As photovoltaic technology sees increased market penetration, solar thermal technology is striving to get out of the shadows. Cogeneration technology, a solution combining electricity and hot water production from solar energy is also becoming more widely available. What types of businesses should be considering a solar thermal installation? What are the various requirements of a typical project? How do the numbers add up with the various incentives and rebates available? How can solar thermal companies and installers break through the top barriers of adoption?

1.    Pre-Installation Considerations

• What are the cost, installation and maintenance comparisons between standalone PV, solar thermal, and cogeneration?
• HPPA (Heat & Power Purchase Agreement) vs System Purchase: What are the benefits and drawbacks to each?
• What are some of the necessary precursors to a solar thermal installation?
• How much of a factor are the Shade and Surface Orientation Factors?

2.    Incentives / Rebates / Payback

• What are the various Federal, Regional and California-specific incentives available to help offset project costs?
• With all possible incentives and rebates applied, what are the final out-of-pocket expenses for an installation (on average)?
• What is the average ROI for a typical solar thermal installation?
• How significant is the temporary exclusion of electric commercial projects from the CSI-Thermal Program due to California budget constraints? Is there any indication of when electric eligibility may be reinstated?

3.    Customer Education & Adoption / Marketing

• Is Solar Thermal still in the limited scale/early adopter stage or is it beginning to break into the larger market?
• How are companies addressing the top 4 barriers of growth as stated by the CPUC:
    1. Installation costs
    2. Lack of public knowledge
    3. Permitting costs and requirements
    4. Potential shortage of experienced installers

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