{"id":1939,"date":"2014-04-18T22:45:03","date_gmt":"2014-04-18T20:45:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hb-themes.com\/themes\/highend_wp\/?page_id=1939"},"modified":"2023-10-26T10:41:24","modified_gmt":"2023-10-26T15:41:24","slug":"faq-support-center","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.solarprojectbuilder.org\/index.php\/faq-support-center\/","title":{"rendered":"FAQ \/ Support Center"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\">[vc_row][vc_column][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;2\/3&#8243;]<div class=\"faq-module-wrapper\">\t\t\t\t<div class=\"filter-tabs-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"filter-tabs faq-filter\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"selected\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" data-filter=\"*\" data-filter-name=\"All\">All <span class=\"hb-filter-count\">(0)<\/span><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" data-filter=\"about\" data-filter-name=\"About\">About <span class=\"hb-filter-count\">(0)<\/span><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" data-filter=\"user-questions\" data-filter-name=\"User Questions\">User Questions <span class=\"hb-filter-count\">(0)<\/span><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"what-is-the-solar-finance-simulator\" class=\"hb-toggle about\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hb-accordion-single\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hb-accordion-tab\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"hb-moon-plus-circle\"><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat is the Solar Finance Simulator?\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"icon-angle-right\"><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hb-accordion-pane\" style=\"display: none;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The Solar Finance Simulator (\u201ctool\u201d) is an easy-to-use interface that allows a user to input a set of basic solar project assumption values to analyze and produce long-term financial forecasting of proposed solar photovoltaic (PV) systems.  <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"who-created-the-solar-financial-simulator\" class=\"hb-toggle about\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hb-accordion-single\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hb-accordion-tab\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"hb-moon-plus-circle\"><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWho created the Solar Financial Simulator?\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"icon-angle-right\"><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hb-accordion-pane\" style=\"display: none;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA), with support from the US Department of Energy Sunshot Initiative, developed the Solar Finance Simulator (\u201ctool\u201d) and website in partnership with Sustainable Capital Advisors and Future Web Studio.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"who-can-use-the-solar-finance-simulator\" class=\"hb-toggle about\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hb-accordion-single\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hb-accordion-tab\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"hb-moon-plus-circle\"><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWho can use the Solar Finance Simulator?\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"icon-angle-right\"><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hb-accordion-pane\" style=\"display: none;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The Solar Finance Simulator is available to any public tax-exempt entity (municipalities, counties, K-12 school districts, state agencies, and some universities &#038; colleges), non-profit organization, taxable commercial business, or private colleges interested in modeling the economic and financial aspects of solar photovoltaic (PV) system investment. Users of the tool are able to access with or without setting up a user profile, but those that do create a user profile will be able to save information input into the tool for future use.  <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"when-is-the-tool-useful-for-users\" class=\"hb-toggle about\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hb-accordion-single\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hb-accordion-tab\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"hb-moon-plus-circle\"><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhen is the tool useful for users?\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"icon-angle-right\"><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hb-accordion-pane\" style=\"display: none;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The tool is ideal for users during three phases of solar PV development: project concept validation, post site assessment, and post RFP solicitation.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Project Concept Validation<\/strong> &#8211; the tool can be used to estimate potential project cash-flows using financial assumptions prior to completing a site assessment. If the user has a sense of the project size (system kW), estimate installation cost\/watt ($\/kWh), electric rate ($\/kWh), user tax status, and the finance type (direct ownership, debt financing, PPA, or operating lease), the user can use the tool to model a project cash-flow projections up to 30 years.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Post Site Assessment<\/strong> &#8211; using site information gained from a site assessment, a user will have have a higher level of confidence in the data the tool calculates. Using the estimated project size (system kW), estimate installation cost\/watt ($\/kWh), electric rate ($\/kWh), the user tax status, and the type of financial type, the user can use the tool to model a project cash-flow projection for up to 30 years.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Post RFP Solicitation<\/strong> &#8211; using the tool, a user can verify project solicitor information by entering the applicable input values and simulating the financial projection. The benefit of this is that the tool can be used to validate the project assumptions proposed by a potential developer.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"will-the-information-be-saved-for-the-user\" class=\"hb-toggle user-questions\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hb-accordion-single\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hb-accordion-tab\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"hb-moon-plus-circle\"><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWill the information be saved for the user?\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"icon-angle-right\"><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hb-accordion-pane\" style=\"display: none;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Yes, if the user chooses to create a user profile. In doing so, a user can create, save, and export multiple financial simulation models.<\/p>\n<p>Users that do not choose to create a user profile will also be able to use the tool, but will not have the ability to save financial simulation models to future review in the tool. All users have the option to print or export the output data once a simulation is complete.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"how-does-the-tool-calculate-the-cash-flow-projections-and-generate-output-graphs\" class=\"hb-toggle user-questions\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hb-accordion-single\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hb-accordion-tab\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"hb-moon-plus-circle\"><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHow does the tool calculate the cash-flow projections and generate output graphs?\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"icon-angle-right\"><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hb-accordion-pane\" style=\"display: none;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Developed in consultation with Sustainable Capital Advisors (SCA), the MREA created this financial calculator using a combination input fields and financial calculations that are built upon financially reliable and sophisticated calculations.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"why-is-it-important-to-model-a-solar-project%e2%80%99s-projected-cash-flows-prior-to-construction\" class=\"hb-toggle about user-questions\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hb-accordion-single\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hb-accordion-tab\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"hb-moon-plus-circle\"><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhy is it important to model a solar project\u2019s projected cash-flows prior to construction?\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"icon-angle-right\"><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hb-accordion-pane\" style=\"display: none;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Solar PV systems are costly projects with high upfront costs, but also are designed to produce clean, renewable, carbon-free power for up to 30 years or more. Often times, grants, utility rebates or incentives, renewable energy credits (RECs), federal tax credits, and other incentives are available to reduce the upfront costs and make the economics of investment in solar PV systems attractive. Additionally, due to the continuing cost escalation of utility electricity rates, investment in solar PV systems can be a long-term hedge against future electricity rate increases; which will save a system owner money over the life of the system.<\/p>\n<p>Knowing what these economic and financial projections are prior to committing to build, is sound financial management, and can be used to support and justify the capital outlay for investment in solar PV.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"how-does-a-user-know-they-are-inputting-good-system-assumption-values\" class=\"hb-toggle user-questions\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hb-accordion-single\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hb-accordion-tab\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"hb-moon-plus-circle\"><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHow does a user know they are inputting good system assumption values?\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"icon-angle-right\"><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hb-accordion-pane\" style=\"display: none;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The tool has been designed to provide help text for each input and output value used in the tool and to guide the user to ensure reasonably accurate information is input into the tool. Of course, having a general understanding of the user\u2019s potential system size, utility rate costs and structure, and local installation costs, as well as rates associated with financing a system using debt are important, and this will increase the reliability of the output graphics and cash-flow projections the system produces.  <\/p>\n<p>For users of the tool considering a solar power purchase agreement (PPA), it is also important to have a general understanding of the PPA rate a developer will offer. Often calling a local solar developer and inquiring about PPA pricing will provide a user with general understanding of PPA rates and how local developers approach structuring of the PPA. Similarly, not all operating leases are structured exactly alike, so reaching out to operating leases to learn more about their structure and rates is an important first step before using the tool.  <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"are-there-limitations-of-the-tool\" class=\"hb-toggle about user-questions\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hb-accordion-single\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hb-accordion-tab\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"hb-moon-plus-circle\"><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAre there limitations of the tool?\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"icon-angle-right\"><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hb-accordion-pane\" style=\"display: none;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>As with any financial modeling tool, the output information is only as good as the baseline information put into the financial modeling tool. To ensure users enter input data correctly, the MREA has included help text for each input field to define and provide guidance for generally accepted ranges.<\/p>\n<p>The MREA has also incorporated default values, though these values may not apply to a user\u2019s particular project. The MREA advises users considering investment in a solar PV system to seek professional technical assistance when developing a project. <\/p>\n<p>Due to the changing solar PV market, system costs continue to drop in nearly all markets. Therefore, it is important to have some awareness of local installation costs similar to the system the user is proposing or considering. Additionally, utility incentives are often local, can change over time, and are sometimes difficult to understand.<\/p>\n<p>To seek assistance from MREA relating to project scoping, site assessment technical assistance, or financial modeling assistance, please inquire at info@midwestrenew.org. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"what-output-information-is-provided-to-the-user\" class=\"hb-toggle user-questions\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hb-accordion-single\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hb-accordion-tab\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"hb-moon-plus-circle\"><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat output information is provided to the user?\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"icon-angle-right\"><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hb-accordion-pane\" style=\"display: none;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The tool allows users (one-time or those that create a user profile) to generate output information for each finance type upon completing the input information and running the tool.  The user is able to generate the following output reporting information: summary of economics, four graphs, along with projected cash-flow (pro forma). Users who create a user profile will be able to save and return to the tool multiple times with the ability to modify the input variables and generate new output reports. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>[\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/3&#8243; el_class=&#8221;hidden&#8221;]<div class=\"shortcode-wrapper shortcode-title clearfix\"><h4 class=\"hb-heading \"><span>Ask your question<\/span><\/h4><\/div><div class=\"shortcode-wrapper shortcode-spacer clearfix\"><div class=\"spacer\" style=\"height:20px;\"><\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row][vc_column][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;2\/3&#8243;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/3&#8243; el_class=&#8221;hidden&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.solarprojectbuilder.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1939"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.solarprojectbuilder.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.solarprojectbuilder.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.solarprojectbuilder.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.solarprojectbuilder.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1939"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.solarprojectbuilder.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1939\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13587,"href":"https:\/\/www.solarprojectbuilder.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1939\/revisions\/13587"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.solarprojectbuilder.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1939"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}