PA Sunshine Residential/Small Business Solar PV Program is closed
*As of November 25, 2013, the PA Sunshine Program has $0 available for payment of rebates.
What is the Pennsylvania Sunshine Program?
The Pennsylvania Sunshine Solar Program will provide $100 million in rebates to help fund solar electric (solar photovoltaic, or PV) and solar hot water (solar thermal) projects for homeowners and small businesses in Pennsylvania. This program is authorized by section 306 of the Alternative Energy Investment Act, Act of July 9, 2008 Spec. Sess., No. 1, (P.L. __, No. 1) (73 P.S. 1649.101 et seq.). Funding may also be provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Pub.L. No. 111-5 (2009).
Click here for the "PA Sunshine Guidelines for Residential & Small Business Solar Program" (PDF)
Click here for the list of qualified PV installers (PDF).
Click here for the list of qualified thermal installers (PDF).
Click here for the consumer protection notice.(PDF).
If you have any questions, please contact RA-eppasunshine@pa.gov. *
* DO NOT USE THIS ADDRESS FOR SUBMITTING A FORMAL RIGHT TO KNOW LAW REQUEST. INQUIRIES SENT HERE WILL BE HANDLED INFORMALLY. If you are seeking DEP records, please begin your inquiry by clicking here to obtain a request form. You may submit a Right to Know Law request form by e-mail to EP-DEP-RTK@pa.gov
Click here for the Annual Meter Report form (PDF) or the Annual Meter Report form (Word). Important: The form should be submitted in conjunction with a picture of the meter at the time of the reading.
Contractors; As part of the PA Sunshine Annual meter reading requirements, The following reports contain the one year anniversary date for your specific solar installation. Contractors should review this report to keep informed on the one year anniversary date. The meter reading report should be submitted with a 30 day window of this anniversary date.
Photovoltaic Meter Reading Anniversary Dates as of 06/02/14 (PDF)
SHW Annual Meter Reports are no longer required
Position on "Double Dipping" of Solar Rebates from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection: "The Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) position is that the PA Sunshine rebate may not be combined with other such rebates or subsidies to receive multiple benefits for the same solar project. Projects for which other rebates or subsidies are accepted are not eligible for the PA Sunshine rebate. This policy does not extend to the use of federal tax credits in conjunction with Sunshine rebates, which is encouraged where applicable."
Solar PV Basics
Photovoltaic Cells
Photovoltaic (PV) cells, or solar cells, convert sunlight directly into electricity. As the sun strikes a PV cell, the semi-conducting materials within the cell absorb the sunlight, producing electricity. Solar cells are often used as simple systems that power small calculators and wristwatches. More complicated systems provide electricity for pumping water, powering communications equipment, lighting homes, and running appliances. A series of solar cells form a PV array or solar panel. Between 10 and 50 solar panels are needed to power an average household. PV panels are installed on buildings in places of maximum sun and minimal shade in order to take full advantage of the sun's power. There is very little maintenance required to sustain solar equipment. Panels that are kept clean, can last 20 to 30 years.
Solar power can be used in a grid-tied system or in a distributed system. A solar grid-tied system links a series of solar panels through a power inverter to the utilities electric grid. The solar panels generate a direct current (DC) by drawing on energy from the sun. The inverter then converts that direct current to an alternating current (AC), which electronic devices and appliances can use. Batteries are not necessary to supplement the system and any excess electricity generated by the solar panels is redirected by the inverter back into the grid where it can be used on other premises.
Distributed systems work independently from a utilities electric grid, using batteries to store the power. Similar to a grid-tied system, distributed solar panels typically use a power inverter to convert the direct current from the sun into an alternating current, to be used on location. However, some systems function without an inverter and run only DC appliances.
Thanks to the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard Act of 2004, 18 percent of electricity sold at retail in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 2021 will be required to be generated by alternative energy sources. This includes 800 MW from solar energy, known as the "Solar Share". See this Solar Share Fact Sheet (PDF) for more information.
Program Overview:
Energy Efficiency First!
The department encourages energy efficiency before investing in solar PV. Energy efficiency is often a no-cost or low-cost way to reduce energy consumption. Energy efficiency will also maximize the benefits of a PV system. Don't know where to start? Please see the departments energy efficiency site above for more information!
Check out these helpful links for more information on PV:
Solar Hot Water Basics
Solar Hot Water Systems
A common use of solar energy in Pennsylvania is to heat water. Thousands of solar water heaters have been installed across the state. Solar water heating systems are an excellent application of solar energy because hot water is needed year round, including the summer when we receive a lot of sunlight.
Water heating is usually the second highest energy need, after space heating, in homes. For a family of four, water heating is approximately one-quarter of the family's energy consumption. Numerous conservation measures can be implemented to reduce this cost. Low flow showerheads, temperature reductions, tank and pipe insulation are just a few of the cost-effective energy measures that should be implemented prior to considering a solar hot water system.
The concept of heating water with solar energy is very simple. A good example of solar water heating is a garden hose left out in the sun. The hose absorbs the sun's energy, turns it into heat and transfers it to the water. Some solar water heaters are not much more complicated than this simple example.
Solar water heating can be used to produce hot water for a wide variety of uses. Obvious uses include washing, cooking, cleaning, and any other domestic uses of hot water around the home. However, applications are not limited to residential structures. Solar water heating is also common for service hot water in commercial and institutional buildings.
Check out these helpful links for more information on solar hot water:
