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CONTACT SCBJ Kurt Batdorf, Editor kbatdorf@scbj.com

Solar power works surprisingly well in the Northwest

By John Wolcott
SCBJ Freelance Writer

ARLINGTON -- “Despite the rain, Western Washington has an excellent climate for solar power production,” said Gary Shaver, president of Silicon Energy in Arlington.

“It's a popular misconception that solar panels work best in hot, dry sites. But in Washington our spring, summer and fall seasons are spectacular for generating energy. When there's cloud cover, the sun's energy still gets through, then reflects back to the clouds and back to the solar panels again. In fact, those dry climates people think are so great also create layers of dust and dirt that reduce solar performance. In the Northwest, rain washes our panels off and helps to keep them clean.”

Cooler Washington temperatures help solar panels to run more efficiently.

Just eight solar panels could provide 40 to 50 percent of a typical home's electricity much of the year, he said. While many solar panels on the market are primarily designed for rooftops, Silicon Energy's new panels are also designed for installation on walkway roofs or awnings.

Shaver brings years of solar panel experience to Silicon Energy, Washington state's first manufacturer of certified photovoltaic modules. Once general manager of SunEarth Inc., one of the nation's largest solar thermal manufacturers, Shaver started out at Silicon Energy as director of operations and legislation before becoming president. His innovative thinking and extensive experience in solar energy products are significant advantages in establishing a place for the company's products in a competitive marketplace.

“The timing has to be right, too. We're entering into an era when solar energy is attracting attention from much larger audiences than just hobbyists. For instance, Washington state's new solar energy incentives are providing a solid boost to Silicon Energy and the industry in general,” he said.

In 2005, the Legislature approved an incentive giving homeowners a payment of 15-cents-per-kilowatt hour for any solar energy they produce. Now, extra state incentives have boosted that subsidy rate to 54 cents per kilowatt hour.

Silicon Energy is also offering in June a Washington grid-tie solar inverter solution in addition to OutBack's batter-based inverter. As a result, Silicon Energy has a very good product offering for on-grid and off-grid applications.

Since buying power from Snohomish County PUD costs an average of 8 cents per kilowatt hour, homeowners with solar panels can earn a return of almost seven times the cost of PUD energy to help offset their cost of installing solar panels, he said.

“Including the 8 cents you're not paying the PUD for each kilowatt hour, your investment can bring a return of 62 cents per kilowatt hour, about $5,000 per year,” he said. “There's a lot of incentives now for businesses to invest in solar energy, too. Our products are designed to last 25 years or more. Payback for installing solar energy systems used to be 50 to 70 years, but with improved products and state incentives that payback is now more like 10 years.”

As an added benefit, PUD's new Solar Express program offers cash incentives and educational support to customers who want to install photovoltaic and solar hot water systems.

PUD general manager Steve Klein said Silicon Energy and OutBack Power Systems have put the county on the map “as a burgeoning community of clean energy technology start-ups … laying the foundation for a thriving economic engine and a culture of clean tech entrepreneurism.”

Klein said he belongs to several Puget Sound clean technology associations and “there is a real buzz out there about how Snohomish County is becoming a hotbed of green energy development,” a role that is being promoted by Snohomish County Economic Development Council and others who see “a real advantage in growing our reputation as an attractive area to locate and grow a clean technology business.”