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Solar ABCs Newsletter
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June 2008
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Upcoming Stakeholder Meetings
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June 5-6
Building Electrical Codes Panel (Golden, CO)
June 20
Interconnection and Net Metering Panel (conference call)
October 17
Solar ABCs Stakeholder Meeting (San Diego)
Click on link to see full agenda for each meeting and to register. Space for each meeting is limited.
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Greetings!
Welcome to the June newsletter for the Solar America Board for Codes
and Standards (Solar ABCs). In this newsletter you will learn about
several of the issues Solar ABCs is addressing including guidelines for PV and fire safety, fire rating testing, and proposals for the next revision of the National Electrical Code. There
will be two Stakeholder Meetings in June and a Stakeholder Meeting at the October Solar Power 2008 Conference in San Diego. Look for the details and sign-up for the ones in which you have
an interest. Space is limited. If you want to play an active role in discussion, debate, and the preparation of position statements and policies, you may sign up to become an active member
of one or more panels. The Solar ABCs is organized into five different
panels with each having responsibility for different topics related to
specific codes or standards. Let me know if you have any suggestions for future newsletters or any other comments for Solar ABCs.
Sincerely,  Larry Sherwood
Project Administrator Solar ABCs
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 California PV Guidelines for Fire Safety
Through the California Office of the State Fire Marshall, the PV Solar Task Force Committee completed the final draft of the Solar Photovoltaic Installation Guideline. The guidelines concentrate on allowable roof access to perform fire suppression and rescue operations when panel solar systems are proposed to be installed on residential and commercial building roofs.
The Office of the State Fire Marshall has more information on the guidelines and a link to the complete document. Click here for more background on the issue of fire safety and photovoltaics.
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UL to Test How PV Modules Affect Roofing Material Fire Class Rating
As part of its work under the Solar ABCs, UL will run simulations and tests to determine if and how traditional PV modules affect roofing material fire class ratings and to then define the UL evaluation process, requirements and test method. Read on.
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Draft Proposals for the 2011 National Electrical Code
The Building Electrical Codes Panel through the PV Industry Forum recently released the 4th Draft of proposals for the
2011 National Electrical Code. Click here to view the current draft proposals. These proposals will be refined based on Forum input and
other proposals will be added. Revised drafts will be circulated as
warranted by Forum inputs.
The Panel will hold a Stakeholder Meeting on June 5-6 in Golden, Colorado to discuss the the ltest draft proposals and consider new proposals. Click here for more information or to register for this meeting.
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Gap Analysis Results
During its first year of operation, the Solar ABCs has been conducting a Gap Analysis, to assess the current state of the major codes and standards that bear on PV and to identify the priority objectives that will define the Solar ABCs future activities. From Stakeholder Meetings and individual communications, nearly 100 topics were received for consideration. The Solar ABCs Steering Committee, with assistance from the Advisory Committee, identified the following topics as high priority activities for future codes and standards work:
- Standardization of module power rating
- System Energy Performance Standard
- Standards to certify the accuracy of inverter meters
- Accelerated life testing for safety, reliability and durability of modules and the components used in modules
- PV Module frame grounding issues (including development of a generic method for testing clips so that manufacturers do not have to test every combination of clips with every module
- Roof-top PV module-specific fire research, testing and ratings systems
- National Fire Safety Guidelines for roof-top PV systems
- Revising building codes to address PV specifically
- Review and suggest updates to FERC interconnection screens
- Rate Impact of Net Metering
Solar ABCs is now developing work plans to address these high-priority issues.
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Interconnection and Net Metering Panel Stakeholder Meeting
The Solar ABC's Interconnection and Net Metering Panel will hold its 3rd Quarterly Meeting on June 20th, 2008. The meeting will be conducted via conference call from 2 PM - 4 PM ET. We will review the study reports that were completed this year and discuss next year's work plan. The focus of next year's activities will be on outreach as we get the word out about our activities from this year. Please join us so that your voice can be heard as we finalize our strategy for the upcoming year. Here is the link for more information and to register for the meeting.
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Solar ABCs to hold Stakeholder Meeting at Solar Power 2008
The Solar ABCs will hold a Stakeholder Meeting on Friday morning, October 17, immediately after the conclusion of this year's Solar Power Conference. Attendees will learn about the first year results and recommendations from Solar ABCS and have opportunity to discuss these and to provide input into future program directions.
The meeting will last from 8:30am - 11:30 am and will take place at the San Diego Convention Center. Click here to register. This site will be updated with a more complete agenda as it is available.
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Advisory Committee Elects Chair
The Solar ABCs Advisory Committee elected Nick Chaset from the California Public Utilities Commission as its Chair. Suzanne Borek from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, Division of Codes and Standards was elected the Alternate.
The Advisory Committee was empaneled to formally bring regular input from different sectors of the PV community into the Solar ABCs activities and review process. The Advisory Committee provides recommendations to the Steering Committee on solar codes and standards issues, elects one member to the ABCs Steering Committee, and provides valuable support to the Panels in completion of their respective deliverables.
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Report on IEC TC82 Meeting in San Francisco
In late May 2008, Technical Committee 82 of the International Electrotechnical Commission (TC82 IEC) held its once every eighteen months plenary meeting in San Francisco. About 120 delegates and observers attended the plenary and the Working Group meetings that were held during the week. Seventeen countries were represented, with the majority, of course, coming from the United States. Read on.
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New Report on Grid-Connected PV Metering & Interconnection Practices
The Solar Electric Power Associaton (SEPA) relased a new report, Residential Photovoltaic Metering & Interconnection Study: Utility Perspectives and Practices, which established a baseline of utility practices realted to residential grid-connected PV. The report is based on a national survey of the electric utility industry's current practices. The survey was developed and implemented by SEPA incollaboration with the Interstate Renewable Energy Council. The report is intended to provide a proactive look at lessons learned with a consideration toward developing best practices which will help make solar more practical and profitable in today's shifting energy landscape. The study can be downladed from the SEPA website.
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Metering & Performance Monitoring Exposition
The Solar Electric Power Association and PG&E are co-hosting a two-day Metering & Performance Monitoring Exposition. This is the only event of its kind in North America, bringing together metering and monitoring system vendors, utilities, and solar installers. The event is scheduled for August 5th and 6th, 2008 at the University of California, Berkeley.
Exhibit space is now on sale and registration will open soon. Visit the Metering & Performance Monitoring Expo site for more information.
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