Commercial & Industrial Solar Rebate Program

February 22, 2023

Summary

The New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission initiated a new solar rebate program for non-residential applicants in November 2010. Funded by alternative compliance payments under the state's renewable portfolio standard (RPS), this program supports solar photovoltaic (PV) and solar-thermal installations. In 2021, the New Hampshire DOE was given the administration and implementation authority over RPS policy and related renewable energy fund (per H.B. 2).

Installations must be located in the state of New Hampshire, and the facility must be served by an investor-owned utility or rural electric utility that is required to comply with the state's RPS (municipal utilities are not required to comply with the state's RPS, and therefore their customers are not eligible for this program). Systems owned by third parties and sited on eligible customer premises are eligible.

Applicants must first reserve incentive funding. In addition, applicants must complete a "Level II" energy audit. Only qualifying systems installed on or after November 1, 2010, are eligible. This program will operate on a year-by-year basis or until funding is exhausted, whichever comes first.

See the program website (listed above) for application materials, budget status, and additional program details.

Program Overview

Implementing Sector: State
Category: Financial Incentive
State: New Hampshire
Incentive Type: Rebate Program
Web Site: https://www.energy.nh.gov/renewable-energy/renewable-energy-rebates/commercial-industrial-solar-incentive-program
Administrator: New Hampshire Department of Energy
Start Date: 11/1/2010
Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies:
  • Solar Water Heat
  • Solar Space Heat
  • Solar Thermal Process Heat
  • Solar Photovoltaics
Incentive Amount: New PV systems less than or equal to 500 kW AC: $0.20/W

New Solar Thermal systems with 15 or fewer collectors: $0.12/rated or modeled kBtu/year
New Solar Thermal systems with more than 15 collectors: $0.07/rated or modeled kBtu/year
Maximum Incentive: 25% of the total cost or $10,000, whichever is less
Eligible System Size: PV Maximum: 500 kW (AC)
Solar Thermal Maximum: 100 kW (AC) equivalent
Equipment Requirements: PV: Must comply with UL 1703 (by a nationally-recognized testing laboratory); inverters must comply with IEEE 1547 and UL 1741. All systems must include a revenue-grade production meter. Minimum system warranty of 5 years.
Solar Thermal: Must be SRCC/STC-rated. Minimum system warranty of 5 years.
Installation Requirements: Pre-approval required
Ownership of Renewable Energy Credits: Customer

Incentives

This program has 2 incentives
Technologies: Solar Photovoltaics
Sectors: Commercial, Industrial, Local Government, Nonprofit, Schools, State Government, Federal Government, Tribal Government, Agricultural, Institutional
Parameters: The system has a minimum of 500.00 kW-AC, The incentive has a minimum of 0.20 $/W
Technologies: Solar Water Heat, Solar Space Heat, Solar Thermal Process Heat
Sectors: Commercial, Industrial, Local Government, Nonprofit, Schools, State Government, Federal Government, Tribal Government, Agricultural, Institutional
Parameters: The incentive has a minimum of 120.00 $/BTU, The incentive has a maximum of 70.00 $/BTU, The system has a minimum of 100.00 kW-AC

Authorities

Name: New Hampshire Statutes § 362-F:10
Name: NH PUC Rule 2500

Contact

Name: New Hampshire Department of Energy
Organization: Sustainable Energy Division
Address: 21 South Fruit Street, Suite 10
Concord NH 03301
Phone: (603) 271-3670
Email: ENGY.GroupNetMetering@energy.nh.gov

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.