NYSERDA

New York is the third most populated state in the USA. 19 million people live in the large East-American state - many potential customers for the NYSERDA Solar Water Heating Program that launched in December 2010. Residential and commercial clients can apply for a performance-based incentive if they replace an existing electric water heater with a solar water heater. While the majority of the program incentive funding targets electric hot water systems, the programme also has a small amount of funding available for projects that use fossil fuels to heat domestic hot water. NYSERDA has 50 approved eligible installers in the program. To help customers quickly find an eligible installer, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) published an interactive online map (such as the one above) where the contractors are listed according to the counties where they are active.
Source: NYSERDA

This report was commissioned by the New York State Public Service Commission and examines the potential of solar thermal technologies for use in widespread applications, relating specifically to New York State.

The report examines and compares current programs in place throughout Europe, Canada, California, Illinois and other states in the US.

The report goes into detail concerning various recommendations such as rebates, NY State project initiations and higher builder incentives.

The first financing measure in the framework of New York's Solar Thermal Roadmap is about to be implemented: Very soon, solar thermal technology will be the next technology to profit from the Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS), which were introduced in the State of New York in 2005. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is responsible for administering the RPS funds, which are collected via the electricity bills of individual clients – residential and commercial ones – in the service areas of investor-owned utilities. A total of USD 25.8 million was allocated to subsidise solar thermal installations replacing electric water heaters. Combi systems are also eligible for the incentive scheme if the rooms in question were previously heated with electricity.

The 38 Abengoa parabolic trough collectors on the roof of the piano maker Steinway & Sons in Island City, New York, will produce steam at 200 °C from spring on.
Photo: Steinway