November 17, 2016
On November 14, 2016, the Minnesota Department of Commerce announced incentive amounts for solar projects implemented under the Made in Minnesota Solar Incentive Program. The incentive amounts are for the fourth year (2017) of the 10-year, $15-million-a-year Made in Minnesota Solar Incentive Program.
The state-administered solar incentive program is available to customers of Xcel Energy, Minnesota Power, and Otter Tail Power who install solar electric systems (also known as solar photovoltaic [PV]) using solar modules certified as manufactured in Minnesota. Modules from five Minnesota companies—Heliene, Itek Energy, Saga, Silicon Energy, and Ten K Solar—have been certified for the program. Applications are accepted annually from January 1 through February 28 each year until the end of the program in 2023. Projects are selected randomly through a lottery selection process.
2017 Solar Incentive Amounts
Commercial For Profit—for systems less than 40 kW
- Heliene Modules = $.10/kWh
- Itek Energy Modules = $.11/kWh
- Saga Modules = $.13/kWh
- Silicon Energy Voyageur Modules = $.11/kWh
- Ten K Solar Modules = $.11/kWh
Tax Exempt/Nonprofit/Government—for systems less than 40 kW
- Heliene Modules = $.14/kWh
- Itek Energy Modules = $.14/kWh
- Saga Modules = $.16/kWh
- Silicon Energy Voyageur Modules = $.14/kWh
- Ten K Solar Modules = $.13/kWh
Residential—for systems up to 10 kW
- Heliene Modules = $.16/kWh
- Itek Energy Modules = $.18/kWh
- Saga Modules = $.22/kWh
- Silicon Energy Voyageur Modules = $.21/kWh
- Ten K Solar Modules = $.14/kWh
Incentives for PV systems are performance-based—established by a solar project’s energy production—and paid out over 10 years. Incentive amounts vary based on the manufacturer’s installed costs and other factors.
The Made in Minnesota Solar Incentive Program is administered by the Minnesota Department of Commerce with an annual budget of up to $15 million for 10 years, of which up to $250,000 per year can be reserved for solar thermal rebates. Approximately 50 percent of the incentives will go to residential systems and with the other 50 percent going toward commercial systems.
More information on the Made
in Minnesota program is available on the Commerce website. Questions can be directed to the Department of Commerce Energy Information Line: 651-539-1886 or toll free at 1-800-657-3710.
Incentive Amounts and Specific Modules Certified through Made in Minnesota
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