Delmarva Power – Green Energy Program Incentives

Program Overview

Implementing Sector State
Category Financial Incentive
State Delaware
Incentive Type Rebate Program
Web Site https://dnrec.alpha.delaware.gov/energy-climate/renewable/assistance/
Administrator Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
Funding Source Delmarva Power Green Energy Fund
Budget ~$1.87 million annually on average (65% of available Green Energy Fund collections)
Start Date 01/26/2015
Expiration Date None
Utilities Delmarva Power
Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies Solar Water Heat, Solar Space Heat, Solar Photovoltaics, Wind (All), Geothermal Heat Pumps, Wind (Small), Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels
Applicable Sectors Commercial, Industrial, Local Government, Nonprofit, Residential, Schools, Agricultural, Low Income Residential, Institutional
Incentive Amount Solar PV
Residential: $0.70/W
Residential Leased/PPA systems: Not eligible
Non-Residential: $0.70/W
Certified Diverse Business: $0.80/W
Non-Profit: $0.85/W

Wind
Residential: $0.85/W for first 5 kW, $0.25/W up to 50 kW
Non-Residential: $0.85/W for first 5 kW, $0.25/W up to 50 kW
Non-Profit: $1.75/W for first 5 kW, $1.00/W up to 50 kW

Solar Water Heating (SWH)
Residential: $1/kWh saved
Non-Residential: $1/kWh saved
Non-Profit: $2/kWh saved

Geothermal Heat Pumps
Residential: $800/ton (first 2 tons), $700/ton (over 2 tons)
Non-Residential: $800/ton (first 2 tons), $700/ton (over 2 tons)
Non-Profit: $1,000/ton (first 2 tons), $800/ton (over 2 tons)
Maximum Incentive Solar PV
Residential: $6,000
Non-Residential: $30,000
Certified Diverse Business: $40,000
Non-Profit: $35,000

Wind
Residential: $15,000
Non-Residential: $24,000
Non-Profit: $50,000

Solar Water Heating (SWH)
Residential: $5,000
Non-Residential: $10,000
Non-Profit: $10,000

Geothermal Heat Pumps
Residential: $5,000
Non-Residential: $30,000
Non-Profit: $30,000
Eligible System Size Solar PV and Wind: up to 50 kW
Equipment Requirements Systems must carry a full five-year warranty and meet applicable UL, IEEE, and NEC standards; Solar thermal systems must be SRCC certified (OG-300 for residential and OG-100 for non-residential); Geothermal heat pumps must have a minimum EER of 18.0 and COP of 3.6
Installation Requirements On- and off-grid systems are eligible; systems must be installed by a participating contractor; solar PV and solar thermal systems must meet orientation, shading, and aesthetics requirements; wind energy systems may be reviewed for wind resource adequacy
Ownership of Renewable Energy Credits Customer-generator

Summary

The Green Energy Program consists of three separate programs: one for Delmarva Power & Light (DPL), the state’s only investor-owned utility; one for the state’s municipal utilities; and one for the Delaware Electric Cooperative (DEC).  This summary provides incentives available customers of Delmarva Power and Light (DPL). The grants are administered by the DE Energy Office. 

The investor-owned utility (DPL) program was established as part of The Electric Utility Restructuring Act of 1999, and is supported under Delaware’s public benefits program, the Delmarva Power Green Energy Fund. Under the program, incentives are available for the installation of qualifying photovoltaic (PV), solar water heating, wind turbine, and geothermal heat pump systems. The Fund may also be used to support energy efficiency education programs. The program has recently been revised to allow projects financed using third-party power purchase agreements (PPAs). Grant eligibility and terms for PPA projects are determined by the eligibility of the project owner. Grant reservation request forms and interconnection requirements and forms may be downloaded from the Web site shown above.

Under the investor-owned program, 40% of rebate funding is available for residential customers and 60% of funding is available for non-residential customers, including energy efficiency education programs.* The total of all grants may not exceed 65% of the total annual revenue collected for the Delmarva Power Green Energy Fund. Incentive terms vary by technology, system size and sector is listed in the summary fields above. 

All systems must be installed by a participating contractor and carry a full five-year warranty. Beginning December 10, 2010 energy audits will be required for all existing buildings prior to grant approval. In addition, for projects undertaken as part of new construction, the building will have to be Energy Star certified in order to qualify for incentives. For further details on systems that qualify for rebates under this program, see the Green Energy Program Rules.


*S.B. 266 signed in July 2010 readjusts this allocation and requires that 60% of the funding support residential programs while 40% goes to non-residential.

 

Authorities

Name 29 Del. C. § 8051 et seq.
Date Enacted 12/13/2001
Effective Date 01/11/2002
Name Green Energy Program Rules
Effective Date 12/10/2010
Name S.B. 266
Date Enacted 07/28/2010

Contact

Organization:
Delaware Department of Natural Resources and
Address:
100 W. Water Street, Suite 5A,
Dover, DE 19904
Phone:
(302) 735-3480
E-Mail: