500MW Solar Roof Program
Is Great News

The recent approval of the Southern California Edison Solar Roof Program by the California Public Utilities Commission is a huge leap forward not just for clean energy production in California, but for the realization of the hopes of many solar energy adherents, myself included. The plan, now approved, is to construct 500 MW of solar installations on the rooftops of existing commercial and industrial buildings.

First, the solar panels are to be located where the electricity is needed most during the daytime, on the roofs of factories and corporate buildings. This will reduce energy loss from transmission in power lines, making the energy grid more efficient and providing a more reliable supply of electricity to the buildings involved.

Secondly, there are no issues with compromising the environment, since the buildings hare already there and the roof space is otherwise doing nothing useful. There are no water requirements for the installations, nor any need for expending any energy at all other than to build the arrays.

Finally there is the issue of security for the installations. Since these buildings already have security measures in place, there is no need for any additional cost to Southern Edison on that front, saving them a substantial amount of money in the long run.

Who's Involved?

According to the CPUC press release, Southern California Edison will "own, install, operate, and maintain 250 MW of solar PV projects, which will primarily consist of one to two MW rooftop systems. The remaining 250 MW will be installed, owned, and operated by independent, non-utility solar providers selected through a competitive process".

That's great news all round.

20 June 2009

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