SITE ASSESSMENT

To determine if your site is eligible for a solar hot water or solar electric installation a site assessment is required.  To be eligible for the The PA Sunshine Grant Program, review the eligible system guidelines below.  The homeowner can complete a preliminary site analysis to determine if their installation site is eligible and by running the solar calculator can determine the approximate installation cost, Federal Tax credits, PA Sunshine Grant amount and typical system payoff times.  If you have any questions, please call Maximus Solar for help.  We can help you run the online calculator or you can answer questions on the phone and we will run it for you.

Proceed with the following guidelines to perform a site analysis:
1) Does your roof have a good southern, southeast or southwest exposure?
        If the answer is yes proceed to question number 2,
        If you do not know, look at your site with Bing Maps.  Click here to view your site.  Type in your address and press enter.  Zoom in to get the closest view and click the control buttons at the bottom of the map and choose birds eye view. 

If your roof is not appropriate for the installation, you can consider a ground mount or other special application.

2)  Do any trees shade your site?  If the shading is questionable a shade analysis will be required.

3) Run the SOLAR CALCULATOR to determine system costs and payback times.

PA Sunshine Grant Eligible Projects

PV systems must meet the following requirements:

1. The rebate program will cover residential PV systems rated no less than 1 kW and up to 10 kW. Larger residential systems may participate but will only receive rebates equivalent to the costs of the first 10 kW.
2. The rebate program will cover small business PV systems rated no less that 3 kW and up to 200kW. Larger small business systems may participate, but will only receive rebates equivalent to the costs of the first 200 kW.
3. PV components must be new equipment (with the exception of the utility grade meter described further below) and must be on the California Solar Initiative’s list of eligible equipment. The design and installation must be in compliance with the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code.
4. The system installer must be on the Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) list of approved installers.
5. Solar shade analysis must be completed and a system performance calculation must show that the system will produce no less than 80 percent of the annual output of a system with optimal place orientation.
6. Any new construction home that is including PV as part of, or simultaneously with, the initial construction process must be Energy Star qualified.

Solar thermal systems must meet the following requirements:

1. The program will cover residential and small business solar thermal hot systems excluding those that are used for heating swimming pools or tubs.
2. Eligible residential solar hot water projects may receive a maximum rebate of $2,000.
3. Eligible small business solar hot water projects may receive a maximum rebate of $20,000.
4. Solar thermal systems must be new equipment, and solar collectors must be SRCC OG‐100 rated or equivalent. The design and installation must be in compliance with the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code.
5. The system installer must be on the DEP list of approved installers.
6. Solar shade analysis must be completed and a system performance calculation must show that the system will produce no less than 80 percent of the annual output of a system with optimal placement and orientation.
7. Any new construction home that is including solar thermal as part of, or simultaneously with, the initial construction process must be Energy Star qualified.

All projects must be in compliance with all applicable laws. Construction projects receiving state rebates and having a cost in excess of $25,000 may be subject to Pennsylvania’s Prevailing Wage Act requirements. For information about the applicability of Prevailing Wage, applicants should contact the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry at (717) 705‐7256 or (800) 932‐0665 or visit the Web site at www.dli.state.pa.us. It is solely the responsibility of a rebate recipient to ensure the Act is followed if applicable.

Frequently Ask Questions