Million Solar Roofs Initiative

Announced in June 1997, Million Solar Roofs (MSRI) is an initiative to install solar energy systems on one million U.S. buildings by 2010. The initiative includes two types of solar technology: solar electric systems (or photovoltaics) that produce electricity from sunlight and solar thermal systems that produce heat for domestic hot water, space heating, or heating swimming pools.

The U.S. Department of Energy, through its Regional Offices, focuses its efforts on national, state and local partnerships, made up of the building industry, other federal agencies, local and state governments, utilities, energy service providers, the solar energy industry, financial institutions, and non-governmental organizations to remove market barriers to solar energy use and develop and strengthen local demand for solar energy products and applications.

The Million Solar Roofs Initiative does not direct or control the activities of the state and community partnerships, nor does it provide funding to design, purchase or install solar energy systems. Instead, the Million Solar Roofs Initiative brings together the capabilities of the Federal government with key national businesses and organizations and focus them on building a strong market for solar energy applications on buildings.

The Million Solar Roofs Initiative is:

Reducing emissions associated with power generation . In 2010, with one million solar energy roofs in place, the Initiative could reduce carbon emissions in an amount equivalent to the annual emissions from 850,000 cars.
Creating high-tech jobs. By 2010, approximately 70,000 new jobs could be created as a result of the increased demand for photovoltaic, solar hot water, and related solar energy systems.
Keeping the U.S. solar energy industry competitive. By encouraging a broader domestic market for solar energy, the Initiative could help U.S. companies to regain their competitive edge in the worldwide market. By 2005, the photovoltaic market alone is expected to exceed $1.5 billion worldwide.

Why We Support This Initiative

The Million Solar Roofs Initiative is helping increase the market for solar energy. At the same time, the Initiative is offering consumers an affordable, clean-energy option, creating new U.S. high-technology jobs, and playing an important role in reducing emissions.

Emissions associated with power generation are caused mostly by the inefficient burning of fossil fuels. By increasing the efficiency of how we use fossil fuels, reducing our use of these fuels and switching to alternative, non-polluting fuels, we can significantly reduce the emissions we put into the air and the atmosphere thereby reducing their harmful effects on human health and the environment. One of the most promising non-fossil sources is solar energy.

System Qualifications

To be included in the Million Solar Roofs Initiative, a building's solar energy system must comply with all relevant parts of the National Electrical Code (NEC), Underwriters Laboratories (UL) standards, and the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation (SRCC) standards. The system must also be located on or immediately adjacent to the building and meet the following minimum standards.

Photovoltaic Systems

Residential systems must be a minimum of 0.5 kW .

School and church systems must be a minimum of 1.0 kW.

Commercial systems must be a minimum of 2.0 kW.

More information on PV - Photovoltaic

Solar Thermal Water Heating Systems

Residential domestic systems must be a minimum of 1.0 kW equivalent or 20 square feet of collector area.

Residential swimming pool heating systems must be a minimum of 100 square feet of collector area.

Commercial domestic systems must be a minimum of 2.0 kW or 40 square feet of collector area.

Commercial swimming pool heating systems must be a minimum of 400 square feet of collector area.

Solar Thermal Space Heating Systems

Collector area must be a minimum of 100 square feet or 4.0 kW.

Cost of Solar Energy Systems

A residential solar hot water system may cost anywhere from $1,800 to $3,500 and compete effectively with water heated by electricity that costs 8 cents per kWh or more. Solar thermal space heating is very effective in most areas of the country. For example, the cost of a 100-square-foot transpired collector installation can range from $1,000 for retrofits on existing buildings and $500-$700 for new systems, but can produce energy savings to offset the entire cost of the system in five years or less.

Photovoltaic costs are more complicated because system size, features, and net cost to the users depend on the financing terms and interest rates, available incentives, and access to low-cost hardware and installation through bulk purchasing programs.

For example, in a recent study of Million Solar Roof photovoltaic system costs from 1997 to 2000 found that residential photovoltaic systems installed in Sacramento, California, cost about $5,100 per kilowatt (this cost does not include the incentives available which lower the cost to the homeowner significantly) and provide energy at approximately 18 cents per kilowatt-hour primarily due to a forward looking bulk purchase agreement with a manufacturer.

This same study found the national average cost of a grid-tied photovoltaic system to be $7,400 per kilowatt and off-grid systems (which include battery back-up in order to have electricity when the sun isn't shining) cost about $14,000 per kilowatt.

Graphical Payback Scenarios for Solar Energy Systems

This section was produced by the DOE NREL. As the cost of Photovoltaics decreases, so will the amount of years that payback is required. The Million Solar Roofs Initiative substantially reduces this payback scenario by offsetting the consumer's initial purchase price, along with other state incentive plans. The cost per Kw does range from $5100 US to $14,000 US for some off-grid systems.