I live in Colorado and must work with XcelEnergy as my utility for grid-tie/net-metering. XcelEnergy also has an optional “Solar Rewards” program that purchases Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs). I am not sure how they meter solar production for these SRECs on systems below 10kW, but for larger systems (like the one I am designing) they require a revenue-grade PV production meter. I am assuming that I provide the socket for the meter and XcelEnergy plops in the meter for generating SRECs... not sure who is the owner of the PV production meter.
As I started to design my system with a Sol-Ark 15k hybrid inverter, I realized that there is no place to put an AC PV production meter that will measure actual PV production. While I am sure this information is gathered by Sol-Ark, I have no idea if it is sufficiently accurate for SREC creation or how to integrate it with XcelEnergy.
If the AC PC production meter is the only option with XcelEnegry, and I stay with Sol-Ark, I see the following options:
Thanks.
As I started to design my system with a Sol-Ark 15k hybrid inverter, I realized that there is no place to put an AC PV production meter that will measure actual PV production. While I am sure this information is gathered by Sol-Ark, I have no idea if it is sufficiently accurate for SREC creation or how to integrate it with XcelEnergy.
If the AC PC production meter is the only option with XcelEnegry, and I stay with Sol-Ark, I see the following options:
- Only create SRECs from exported power, not generated power. In this case, I don’t think a production meter is even needed as the net meter records exported power.
- Don’t bother joining the “Solar Rewards” program and don’t worry about SRECs at all.
- Redesign my system with Microinverters and AC-couple with the Sol-Ark 15k
Thanks.