Solar & Battery Regulation & Incentive Programs

Minnesota Power - SolarSense Solar Rebate Program

Program Overview

Category:: Financial Incentive
Program Type:: Rebate Program
Implementing Sector:: Utility
State:: Minnesota
Eligible Storage Technologies:: Solar Photovoltaics
Website:: http://www.mnpower.com/Environment/SolarSense/
Incentive Amount:: $0.74/kWh estimated production in the first year
Maximum Incentive:: The total combined rebate and incentives cannot exceed $20,000, or 60% of installed costs, whichever is less.
Eligible System Size:: At most 40 kW or 120% of the premise's 12-month energy consumption
Equipment Requirements:: Install new components, including all major components. PV modules must come with a 20-year or greater manufacturer’s performance warranty. All inverters must come with a minimum 10-year manufacturer’s performance warranty. Installers must offer a two-year workmanship warranty.
Installation Requirements:: Systems must be installed by a certified installer (NABCEP or UL)
Ownership of Renewable Energy Credits:: Participants are required to enter into a contract with Minnesota Power giving them all RECs in exchange for the incentive
Administrator:: Minnesota Power
Applicable Sectors:: Commercial, Industrial, Nonprofit, Residential, Federal Government, Multifamily Residential, Institutional
Budget :: $709,356 (2020)
Start Date:: 01/01/2004
Utility:: Minnesota Power Inc
Last Updated:: 05/20/2020

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility	Sectors	Technologies
max $/kWh (1 year)0.7400	Commercial Industrial Nonprofit Residential Federal Government Multifamily Residential Institutional	Solar Photovoltaics
max $20000.0000	Commercial Industrial Nonprofit Residential Federal Government Multifamily Residential Institutional	Solar Photovoltaics
max % of cost60.0000	Commercial Industrial Nonprofit Residential Federal Government Multifamily Residential Institutional	Solar Photovoltaics
max kW-DC40.0000	Commercial Industrial Nonprofit Residential Federal Government Multifamily Residential Institutional	Solar Photovoltaics

Summary

Note: As of 02/26, all of the 2020 budget is either queued, reserved, or paid. It is possible that reserved dollars will be forfeited, however. Check the program website for updates.

Minnesota Power offers a rebate for grid-connected solar-electric (PV) systems up to 20 kilowatts (kW) in capacity. Rebates are worth $0.74/kWh expected production in the system's first year of operation. The expected production is determined by using PV Watts, a publicly available tool developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), and accounts for specific characteristics of the system's siting.

The installer must submit system design specifications to Minnesota Power in order to calculate the incentive estimate. Customers must also get preapproval of the project prior to purchase and installation of equipment. Additional requirements exist; see website above for complete details.