Case Study: Solar Potential in Energy Burdened Communities

According to Philadelphia's Office of Sustainability, the city's 600,000+ buildings energy usage account for nearly 80% of Philadelphia's total carbon emissions; with Transportation accounting for the second highest of total carbon emissions.

To help combat the ongoing climate crisis, Major Jim Kennedy created a plan which would allow the City of Philadelphia to reach 100% clean energy usage by 2050. To reach this goal, there are intermediate milestone goals which the City hopes to achieve.

As part of this initiative, Philadelphia's electrical grid will evolve to supply clean energy from photovoltaic panels by 2050. By this time, solar photovoltaic (PV) systems will be placed on rooftops, parking garages, & vacant lots to help generate clean, renewable energy for residential & commercial consumption.

The property-assessed clean energy (PACE) outlines the financing for the renewable energy improvements on private property. Such programs allow local governments to fund the initial costs for the solar PV systems, but still requires the property owner to repay this loan in the form of an additional cost towards their property taxes/liens.

For many in Philadelphia, energy costs alone may be too great a burden to pay for. In Philadelphia as of 2020, energy costs make up 3% of the monthly household income within energy burdened areas; within low-income communities this may be as high as 9.5% of the household income. Many citizens are barely able to make ends meet with 26% of Philadelphia's total population living in poverty. An additional loan through the Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing program is out of the question.

I am proposing a program that forms a relationship between (low-income) residents, the City of Philadelphia, and the electric company (PECO), that allows for the installation of solar panels on eligible properties in exchange for 'clean' electricity. Residences in these lower income areas would benefit from free electricity, which the City would own & maintain the solar PV systems. Meanwhile, working towards the City's energy vision for 2050.

PECO shall initially cover the installation costs in exchange for the surplus energy produced, are entitled to government tax credits for implementing renewable systems, and will be contractually bound with the City of Philadelphia. The surplus of electricity generated from this program would be sent to the main electrical grid, and sold to other residences and private property owners who rely on PECO's electrical grid; also, this relationship would also be working towards the City's 2050 renewable energy vision. Property owners/residences where the solar PV panels are installed would receive free electricity, and the City would maintain through this program.

The installation of solar PV systems would also reduce the outdoor temperatures, as the panels would absorb the sun energy. In short, reducing the outdoor thermal temperatures within these neighborhoods.

A major factor that indicates a successful community is economic stability.

These systems would also uplift and relieve low-income residents of energy burdens, and potentially serve as incentives for businesses to relocate into potentially economic dwindling communities.

For this analysis, a selected area of interest for this proposal will identify a neighborhood with high 'energy burden,' (or areas which experience low median household incomes & higher outdoor temperatures relative to the rest of the City - in turn forcing residences to use more energy to heat/cool buildings), to be analyzed for solar suitability. This analysis will be located within a neighborhood where low-income energy burdened communities. The outcome of this analysis is to identify buildings within a specified neighborhood, where the rooftops have flat or southward facing slopes to observe potential solar suitability & analyze the potential for solar energy surplus.

The area of interest for this case study, within Philadelphia, will be based on the following criteria:

1. Residing within neighborhoods of high heat vulnerability, defined by the City of Philadelphia
2. Neighborhood must also be within a low median household income, as 'energy burdens' affect those with low household incomes.
3. Neighborhood of blended land usage, to analyze rooftop potential for solar PV panels. Commercial/industrial buildings may have the solar potential to generate surplus energy to give back to the community they reside within.
4. Minimal tree coverage and vegetation.

These factors will be used to identify an area where buildings will be analyzed for solar suitability within an energy burdened community. Through this analysis, the goal is to identify flat or southwards facing rooftops to maximize solar potential of PV panels and examine how much energy these buildings can generate.

To further humanize the individuals that reside within the neighborhood of Fairhill, a brief demographic of the area was analyzed.

Historic Overview:

• Originally settled by the Lenni Lenape pre-European immigration (1670's).
• Occupied by German immigrants from 1880's to 1950's - left due to growing Latino & African-American population.
• El Centro de Oro (name of the commercial district) established in 1970's by Latino community that was actively being displaced from the Spring Garden neighborhood - result from gentrification.

Prior to the mid 20th century, manufacturing was the neighborhood's main economic generator. Abandoned factories & warehouses still remain following the fall of the industrialization era.

The U.S. Bureau reports that the average kilowatt hour costs in Philadelphia averages $0.15 - costing 7% higher than the U.S. average. This is also true when examining other energy sources, such as gasoline & utility (piped) gas.

PECO's electrical energy exchange rate has the potential to fluctuate based on quarterly market prices. Every quarter, or seasonal change, the costs for electricity is reevaluated and adjusted accordingly. For example, electricity in the summer may cost more as the demand to run air conditioning is higher than compared to the spring or fall. Some other factors which influences the price of electricity are the costs for fuel, powerplant maintenance, electrical grid system, state regulations and energy demands.

Based on the U.S Energy Information Administration, the cost for residential and commercial energy is higher than industrial energy, due to the fact that it costs more to distribute lower amounts of voltage as opposed higher levels of voltage. Think of this similarly to the 'wholesale' of electricity; industries buy in bulk.

Considering that on average energy burdened households spend 3% to 6% of income on energy. The average single family home uses about 900 kWh per month.

For reference, the average household will use approximately 10,500 kWh per year.

See 'Appendix' for Federal Assistance Information & other calculations / conversions

As of 2020, only 4% of Pennsylvania's energy is produced via renewable means. A typical home may require 20-30 solar PV panels to generate 100% of energy needs - depending on panel size and wattage.

This analysis will use the assumption that 20 panels are needed to generate household energy needs, at 400W per panel.

Solar PV panels themselves average 20% efficiency, meaning that out of the total amount of energy collected, only roughly 20% is collected through the panels. Then, out of this 20%, only 85% is actually used by the household; the rest is lost to the system.

See 'Appendix' for more information

The above documentation outlines the analysis to identify solar PV viability through analysis of rooftop conditions, within high energy stress, lower-income communities. Through this analysis, it is apparent that many of the buildings within this area of study have flat rooftops and are suitable candidates for solar PV implementation. Additional PV infrastructure (solar racks) will be needed to position the solar PV panels to maximize solar potential of rooftops with sloping below 45 (degrees).

From this analysis, Therefore, the average single family building that has an 8kW system *See Appendix* will be able to generate 100% of energy needs and then some. The average row-home requires

Based on the assumption that a single family utilized approximately 10,500 kWh per year, several row-homes have the potential to provide the energy needs of 1-2 families. In Fairhill, energy costs approximately 8% of the household income - something this program aims to alleviate.

Implementing this strategy to this low-income community, will reduce burdens from energy costs, regardless of total energy production. This initiative will also excel the city's 2050 vision through the use of clean energy. However, other alternative energy sources will need to be implemented in addition to the use of solar energy.

Implementing this strategy to this low-income community, will reduce burdens from energy costs, regardless of total energy productions. This initiative will also excel the city's 2050 vision through the use of clean energy.

Identifying which buildings are multifamily are expected to increase energy need, as more households may require more energy. A multifamily rowhome of 2+ residences will require twice the energy compared to a single-family residence.

As another next step into this analysis solar suitability within vacant lots, baren earth and parks may be a potential place to install solar systems for the community. Solar Suitability does not have to be restricted to rooftops; open areas where solar may be installed in the form of pavilions within parks & as arrays on vacant lots.

A typical 60 cell solar panel is roughly 3'X5' and takes up 15sq. ft. in rooftop area. Minimum solar panels required for a household are 20-30. A 20 panel system will require 300sq.ft. minimum to be used for this analysis.

The average 3'X5' solar panel may generate 400Wh of electricity (ranges from 250-400 watts), or a ratio of 1.3 to 1.6 of energy production.

Energy Equation : 20 panels roughly equates to 10,500 kWh / 1.6 (ratio)

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides low-income families the opportunity to apply for grants, which helps to offset the costs they would have to pay for energy. The grants they supply can range from $500 to $1,500 based on income, and may only be used towards heating bills. Although it may seem like a solution at surface value, this program is not solving the economic strain & energy disparity that many impoverished communities within Philadelphia are experiencing.

The following calculations and conversions were used to determine the solar potential & suitability of rooftops within the Case Study area:

(10,649kWh/year) x (1 year/365 days) = 29.175 kWh/day

1 Square Foot = 0.09 Square Meter (approx. 0.1)

400Wh/15SF = 26.6Wh/SF

Solar panels are 20% efficient, with 15% energy lost to the system

EXPECTATIONS:

• 300-350SF (30 square meters) rooftop minimum with roughly 20 panels
• 20 panels *15SF = 300SF; 30m^2
• Capacity per solar panel = 400 Watt (W)
• Total capacity = 400W * 20 panels = 8000W = 8.0 kiloWatts (kW)
• Annual energy produced (kWh) = average daily sunlight hours * system capacity * days in a year
• SO... 10hours * 8kW * 365 days = 29,200kWh



Usable Solar Radiation = (AREA OF FOOTPRINT X MEAN kWh/year) / 1000

Electric Power Production MWh (Mega Watt Hour) = (Usable Radiation X 0.20 X 0.85)

20% efficiency & 85% preserved energy