Commercial & Industrial Solar Rebate Program

Program Overview

Implementing Sector State
Category Financial Incentive
State New Hampshire
Incentive Type Rebate Program
Web Site https://www.energy.nh.gov/renewable-energy/renewable-energy-rebates/commercial-industrial-solar-incentive-program
Administrator New Hampshire Department of Energy
Funding Source RPS alternative compliance payments
Start Date 11/01/2010
Expiration Date When funding is exhausted
Utilities New Hampshire Elec Coop Inc, Public Service Co of NH, Unitil Energy Systems, Granite State Electric Co
Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies Solar Water Heat, Solar Space Heat, Solar Thermal Process Heat, Solar Photovoltaics
Applicable Sectors Commercial, Industrial, Local Government, Nonprofit, Schools, State Government, Federal Government, Tribal Government, Agricultural, Multifamily Residential, Institutional
Incentive Amount New PV systems less than or equal to 500 kW AC: $0.20/W
New Solar Thermal systems with 15 or fewer collectors: $0.12/rated or modeled kBtu/year
New Solar Thermal systems with more than 15 collectors: $0.07/rated or modeled kBtu/year
Maximum Incentive 25% of the total cost or $10,000, whichever is less
Eligible System Size PV Maximum: 500 kW (AC)
Solar Thermal Maximum: 100 kW (AC) equivalent
Equipment Requirements PV: Must comply with UL 1703 (by a nationally-recognized testing laboratory); inverters must comply with IEEE 1547 and UL 1741. All systems must include a revenue-grade production meter. Minimum system warranty of 5 years.
Solar Thermal: Must be SRCC/STC-rated. Minimum system warranty of 5 years.
Installation Requirements Pre-approval required
Ownership of Renewable Energy Credits Customer

Summary

The New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission initiated a new solar rebate program for non-residential applicants in November 2010. Funded by alternative compliance payments under the state’s renewable portfolio standard (RPS), this program supports solar photovoltaic (PV) and solar-thermal installations. In 2021, the New Hampshire DOE was given the administration and implementation authority over RPS policy and related renewable energy fund (per H.B. 2).

Installations must be located in the state of New Hampshire, and the facility must be served by an investor-owned utility or rural electric utility that is required to comply with the state’s RPS (municipal utilities are not required to comply with the state’s RPS, and therefore their customers are not eligible for this program). Systems owned by third parties and sited on eligible customer premises are eligible.

Applicants must first reserve incentive funding. In addition, applicants must complete a “Level II” energy audit. Only qualifying systems installed on or after November 1, 2010, are eligible. This program will operate on a year-by-year basis or until funding is exhausted, whichever comes first.

See the program website (listed above) for application materials, budget status, and additional program details.

Authorities

Name New Hampshire Statutes § 362-F:10
Name NH PUC Rule 2500

Contact

Organization:
Sustainable Energy Division
Address:
21 South Fruit Street, Suite 10
Concord, NH 03301
Phone:
(603) 271-3670
E-Mail: