Cumbersome, time-consuming, and dear photo voltaic allowing has been a significant block to better rooftop solar energy adoption for many years. Whilst photo voltaic panel prices got here down and photo voltaic allowing was streamlined in different nations, the USA lagged behind in some of the basic parts of the “going photo voltaic” course of. Then it arrived (a bit late) to the “there’s an app for that” celebration. Simply earlier than the launch of SolarAPP+, I interviewed Amber D’Ottavio, Vice President of Product Administration at Accela, who was one of many core folks launching the app in 2021 and shepherding it by to the place it’s at the moment. I nonetheless suggest that interview for a deep dive into the matter, in addition to a more moderen one Jo Borras carried out together with her for an replace. See right here (my interview first, Jo’s second):
The information at the moment, because the headline exhibits, is that greater than 10,000 photo voltaic permits have now been processed by SolarAPP+ (10,270 as of the newest replace from UL Options), and 27 communities at the moment are utilizing it. In whole, 59,350 kilowatts (or 59.35 megawatts) of rooftop solar energy have been unleashed by SolarAPP+. And the adoption charge is simply rising.
Estimating an hour saved for every allow, UL Options, presumes that the photo voltaic allowing app has saved folks 10,270 hours of allowing evaluate time. UL Options developed the app alongside the U.S. Division of Vitality’s Nationwide Renewable Vitality Laboratory (NREL).
Desk courtesy of NREL/SolarAPP+ web site.
UL Options highlights its standout metropolis to be used of the rooftop photo voltaic allowing app, Tucson, Arizona. “The Metropolis of Tucson, Arizona, has already issued 3,587 permits utilizing SolarAPP+, leading to 21,584 kilowatts authorized and an estimated 3,659 hours saved on preliminary allow opinions.”
Desk courtesy of NREL/SolarAPP+ web site.
“Providing our photo voltaic installers a solution to self-permit expedites the method,” stated Carla Blackwell, director of Pima County, Arizona, Growth Providers. “Pima County and the Metropolis of Tucson had been early adopters of SolarAPP+. The allow course of used to take a number of days, or weeks in some instances, however permits can now be issued the identical day an software is submitted utilizing SolarAPP+.”
So, the app is working. It’s one factor to develop and launch an app. It’s one other for the app to work effectively, get rave opinions, and get broadly adopted. Although, it appeared clear from the start that SolarAPP+ would certainly be a winner.
Right here’s only a bit extra concerning the app for individuals who need some extra particulars on what it entails and why it’s so helpful: “Combining the expertise and technical know-how of NREL, UL Options and trade companions with information from taking part native authorities and code officers fashioned the premise for the standardized plan evaluate software program. The software program can run compliance checks and automate constructing allow approvals for eligible residential rooftop photo voltaic vitality programs in a matter of minutes. It may well additionally standardize as much as 90% of system plans.”
“UL Options helps SolarAPP+ as an necessary enabler of safer and cleaner vitality. SolarAPP+ compliance checks are standardized and automatic so that allows for certified initiatives may be issued on the identical day, assuaging the executive burden on the native authorities. We’re working collectively with the NREL, the photo voltaic trade and municipalities to allow a quicker, extra environment friendly platform that bridges the hole between security, compliance and residential renewable vitality by SolarAPP+,” stated Ken Boyce, senior director of principal engineering within the Testing, Inspection and Certification group at UL Options.
Maybe we must always interview Ken or Carla subsequent.
