4. Assignment of Proceeding

Michael R. Peevey is the assigned Commissioner in this proceeding and Dorothy Duda is the assigned Administrative Law Judge in this portion of this proceeding.

1. The CEC has adopted system rating methodologies for BIPV systems and received actual performance data for many BIPV products.

2. The CEC data will enable calculation of an upfront, EPBB incentive payment for BIPV systems, as with traditional panel-mounted systems.

3. As the CEC adopts system rating standards for new solar technologies, these systems should become eligible for upfront EBPP incentives.

4. Retroactive changes in incentive program eligibility will create confusion and administrative expense and complexity.

1. To the extent enabled by the new CEC data, BIPV systems should be treated the same as traditional systems for purposes of the solar incentive programs.

2. D.06-08-028 and D.06-12-033 should be modified to allow BIPV systems to receive the same solar incentive options as traditional systems.

3. Open Energy's March 1, 2007 motion for official notice of the document referenced in footnote 3 of this decision should be granted.

4. This decision should not be effective retroactively, but should be effective immediately.

ORDER

IT IS ORDERED that:

1. Decisions (D.) 06-08-028 and D.06-12-033 are modified to delete the exclusion of otherwise eligible Building Integrated Photovoltaic systems from the Expected Performance-Based Buydown Incentive and to exclude only those solar technologies that are not listed on the eligible equipment list of the California Energy Commission (CEC) as set forth below: (New text is shown in underline and deleted text in strikethrough.)

a. Finding of Fact 13 - System ratings are not yet capable of estimating output for newer solar technologies, such as building integrated PV and bifacial modules.

b. Conclusion of Law 10 - All sizes of building integrated PV systems, even those on new construction, should receive PBI payments because it is difficult to estimate performance for these systems.

c. Conclusion of Law 11 - New construction projects other than BIPV, regardless of size, are exempt from PBI and should be paid up-front incentives to allow financing of net building costs by builders and developers.

d. Ordering Paragraph 5 (as revised in D.06-12-033, Appendix B). The Commission will require all solar installations for which the CEC has not adopted system ratings building-integrated photo-voltaic (PV) systems, including those on new construction, to receive incentives through a PBI structure.

2. Conforming changes consistent with this decision shall also be incorporated into the California Solar Initiative Handbook.

3. The Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Southern California Edison Company, and the California Center for Sustainable Energy, formerly called San Diego Regional Energy Office (collectively, program administrators), shall participate in the collaborative effort of the Commission's Energy Division and the CEC staff to develop an appropriate means to incorporate BIPV system data into the Expected Performance-Based Buydown calculation methodology.

Within 30 days of the effective date of this order, absent compelling need, the program administrators shall file in our Docket Office and serve on the service list to this proceeding a compliance filing setting forth the revised methodology in clear and concise terms, with supporting rationale. The assigned Administrative Law Judge has the authority to extend this filing date.

This order is effective today.

Dated August 23, 2007, at San Francisco, California.

ATTACHMENT 1

OUTLINE OF CHANGES TO METHODOLOGY

The operating temperature of a photovoltaic module affects its energy output characteristics and efficiency. Building integrated solar PV panels receive less air flow than systems mounted with full ventilation, so they operate at higher temperatures and produce less energy. The temperature of building integrated solar cells is characterized using the Nominal Operating Cell Temperature (NOCT), which is used in conjunction with a calculation procedure to predict the module's temperature for various environmental conditions. To correctly reflect BIPV performance in the EPBB incentive, the CEC has proposed a formula to adjust the PTC8 rating (and thus the CEC-AC rating) for the modules based on a NOCT specification for BIPV hardware. The PTC adjustment formula will be embedded in the EPBB calculator and will use module model performance specifications. An input field will be added to the EPBB Calculator so users can specify the type of module installation, which will depend on the size of the outdoor air gap underneath the panel.

The CEC PTC adjustment formula is:

PTC_adj = STC * (1 + (PwrTempCoeff/100) * (Tmod - 25))

Where:

"PTC_adj" is the adjusted PTC module DC power (watts) rating at installed NOCT

"STC" is the module DC power (watts) rating at Standard Test Conditions

"PwrTempCoeff" is the power temperature coefficient of the panel (%/°C)

"Tmod" is the module temperature at PTC, and is calculated:

"NOCT" is either provided by the manufacturer using the test protocol described in the CEC's NSHP Guidebook, or determined by applying a

20 °C adder to the previous NOCT value.

"n" is the panel solar to DC electric conversion efficiency, and is calculated:

(END OF ATTACHMENT 1)

8 PVUSA Test Conditions (PTC).

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