Program Optimization

Program Optimization

As incentive programs for renewable energy systems have proliferated, utilities and energy agencies have relied on Clean Power Research to quantify the value PV and design incentive programs that meet energy, economic and environmental goals. Research on program optimization provides guidelines on PV incentive design and the role of incentives in transforming markets.
Inferring PV system specifications from net loads and reconstructing gross loads
 |  October 2022

The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates that residential PV systems accounted for 61 percent of total...

Inferring PV system specifications from net load
+  |  June 2022

The increasing penetration of grid-connected solar photovoltaics has challenged the existing method of planning and...

Sunrun and Clean Power Research Receive U.S. Department of Energy SunShot Initiative Award to Develop First Solar Permitting and Interconnection Software Application for Installers
 |  November 2015

New Software Will Reduce Time and Costs of Going Solar and Improve Customer Satisfaction SAN FRANCISCO – November 16,...

Clean Power Research Takes on Solar Soft Costs and PV Fleet Integration with $1.5 million in SunShot Initiative Awards
 |  October 2013

New software services will help utilities cost-effectively manage interconnection, better engage solar customers, and...

Photovoltaic Incentive Design Handbook
+  |  June 2012

This handbook will help agencies and utilities select, design, and implement incentive programs that best meet...

Market Transformation Benefits of a PV Incentive Program
+  |  May 2010

Real-life example of the economics of implementing a PV incentive program Download PDF >>>

Expected Performance Based Buydown (EPBB) Incentive Structure: Rationale & Implications
 |  May 2006

Rationale for using an up-front incentive payment structure Download PDF >>>

Economic Benefits of Performance-Based Incentives
 |  July 2004

Compares the economic consequences of performance-based and buy-down PV incentives Download PDF >>>

Blog

Reducing uncertainty with observational MET programs
Jul 8, 2025
Reducing uncertainty with observational MET programs

This week, we’re pleased to present a guest post from GroundWork® Renewables’ Director of Data and Analytics Julie Chard. At GroundWork, we’re committed to delivering high-quality solar-meteorological (MET) data to reduce uncertainty in solar resource assessments. With more than 15 years of experience supporting the solar development community, our observational MET programs combine best-in-class equipment and […]

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The new SolarAnywhere® Probabilistic Forecast enhances risk management
Jun 25, 2025
The new SolarAnywhere® Probabilistic Forecast enhances risk management

PV forecasts are important for energy scheduling and grid stability. Traditional methods for near-term forecasts involve blending an ensemble of Numerical Weather Predictions (NWPs) into a single deterministic output, which is favored because it is simple to implement in operations. However, deterministic forecasts do not convey any information about marginal risks or the propensity for […]

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Streamlining Large Load Request Workflows
Jun 10, 2025
Streamlining Large Load Request Workflows

This year’s DTECH Data Centers and AI conference made it clear that in the era of AI and data centers, large load requests are hitting utilities faster and at greater scale than ever before. Policy, pricing, supply chain, and physical infrastructure are well-known...

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