TVA - Mid-Sized Renewable Standard Offer Program

June 18, 2015

Summary

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) now compliments the small generation Green Power Providers Program by providing incentives for mid-sized renewable energy generators between 50kW and 20MW to enter into long term price contracts. The goal for total production from all participants is 100MW, with no more than 50MW from any one renewable technology. The Renewable Standard Offer program also includes Solar Solution Initiative program that offers additional financial incentives for Solar Photovoltaic (PV) projects. 

TVA bases the standard offer for customer generators off of a seasonal time-of-day averages chart, which sets base prices for the term of the contract. For projects approved after January 2015, prices increase at a rate of 5% per year beginning in 2016 and may be changed with 90 days’ notice by TVA (no more than 1% per year). For 2015, the average price is expected range between $0.029/kWh during low demand periods to $0.051/kWh during high demand periods. Learn more about pricing here. Generation is recorded monthly through metering equipment installed by TVA and paid for by the participant.

All energy output, Renewable Energy Credits (RECs), or other environmental attributes from installations under this program belong to TVA, and all marketing of the program should indicate that TVA (not the power seller) consumes all of the energy from these renewable energy projects. Biomass, Wind, or Photovoltaics can be interconnected through either TVA's transmission system or partners' distribution systems under 10, 15, or 20 year contracts. Biomass should co-fire 50% or more with the fuel consumption content approved by TVA and separately metered. The remainder of the biomass production can be purchased through the TVA's Dispersed Power Production Program.

Before approval, the seller must provide TVA with project financing arrangements, interconnection agreements between the seller and either TVA or a Distributor, and TVA metering installation plans at an environmentally acceptable location. The participating power producer is responsible for interconnection, performance assurance, and application costs. TVA, or an approved third party, will also perform an environmental review at the seller’s cost.

Program Overview

Implementing Sector: Utility
Category: Financial Incentive
State: Alabama
Incentive Type: Performance-Based Incentive
Web Site: http://www.tva.com/renewablestandardoffer/
Administrator: Tennessee Valley Authority
Start Date: 10/10/2010
Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies:
  • Solar Photovoltaics
  • Wind (All)
  • Biomass
  • Landfill Gas
  • Anaerobic Digestion
Incentive Amount: Seasonal and time-of-day prices are set at the date of execution of the contract agreement.
Typical pricing for 2015: Varying between $0.029/kWh-$0.051/kWh, with average price around $0.036/kWh
Terms: Up to 20 year contract with a 5% increase in base rates per year.
Eligible System Size: 50kW-20MW
Installation Requirements: Must be interconnected with a power distributor's or TVA's electric system
Ownership of Renewable Energy Credits: All credits and attributes are transferred to TVA.

Incentives

This program has 1 incentives
Technologies: Solar Photovoltaics, Wind (All), Biomass, Landfill Gas, Anaerobic Digestion
Sectors:
Parameters: The system has a maximum of 50.00 kW, The system has a minimum of 20.00 MW, The incentive has a minimum of 20.00 Years, The incentive is 0.04 $/kWh

Authorities

Name: Overview of Standard Offer program

Contact

Name: Tennessee Valley Authority
Organization: Tennessee Valley Authority
Address: 400 West Summit Hill Drive
Nashville TN 37902
Phone: (865) 632-2101
Email: tvainfo@tva.com

This information is sourced from DSIRE; the most comprehensive source of information on incentives and policies that support renewables and energy efficiency in the United States. Established in 1995, DSIRE is operated by the N.C. Clean Energy Technology Center at N.C. State University.