Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 187-3-1-.03 - Qualification Criteria

All solar energy Systems for which the tax credit is claimed must meet the following criteria:

(a) The collector area of the passive solar space heating systems must face within forty-five degrees (45°) of true South when permanently installed. All other solar systems must face within ninety degrees (90°) of true South when permanently installed;

(b) The collector area of the solar energy system must be able to receive direct sunlight for at least 4 hours between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. during periods of use;

(c) The solar energy system must have a useful life of at least three (3) years;

(d) The total annual energy contribution (considering any summer cooling penalties) must be positive, when compared to conventional designs;

(e) All solar energy systems must be designed and installed in accordance with the applicable State and local codes;

(f) All solar water heating systems for which the tax credit is claimed must meet the following criteria:

1. Batch solar water heating systems must have either moveable insulation for use when the system is receiving minimal insulation, collector area glazing with an R-value of 1.7 or greater or use selective surface materials on the absorption area;

2. Solar water heating systems must have freeze protection mechanisms, or must be designed for easy manual or automatic draining during periods of freezing temperatures;

3. The net collector area of refrigerant compression solar water heating systems must be no less than three square feet per 100 watts of nominal rated compressor power;

4. Until December 31, 1986, batch solar water heating systems must be rated, listed, and/or certified by a recognized organization for compliance with ASHRAE standard for system performance. This requirement does not apply to owner built or site-built solar water heating systems.

5. Until December 31, 1986, the collectors in all solar water heating systems except batch solar water heating systems must be rated, listed, and/or certified by a recognized organization for compliance with the appropriate ASHRAE standards for collector performance. This requirement does not apply to owner-built or site-built solar water heating systems; and

6. After December 31, 1986, the collectors in all solar water heating systems must be rated, listed, and/or certified by a recognized organization for compliance with the most appropriate ASHRAE standard for collector performance. Solar water heating systems or combined solar water heating/space heating systems whose collectors cannot be tested as separate components under the ASHRAE standards must be tested under the appropriate ASHRAE solar water heating system standard. Tests of refrigerant compression solar energy systems must include specific measurement of the input power requirement. These testing requirements do not apply to owner-built or site-built solar water heating systems.

(g) All active solar space heating systems for which the tax credit is claimed must meet the following criteria:

1. All systems must be provided with a means to prevent reverse thermal circulation during periods of low solar radiation, such as at night, and with a means of insuring that unwanted solar heat does not enter the conditioned space when not needed, such as during the summer;

2. All active space heating systems using liquids as a transfer medium must be freeze-proof, or must be designed for easy manual or automatic draining during periods of freezing weather;

3. The net collector area of refrigerant compression active solar space heating systems must be no less than three square feet per 100 watts of nominal rated compressor power; and

4. The collectors in all active solar space heating systems must be rated, listed, and/or certified by a recognized organization for compliance with the most appropriate ASHRAE standard for collector performance. This requirement does not apply to owner-built or site-built active solar space heating systems, or to solar space heating systems, the collectors of which cannot be tested under an ASHRAE standard.

(h) All photovoltaic systems for which the tax credit is claimed must be designed to produce not less than 5 watts of electricity under peak conditions;

(i) Passive solar space heating systems include direct gain systems, thermal mass wall systems and sunspaces. To be eligible for the tax credit, these systems must meet the following criteria:

1. Exterior glazing must have an R-value of 1.7 or greater, or have moveable insulation for use during periods of low solar insolation, except that sunspaces which can be completely thermally isolated from the conditioned space need not have glazing with an R-value of 1.7 or greater or moveable insulation;

2. The system must be protected from unwanted heat gain in the summer by shading and/or ventilation; and

3. Direct gain systems must be provided with thermal mass for heat energy storage, except that daytime-use-only applications, in which the solar heat is used directly and immediately, need not have thermal mass;

(j) Industrial and agricultural process solar heat systems for which the tax credit is claimed must have any collectors for which the ASHRAE standard for collector performance is applicable, tested, listed, and/or certified by a recognized organization for compliance to that ASHRAE standard. This requirement does not apply to owner-built or site-built systems.

Notes

Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 187-3-1-.03

O.C.G.A 48-7-29.2; Ga. L. 1984, pp. 715, 716, 717.

Original Rule entitled "Qualification Criteria" was filed August 16, 1984; effective September 5, 1984. Amended: Filed March 11, 1986; effective March 31, 1986.