their property. This
electricity is generated through the
array from sunlight and is delivered to
the utility grid with zero greenhouse
gas emissions.
2015: Background
Edina began exploring solar
energy in 2015 when the
Energy and Environment
Commission encouraged the
City to invest in renewable
energy that would also
benefit residents. This
prompted a city-wide effort
that resulted in a Community
Solar Garden (CSG) on the
Public Works (PW) building
in Edina. The EEC defined the
benefits as: demonstrated
leadership in renewable
energy, reduce greenhouse
gases, educate residents on
sustainability, help residents
save money, put the Public
Works roof to productive use,
and engage solar supporters.
Who Subscribed?
The CSG went live in 2018 with 68
subscribers that signed on within a
six-month period to help procure
project funding. Edina residents were
given preference if they subscribed
within a limited timeframe and then
the Garden would be opened broadly.
The array filled up almost
immediately with a waiting list full of
other interested residents. The City is
a back-up subscriber in case of a
large number of subscription
cancellations.
Learnings during Planning Phase:
The array was built to have 80-100 subscribers. Initially there were 68
subscriptions due to Edina homes being larger and having higher energy
needs. This demonstrates the importance of stakeholder identification.
Packaging financing times and terms together for the solar company is
beneficial to speed up the process and provide clarity.
Community ownership of the project should be a priority. The EEC was
involved in the initiation of the project and stayed up to date as it
progressed. This was sustained throughout the process and
demonstrated the commitment and interest from Edina residents in a
solar garden that was focused on community needs.
CEF is a co-op that follows certain cooperative values and principles that
promote community ownership which makes them a great local partner.
Talk to your utility partners early to see where they want to put solar.
Permitting and planning processes will progress smoother if the utilities
are involved from the start.
To kickstart the project, request for
proposals were sent out in Summer
2015, and a lease was signed in
December 2015 with Cooperative
Energy Futures (CEF) in partnership
with Impact Power Solutions (IPS).
The lease allowed CEF to build a
privately owned 630.18kW solar
system on the PW roof. CEF pays the
City of Edina an annual rental fee to
lease the roof space. CEF also
managed communications and
obtaining subscriptions from Edina
residents in partnership with
Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light.
2016: Planning Phase
(Led by Energy and Environment Commission and Staff Liaison)
Challenges during Planning Phase:
Determine the importance of owning credits and if the host site will be a
subscriber to the array or a backup subscriber.
Communications and education about the solar project should be
widespread and inclusive.
Understand the financial situation of your solar partners to avoid delays
and unexpected difficulties.
2017: Implementation Phase:
During the implementation process, IPS needed roof access which was available
through the Public Works garage. They worked with the City Electrician who
supervised the installation and provided roof access. There are no panels on the roof
section that is above office space, so they did not need to go through the front desk
area to access the roof. One of the biggest concerns during installation was
maneuvering and protecting the HVAC equipment that is on the roof. To do that the
City required that aisles be created between the various sections of panels and
ramps built over some the pipes. There was also some roof damage that occurred
during construction. The City Electrician monitored this and reported any damage to
the contractor who would send someone out to do repairs. The damage included
water leaks which leaked into the garage space underneath the array. Depending on
the space use underneath the roof prepare for any possible water leaks or roof
damage that may occur.
2018: Operating Phase:
CEF handles the operation and
management of the solar array and
subscriptions. CEF also provides an
annual report to the City of metrics and
updates on the CSG. The only
additional responsibility for the City is
to allow access to the roof when
needed, usually annually. The lease and
agreements for the array will be
reviewed as the roof replacement
scheduled for 2033 approaches.
Conclusion
In 2021, the CSG had a total of 76 subscribers and produced over
761,461 kWh of energy (see Figure below). This is equal to taking 71
gasoline-powered cars off the road. Subscribers also receive a bill
credit which totaled $120,168 in 2021. The array continues to be fully
operational with a waiting list of subscribers. Snow cover, shade, and
weather are all factors in how much energy the array will generate.
In 2021, some factors that decreased production included snow and
it was a less sunny year partly due to wildfire smoke from northern
Minnesota and other areas across the country. Overall, since the
solar array’s installation, both bill credits and energy produced have
been increasing each year.
(Data from Cooperative Energy Futures 2021 Updates)
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Contact Grace Hancock, Sustainability Manager
at ghancock@edinamn.gov
Thank you!
Cooperative Energy Futures
Impact Power Solutions
Key Partners
MN Interfaith Power and Light
Xcel Energy