MN Power’s Solar Sense Rebate Program

Officially opens on March 1st, 2022 and if you’re thinking about going solar you won’t want to miss this!

What Are Solar Rebates and How Do They Work?

Solar rebates work exactly like rebates for other consumer purchases. You submit the necessary paperwork, buy a new PV system, and receive cashback. It’s a very simple strategy for reducing the upfront cost of your installation by 5%, 20%, or more.

MN Power’s Solar Sense Program

Minnesota Power’s SolarSense program provides rebates to reduce the upfront costs of installing solar, helping make solar energy a more viable option for customers. SolarSense is available to customers installing a solar electric photovoltaic (PV) system.

The program funds are awarded to customers on a first-come, first-served basis. Customers applying for the SolarSense program must submit a SolarSense application to be considered for funding. Applications will be taken in the order received. The program opens for applications on March 1 of each program year. If more applications are received than funds available, names will be placed on a waitlist. Annual budgets for the SolarSense program are approved through 2024. SolarSense is an incentive-based program based on how much energy a customer’s PV system is expected to produce. Calculating the rebate depends on the design of the solar system—including tilt, orientation, and shading profile—and an estimate of annual energy production from PV Watts. PV Watts is a publicly available tool developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratories (NREL) to estimate energy output from PV systems. To calculate the SolarSense rebate, a PV system’s estimated energy output is multiplied by $0.52/kWh.

Here’s an example: An 8 kW system is installed on a rooftop in Duluth, Minnesota. The roof has a slope of 20 degrees and the modules face southwest at an azimuth of 220 degrees. The Solar Pathfinder shade analysis performed by the installation company determined the site has a yearly shading profile of 88 percent. According to PV Watts, the average annual production estimate is 8,874 kWh. This estimate is multiplied by $0.52/kWh, resulting in a total rebate of $4,614.

If this PV system had different parameters, the rebate amount would be different. For example, if the shading profile were 95 percent, the estimate from PV Watts would be 9,590 kWh. That would make the rebate $4,987.

The total combined rebate and incentives cannot exceed $10,000, or 60% of installed costs, whichever is less.

Please note that SolarSense program dollars are not reserved until an application is approved and a rebate reservation number is issued. Customers approved for SolarSense rebates will have six months from receiving both a complete interconnection application and rebate reservation number to complete the installation of the system. If the project is not completed within six months, customers will be required to reapply to the program, forfeit their reserved position in the rebate queue and return the rebate amount to SolarSense.

The Program is funded with the following budgets through 2024:
2022 – $175,349
2023-2024 – $87,675

Who Qualifies?

In order to qualify for Minnesota Power’s SolarSense solar electric rebate, you must meet the following criteria:

• Be a Minnesota Power retail customer installing a grid-tied solar system. All conservation program-eligible customer classes can apply—residential, commercial and industrial. Customers exempt from the Solar Energy Standard are not eligible to apply.
• Rebates are generally limited to one per customer, per year based on market activity and dollar availability. Customers may not apply for a SolarSense rebate if they have installed a solar PV system within the past 12 months.
• Be in good standing with Minnesota Power
• Get pre-approval of the project prior to purchase and installation of equipment.
• Install new components, including all major system components.
• Own the PV system and the property/building where the system will be installed.
• Complete the installation within six months of receiving rebate approval and a signed uniform statewide contract.
• You must have completed an energy analysis within the immediately preceding 24 months.
• You may not install a system with kWh generation capacity of more than 120 percent of the premise’s 12 months energy consumption.
• You must install a system with a nameplate capacity of 40 kW (ac) or less.
• The installer must submit system design specifications to Minnesota Power in order to calculate the incentive estimate.
• PV modules must come with a 20-year or more manufacturer’s performance warranty. All inverters must come with a minimum 10-year manufacturer’s performance warranty. Installers must offer a two-year workmanship warranty.
• You must submit the final installation costs to Minnesota Power.
• SolarSense Renewable Energy Credit (REC) and MRETs Schedule A contracts must be completed and submitted once the installation is complete.
• You must use a certified installer such as our partnered installer Belknap Electric
• All energy production must be measured by the production meter before going through any other device.

If you are unsure whether you are eligible to participate in the SolarSense program, please contact Optimum Energy Group by clicking the contact link below.

What is the Application Process?

Customers participating in the SolarSense program must follow Minnesota Power’s interconnection process. This process allows Minnesota Power to identify site-specific conditions that may affect the installation and notify the customer before the installation begins, saving time and money. The steps listed below are a brief outline of the complete interconnection process. Please review the interconnection process for more information and specific timelines.

1. Select a contractor-such as Optimum Solar
2. Submit an interconnection application
   Work with your installer to submit a complete interconnection application. If you are applying for a rebate from Minnesota Power please submit the additional SolarSense Rebate form. If you are planning to add a battery backup system in conjunction with a solar system, you also must complete the battery backup system addendum form. Applications begin to get processed when the period opens on March 1 so you’ll want to get your application in as early as possible.
3. Preliminary review and interconnection approval
   Upon receiving a complete interconnection application, Minnesota Power will conduct a preliminary review within 20 business days. During this review, a Minnesota Power representative will identify any site-specific conditions that may affect the installation. A preliminary review must be completed and approved by Minnesota Power prior to beginning the installation. Customers participating in the SolarSense program will receive a rebate reservation number once the application is approved.
4. Install the system-Once you have received an approval letter and rebate reservation number, the system installation may begin. Contact Minnesota Power when the installation is complete and approved by an electrical inspector to schedule a commissioning test. A certificate of completion must be submitted to Minnesota Power as proof of the inspection.
5. Connect to Minnesota Power

During the commissioning test, your existing meter will be exchanged for a net meter and the production meter will be installed. The system design parameters will also be verified for the rebate calculation. Discrepancies in system design and as-built verifications may result in adjustments to the rebate. Minnesota Power also will provide the SolarSense Renewable Energy Credit (REC) Contract and the MRETs Schedule A form. Both must be signed and returned to Minnesota Power. You will receive your SolarSense rebate check from Minnesota Power within 3-6 weeks after your meter has been exchanged and the solar system is connected.

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