YOUR SUNPOWER SOLAR SYSTEM GUIDE

Transcription

1 YOUR SUNPOWER SOLAR SYSTEM GUIDE

2 WELCOME TO SUNPOWER Congratulations on leasing a new SunPower solar system. With over 100,000 solar systems powering homes worldwide, more homeowners are choosing SunPower. Whenever the sun is shining, you will know you are doing your part to improve the environment. Please do not hesitate to contact us with questions about your system. We are excited to welcome you to the SunPower family as you are making a change that benefits you and the environment for decades to come. Ken Fong General Manager, North America SunPower Corporation

3 TABLE OF CONTENTS 01 Getting Started 03 How Your System Works 05 Your Solar Panels 06 Your Inverter 09 SunPower Monitoring System 10 Electrical Utilities 11 Performance Guarantee 13 Lease Payments 14 Roles & Responsibilities 15 End of the Lease Term & Early Buy-out 16 Selling Your Home 17 General Safety Precautions 18 Frequently Asked Questions

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5 GETTING STARTED Your SunPower Solar system is a new and important element of your home. The system integrates seamlessly with your home s electrical system to provide clean and renewable solar power. You can expect many benefits from your system, including: Savings On Your Electricity Bill: Your home will consume the energy that comes from your solar system to reduce the energy you take from the utility grid. Worry-free Operation: With no moving parts, your SunPower system is durable and virtually maintenance free. Clean Power Generation: Your SunPower system produces clean, emission-free solar electricity that helps to reduce air pollution. OUR COMMITMENT: SunPower is committed to ensuring that your SunPower system is fully operational. For answers to questions about system use and operation, please read the information in this guide and keep it in a safe place for your future reference. CONTACTING SUNPOWER: SunPower is here for you. If you have questions about the operation of your system please check the FAQ section of our website, we likely have an answer ready: knowledge-base/ If you have questions about maintenance, call us at (1-800-SUNPOWER) or us at customercare@sunpowercorp.com. Please include your name, address, telephone number and your lease number in your . 02

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7 HOW YOUR SUNPOWER SYSTEM WORKS SOLAR 1. SUNPOWER SOLAR PANELS From sunrise to sunset, the SunPower solar system is converting sunlight into electricity. The system turns on automatically in the morning and turns off automatically at night. Solar cells within the panels produce direct current (DC) electricity that flows to an inverter. 2. THE SUNPOWER INVERTER The inverter converts the DC electricity being produced by your panels into alternating current (AC), which is required for household use. The converted solar electricity is delivered directly to your home s main electrical service panel. 3. YOUR ELECTRIC METER The electric meter measures the net electricity usage, showing the difference between your home consumption and your SunPower system s energy production. Depending on the time of the day, the meter will show the electricity that your SunPower system sends to the grid. 4. THE SUNPOWER MONITORING SYSTEM The SunPower Monitoring System provides you with detailed visibility on the amount of energy your system is producing, in addition to historical data. You can monitor your solar energy information online at sunpowermonitor.com or on-the-go with our free monitoring application, available for iphone, ipad, ipod Touch and Android mobile devices SunPower Corporation. All Rights Reserved. SUNPOWER and the SUNPOWER Logo are registered trademarks of SunPower Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. iphone, ipod, ipad and itunes are registered trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Android is a registered trademark of Google, Inc, registered in the U.S. and other countries. All other respective trademarks remain a respectable licensed product of it s original creator. 04

8 HOW SUNPOWER SOLAR PANELS WORK CONVERTING SUNLIGHT INTO ELECTRICITY SunPower solar panel s unique design and Maxeon technology are designed and built for higher efficiency, allowing them to convert the maximum amount of available sunlight into electricity. Though they are effectively maintenance free, SunPower recommends you take certain precautions to keep the system operating at its optimal level. SHADING SunPower panels should be shade free: trees, plants, or other obstructions including rooftop antennas or satellite dishes, should be removed if possible. If necessary, safely trim any vegetation that might shade the panels during daylight hours. GENERAL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS AND CLEANING Our solar panels do not generally require cleaning to meet your system s annual energy expectations. Seasonal rains are usually enough to adequately clear any soil or dust that might accumulate. When your SunPower Partner designed your system, they took into account the typical soil accumulation for your area. If excessive soiling occurrs, or if you would like to try improving annual system output beyond what is typically expected, you can clean your panels by spraying them from the ground with a standard garden hose. Only spray the panels early in the morning or late in the evening when the sun is very low on the horizon or not directly visible at all. Avoid spraying the panels when the sun is at its peak and allow the panels to cool before spraying them. Spraying cold water on a hot panel could result in panel damage, voiding the product warranty and violating the terms of your lease agreement. To maximize the energy improvement from cleaning, try performing it during the summer months and in between natural rainfall cycles. Do not use abrasive cleaners or anything that could scratch the surface of the panels. Many SunPower Partners offer professional panel cleaning for a fee, talk to your SunPower Partner to see if this is a service they offer. It s not necessary to go onto your roof for panel cleaning or inspection and we strongly recommend you not do so. If you choose to go on your roof, please take all safety precautions and do not touch or disturb the panels or wiring. It is important to remember that only a SunPower Authorized Partner should repair or touch system components. Please remind anyone going on your roof that they should not disturb the panels or wiring. Do not use mirrors or any other objects to concentrate sunlight on panels. Doing so will void your warranty. 05

9 HOW YOUR SUNPOWER INVERTER WORKS The SunPower solar system produces direct current (DC) electricity power that flows from the roof panels to an inverter. The inverter converts the DC power into alternating current (AC). Please consult your inverter instruction manual for information on the display and other features. The manuals are available in the Support area of our website: STARTING UP THE INVERTER During normal operation, the unit will remain turned on. It is not necessary to turn the unit on and off each day. To verify that your inverter is on, look at the front panel. During daylight hours, the green LED on the LCD screen should be lit. If the LED light is Red or Yellow, please contact SunPower or your SunPower installer. If no LED light is on during daytime, please follow the steps below. (Please note that it is normal for the LEDs to be off during night time) 1. Ensure that the solar breaker in your service panel (breaker box) is firmly engaged in the ON position. If the breaker is not fully engaged proceed to re-set it. If the breaker is in the OFF position move it to the ON position. 2. Turn the switch on the base of the inverter into the ON position. If the inverter is already on, cycle the switch OFF to ON. Note: Your inverter will take approximately 5 minutes to connect to the grid. After this period of time you will see a solid green LED as long as there is sunlight hitting the panels. 06

10 FRONT PANEL INVERTER DISPLAY Depending on the type of inverter that s been installed, you will be able to access basic information by pressing the appropriate button, or by opening the screen near the inverter s lid. Some inverter units will automatically scroll through this information every 5 seconds READING THE INVERTER DISPLAY Depending on the size of the system installed, you may have one or more inverters. During daylight hours, the inverter displays system production data. The inverter has an LCD display and three LED lights indicating the inverter status. The screen continuously scrolls through operating data during daylight hours, displaying readings that indicate its current energy production. Message #1: E-Today total energy produced on this day measured in kilowatt hours (kwh). E-today 3.86kwh Mode MMP Message #2: Nominal grid voltage configuration and actual line-to-neutral voltage measurements. For most homes, the voltage will be around 120V for both L1 and L2. Gridtype-298V L1 120V L2 120V Message #3: Actual instantaneous AC power output and DC input voltage. Pac Upv 3200W 380V Message #4: System total energy production and total hours of operation since installation. E-total 724.4kwh h-total 512h 07

11 INVERTER HEAT During the day, the inverter will become warm to the touch. This is part of the normal system operation. The inverter has been certified to ensure the maximum temperature will not exceed safety limits, though you should be cautious not to touch or leave any heat-sensitive or flammable items on or near the inverter. Small children and pets should be kept away from the inverter. INVERTER-OFFLINE OR BLANK DISPLAY At night, the inverter display screen is blank. This is part of normal inverter operation. If the display is blank during daylight hours, contact your SunPower Partner to determine if your inverter is operating properly. MAINTENANCE Do not cover or limit the airflow around the inverter, as this will prevent adequate cooling. Keep a minimum of 36 inches, including top and bottom, around the inverter free. Please refer to the inverter manual for additional information. Very dusty conditions may require cleaning the inverter s air intake filter. Do not attempt to open your inverter. Please contact your SunPower Partner or SunPower (1.800.SUNPOWER or ) for guidance; inverters should only be serviced by a trained SunPower technician. POWER OUTAGES Your solar system does not provide backup power. The inverter is designed to shut down in the event of a grid outage or blackout. This feature protects your home from power surges and the utility workers who might be working to restore power to the area. Your SunPower system will not be able to produce electricity during such conditions. When utility power resumes, the inverter will automatically re-connect to the utility grid, and normal operation should begin within about five minutes. As the inverter synchronizes with utility power, there will be a momentary delay before returning to normal operation. 08

12 HOW THE SUNPOWER MONITORING SYSTEM WORKS The SunPower Monitoring System provides detailed visibility into the system s performance, enabling you to monitor your solar energy information anytime, anywhere. You can track performance online at and on a wireless iphone, ipad, ipod Touch, or Android mobile device. REGISTER ONLINE Your monitoring equipment must be connected to a high-speed internet connection for the monitoring system to display data. To view your home s system performance, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, visit and follow the registration instructions. Once you ve registered simply enter your address and password when you visit the site. INTUITIVE MONITORING WEBSITE The SunPower Monitoring System provides convenient access to your solar system s performance from any computer connected to the Internet. After the system is installed and commissioned, log in to to view your energy production and environmental savings. You can see how much solar power you are currently producing, review historical energy production, track the overall performance of the system and system components, as well as create reports. You will also see how much you ve benefitted the environment over the lifetime of your solar system. You can also track your energy use if you chose to include the SunPower Consumption Monitoring Kit in your lease. The optional Consumption Monitoring Kit tracks your electricity usage allowing you to gauge your energy expenses and make smart decisions for your home and family. TECHNICAL QUESTIONS OR PROBLEMS RELATED TO YOUR SYSTEM PERFORMANCE If you have technical questions about the SunPower Monitoring System visit the troubleshooting guide at Or please call SUNPOWER and speak with a customer care representative. 09

13 ELECTRICAL UTILITIES Your electrical service panel uses the electricity produced by your solar system to power your home. If your home needs more power than your solar system provides, your local utility will supply the balance. And, if your SunPower system generates more energy than your home consumes, the surplus electricity travels through the meter and into the local power grid. NET METERING Net Metering is the term used when your SunPower system generates more energy than your home consumes. Your electric meter will spin backward and your electric bill will be credited for the surplus electricity you ve generated. Your local utility will calculate these net charges, and bill you for the difference. TIME-OF-USE RATE PLAN Time-of-use (TOU) plans vary by utility, but the basics are the same: under a TOU plan, a unit of electricity is priced depending on when it is purchased. Typically, the rates are higher in the afternoon than in the evening or morning. Similarly, rates are higher in summer than in winter. This rate structure benefits homes with solar systems because your system will likely produce the most electricity during the times when rates are highest. As you know, your system delivers excess electricity to the grid if you do not consume all the electricity your system produces. While TOU metering and rates are available to many solar customers, not all utilities offer a TOU option. Check with your local provider for TOU availability. In some cases, the savings from your SunPower solar system will increase if you switch to a TOU rate plan. 10

14 PERFORMANCE GUARANTEE Our industry leading Performance Guarantee is the solar industry s first manufacturer backed performance guarantee for homeowners. We ll pay you if the system does not perform at expected levels (see your Production Guarantee document and Exhibit A of your lease agreement for details). 11

15 HOW THE PERFORMANCE GUARANTEE WORKS Per the terms of your Lease agreement, SunPower Corporation Systems Group guarantees that your system will produce a range of kilowatt hours of electric energy (kwh) in each Guarantee Year. The total kwhs produced by the system in a given year is measured by the hardware installed (SunPower Monitoring System) with your system. After 12 months, you will receive a personalized statement outlining your system s energy generation for the previous year, including any credits applicable to your account. If the system produces below the estimated range, SunPower will reimburse you for the calculated shortfall. When your system produces more than the estimated range, you will use the surplus electricity at no extra charge. Your statement will include any energy credits being carried over to the next 12-month guarantee period. [See the Performance Guarantee section of your lease agreement for details] ANNUAL ESTIMATE RANGE The amount of energy a solar system is capable of producing varies by several factors: the size of the system, the roof pitch, the specific geographic location of your home, and the direction the system faces. The actual amount will vary from year to year, as the amount of sunlight falling on the system varies with the weather. PERFORMANCE GUARANTEE RATE PER KWH CALCULATION The performance guarantee rate per kwh is based on how much you have paid in to your lease, not on your utility rates. Depending on the type of lease you have, the performance guarantee is calculated as follows: LEASE TYPE Monthly Lease Prepaid Lease Partial Prepaid Lease kwh RATE CALCULATION Total (12) monthly payments in a year divided by the expected production in that year = the rate per kwh. Total prepaid amount divided by the expected production over 20 years = the rate per kwh. The partial pre-payment amount divided by the expected production over 20 years + the 12 monthly payments in a year divided by the expected production that year = the rate per kwh. MONITORING REQUIREMENT By activating the SunPower Monitoring System, as long as you maintain your internet connection, SunPower will track your system s production. In order for your system to be eligible for the Production Guarantee, SunPower must monitor the amount of energy your system is generating. If your system is disconnected from the SunPower Monitoring System for a period of more than one month during your lease, the production guarantee will be placed on hold. When the monitoring service is restored, a new 12-month guarantee period will begin. Refer to page 09, for details on connecting your system to monitoring. 12

16 LEASE PAYMENTS Unless you have a pre-paid lease agreement you will make a monthly payment to SunPower for the benefits of receiving clean, renewable energy from your solar system. Depending on the schedule outlined in your lease agreement, your monthly payment will be due on the 1st or the 15th of each month during the term of the lease. Please thoroughly review this section of your lease contract to understand your monthly payments. MAKING PAYMENTS SunPower will send you a statement before the monthly payment due date. Make your first payment after you receive your first invoice. Your first invoice may take up to 60 to 75 days to arrive and will include the period beginning from your Lease Term Start Date. Note: your billing start date is based on the Lease Term Start Date which is the date of written notice from the local utility authorizing operation of the system, not the date the system is interconnected. If SunPower has not received payment within 10 days of the due date, a late fee will be charged. ELECTRONIC PAYMENTS You can save $7.50 per month if you elect to send your payment electronically. If you did not do this at the time you signed your contract, you can always add it later. Call SunPower to set up your electronic payments. Complete Exhibit E of your lease agreement, Optional Authorization Agreement for Pre-Authorized Payments to have your monthly payments sent electronically. If you elect to send your payments electronically you will receive an notification one to two weeks prior to the first deduction. QUESTIONS OR PROBLEMS RELATED TO YOUR BILLING STATEMENT For further assistance about your statement call the SunPower Solar Program administrative team; you can find the phone number on your invoice or at about/contact/ 13

17 ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES We are excited to have you as a lease customer, and want to take a moment to highlight some of the obligations in our contract between SunPower as lessor and you as the lessee. LESSEE (HOMEOWNER) OBLIGATIONS Make timely lease payments to SunPower. Keep the solar panels clear of obstructions and shade. Do not make adjustments, modifications or unauthorized service to any part of the system. Provide SunPower and your Partner reasonable access to your system in the event of a service request. Notify SunPower within 24 hours if you discover your system is not working properly. Notify SunPower within 24 hours of any loss or damage to your system. Notify SunPower 30 days prior to the sale of your home. Maintain your high-speed internet connection and the SunPower Monitoring System connection, which may include a power-line Ethernet adapter that must remain connected directly to an AC wall outlet. Do not plug into a power strip. For a full list of your obligations, refer to your Lease contract. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PERFORMANCE GUARANTEE System must be transmitting data to SunPower Monitoring Website. Maintain all the obligations of the lease agreement. No shadows from buildings, plants, trees, or any objects that could shade the panels. California has a solar access law in place to help protect homeowners with solar systems (i.e., the Solar Shade Control Act of 1979). LESSOR (SUNPOWER) OBLIGATIONS Service all system components in accordance with warranty. Maintain insurance on the System. Monitor all systems connected to SunPower Monitoring. Provide Production Guarantee for all eligible systems. Upon request from lease holder at the end of lease, remove equipment from property. 14

18 END OF THE LEASE TERM & EARLY BUY-OUT After the final month of your lease, SunPower and your obligations come to an end. The solar system remains the property of SunPower. You have three options at the end of the 20-year term: 1. Purchase the system based on Fair Market Value (FMV) as determined by a 3rd party appraisal; 2. Extend the term of the lease; or 3. Request removal of the system, at no cost to you. BUYING THE SYSTEM BEFORE THE END OF THE 20-YEAR LEASE TERM There are three occasions under which you can to purchase your leased system; 1. The one-time early buyout, at year 7 (the Early Buy-Out ); 2. Upon sale of the home; or 3. At the end of the 20-year lease term. HOW DOES THE EARLY BUY-OUT OPTION (EBO) WORK? SunPower will provide you with notice 120 days before the date of the EBO; you must respond in writing no later than 60 days before the date of the EBO if you wish to exercise this option. The EBO date is 6 years and 6 months from the lease date; for example, if the lease date is 11/30/2011 then the EBO date is 5/30/2018. REFINANCING YOUR HOME WITH A LEASED SOLAR SYSTEM ON THE ROOF The SunPower lease does not prohibit the refinance of your home. Before refinancing, you should notify your lender that you have a leased system on your property. REMODELING OR UPDATING YOUR ROOF DURING THE TERM OF THE LEASE You must provide at least 15 days prior notice to SunPower of intent to repair or improve the premises, in order for us to remove or protect and secure the system prior to the repairs or improvements, and reinstall the system after the repairs or improvements are complete. The costs associated with removal and reinstallation will be at your expense. For more information on any of these items, reference your lease agreement. 15

19 SELLING YOUR HOME If you sell your home prior to the conclusion of the 20-year term of the lease, you have one of two options: 1. You can exercise the contingent buy-out option for the remaining value of the system (see Exhibit B of your lease agreement for the remaining value amount), and include the system in the sale of your home; Or 2. The lease can be assigned/ transferred as-is to the new homeowner. [See Lease Disclosures, item #4, What happens if I sell my home? ] If you take no action upon selling your home, you will remain responsible for the monthly payments on the solar system, even if the new owner receives the benefits of your system. Lease payments are due regardless of who benefits from the electricity generated by the system. DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED TO SELL YOUR PROPERTY Please contact our customer service team (1-800-SUNPOWER) to notify us of the upcoming home sale at least 30 days prior to the sale, if you sell your home during the term of the lease. The Lease assignment or system purchase documents will be provided to you based on the transaction type. 16

20 GENERAL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS Your SunPower system is fully automatic and comes with built-in safety features. Do not attempt to work on, alter, or repair the system; doing so could expose you to dangerous electrical currents and void manufacturer warranties. Do not attempt to service any portion of the system. Only a trained and certified professional should service the system. It s not necessary to go onto your roof for panel cleaning or inspection and we strongly recommend you not do so. If you choose to go on your roof, please take all safety precautions and do not touch or disturb the panels or wiring. It is important to remember that only a SunPower Authorized Partner should repair or touch system components. Please remind anyone going on your roof that they should not disturb the panels or wiring. Do not step on the panels or allow objects to fall on the panels. Do not disassemble or remove any part of the system. This will void manufacturer warranties. Small children and pets should be kept away from the inverter. EMERGENCIES Should there be a fire, explosion, gas leak, system damage, or fuel spill around the system components, dial 911 first, then shut down the system immediately by turning your inverter off. Please check your inverter manual to learn how to turn off your specific model inverter. Use your best judgment when shutting off the inverter during an emergency. If the emergency requires you seek safety immediately, do so first and then alert emergency personnel to the inverter s location in your home. For assistance in restarting your system after an emergency, please contact your SunPower Partner. 17

21 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS HOW IT WORKS How Do I Turn On My Sunpower System? Your SunPower Partner will turn on the system for the first time once permission has been given from your utility. Should you ever need to re-start it, please follow these steps. Move the solar breaker to the ON position, make sure that any external DC or AC disconnects are also on the ON position, finally move the inverter switch into the ON position. Depending on your inverter type, instead of ON you may have an on-line sign such as I (like a roman numeral 1). How Do I Know If My System Is Working Properly? You can verify the energy production via your SunPower monitoring system or by reading the energy production levels directly from the inverter screen. Will My System Work at Night? No. Sunlight must be present for the system to generate electricity. At night the inverter displays a blank screen. Will My System Work On Cloudy Days? Yes. However, it will produce less electricity depending on the density of the cloud cover. Will My System Work During Blackouts? Safety requirements prohibit the system from producing electricity during blackouts since there is a chance the SunPower system could feed electricity into the electric grid while workers are accessing it. The system will restart automatically when power is restored. Why Should I Limit Shading From Trees? The entire surface of a solar panel must receive full sunlight for the panel to work at its peak efficiency. If any portion of the panel is shaded, the entire panel s electrical output even those sections still exposed to sunlight decreases. 18

22 Can I Increase the Size of My System? Increasing the size of a leased system is not possible at this time. Please contact your Partner for additional information. How Long Will My Sunpower System Last? The combined 25-year warranty on materials, workmanship and power output protects your system for decades to come. SunPower controls the entire production process to ensure the highest quality product reaches your rooftop and produces the most energy. What Are Solar Cells and Solar Panels? A solar, or photovoltaic (PV), cell is the smallest element of a system that converts sunlight into electricity. Each cell is made of silicon, the same material found in computer chips. Silicon in photovoltaic cells is treated so that it generates a flow of electricity whenever it is exposed to light. A series of solar cells are wired together to form solar panels. Does My Sunpower System Make Hot Water? No. SunPower solar panels convert sunlight directly into electricity to operate appliances, light fixtures, televisions, and other electronic devices. ELECTRICITY & THE LOCAL UTILITY What is a Kilowatt-Hour (kwh)? A kilowatt-hour is a unit of measure for electricity. It is the amount of power (kilowatts) used over a period of time (hours). A 100-watt light bulb that is illuminated for one hour uses 100 watt-hours of electricity, or 0.1 kilowatt hours. If it is illuminated for 30 minutes, the bulb will consume 0.05 kwh of electricity, or half as much. Are Solar Electric Systems Good for the Environment? Yes. Energy created through the SunPower system produces no pollutants. By offsetting peak electricity demand, SunPower systems reduce the need for pollution-producing power plants. Are Solar Electric Systems Safe? Yes. Solar cells are mostly silicon, the primary component of sand. Solar electric systems produce no exhaust and no toxic materials. The electricity coming through the inverter is just like the electricity coming from household wall sockets. Homeowners should use the same care they would with any electricity. All components are approved and installed according to the best construction practices. 19

23 Is Solar a New Technology? Modern solar cells were invented in the early 1950s and were used to power satellites. In the 1970s, they were used for remote telecommunications and navigational aids. In the 1980s, they were used for roadside emergency telephones and traffic signs. Now in the 21st century, they help power your home. Currently, over 100,000 homeowners worldwide enjoy a SunPower solar system. SOLAR LEASE & BILLING Can I Claim a Tax Credit for My Solar System? No. The Federal Tax Credit is only available to the initial owner of the solar system. Under the lease program, SunPower owns your leased system, so Federal tax credits and state/ local/utility rebates go directly to SunPower and have been considered in the price of your solar system rent. What Is an Interconnection Agreement? An interconnection agreement is a contract between the homeowner and the local utility allowing the homeowner to connect their solar electric system to the electric grid and to receive credit for their surplus electricity. What Is Net Metering? Net metering is a way of measuring the difference between the electricity you buy from your utility and the electricity your home produces. Under net metering, any surplus electricity produced by the SunPower system is delivered back to the electric grid, effectively spinning your meter backward. When the system produces more electricity than your home consumes, the utility may credit your account for the surplus electricity generated. 20

24 SunPower Corporation 2013 SunPower Corporation. All Rights Reserved. SUNPOWER, the SUNPOWER Logo, MORE ENERGY. FOR LIFE, MAXEON and OASIS are trademarks or registered trademarks of SunPower Corporation in the US and other countries.