Couillard Solar Foundation FAQs

A Couillard Solar Foundation grant consists of half of the solar panels needed for the project up to the size listed below:

• For solar systems smaller than 75 kilowatts, a nonprofit can be awarded up to 50% of the solar panels required, up to 75 panels* (~$12,500 value).
• For systems 75 kilowatts and larger, a nonprofit can be awarded up to 50% of the solar panels required, up to 150 panels* (~$25,000 value). 

New in 2022, if you want to install a CSF Solar Canopy, you are eligible for a cash grant after purchase. See How does the CSF Solar Canopy Grant work?

Please be sure to confirm the grant specifics when you apply for a CSF program grant. 

Please note that all program requirements and conditions outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) must be honored by the grant recipient and their vendors. This includes participation in post installation surveys and promotion requirements. Please read your MOU carefully before signing.

If the size of the project changes, the grant recipient must notify the program administrator, as that will affect the number of donated panels. For example, if the original grant was 20 panels for a project that would consist of 40 total panels, and then the project is reduced to only 20 panels, the recipient will only be given 10 panels for the project.

The Solar for Good program has two grant application periods. April and October. Learn more about the program here.

The Solar on Schools program accepts grant applications year round. Learn more about the program here.

The Couillard Solar Foundation donates panels rather than cash, because we purchase bifacial solar panels at wholesale prices and donate them at cost. This gives the grant recipients more buying power. This also helps us stretch the money in the fund further and has a higher impact on Wisconsin solar projects. 

The Couillard Solar Foundation has a limited stock of bifacial panels available at any given time. Delivery of new stock and the price per watt is based on market conditions, which can be volatile. 

When you apply for a grant information about the type and cost of panels is made available to installers as they prepare bids. CSF does our best to honor those quotes, however, if there is more than 4 months between the time the grant is given and when your project is ready to begin, those panels may no longer be available or at the price initially quoted (if you plan to purchase the other half of the panels from the foundation.)

If the initial panels offered are no longer in stock, CSF will provide the number of panels ( calculated in kW) promised in the MOU, or as close to that number as possible. We realize that this does affect other elements of the array (racking and so on) which is why we now encourage organizations and their installers to apply for the grant as close as possible to the installation date, to assure that the type of panel granted will still be in stock.

We work with the installers for every CSF project. When the project has gotten to the point where the solar panels are needed, the installer contacts the grant program coordinator, who will notify us that the project is ready for panels. Please do so 8-10 business days before the panels are needed. We arrange shipping to the project site, or the installer can pick up the panels at our warehouse. Please note that the cost of shipping must be covered by the project. Repackaging and handling fees are included in the cost of shipping.

Solar for Good and Solar on Schools grants offer up to half the panels needed for a project. You have two options for how to get the other half of the panels.

Option 1: You can purchase the other half from the foundation. We charge competitive rates and all proceeds from the sale of our panels goes right back to support our grant programs. 

Option 2: You (or your installer) can buy the other panels needed from another supplier. We do not require any grant recipient to buy their additional panels from us. However, we do request that you consider doing so, since those sales support the Solar for Good and Solar on Schools grant programs.

Remember that the number of panels granted in the MOU is based on the size of the array as defined in the application. If the size of the array changes, you must notify the program administrator so that the MOU can be updated to the correct size, and the number of granted panels adjusted.

Canopy Donation Rules

The CSF Solar Canopy may be included in the Solar for Good and Solar on Schools grant programs under the following provisions:

• The grant applicant may only request a canopy grant or a panel grant within a grant application period, not both.
• The grant applicant must meet all other eligibility requirements of the program.
• MOU will reflect the canopy information and requirements of grant distribution.
• CSF will provide this information to SFG or SOS upon request.
• Substitution of panels is not permitted (the canopy is sold complete, including panels, beams, tie bars, clamps, hardware and the wooden substructure). 
• Grant recipient is responsible for all other costs associated with the canopy array installation (including additional electrical supplies needed to fully install the array, labor and, if necessary, surface preparation.)
• A base cash grant of $6000 will be awarded for the first 20kW in system size. Each additional 10kW will receive an additional $3000. The grant value will be calculated on the final, installed size of the array. For example:
• 20kW to 29kW array will receive $6,000 grant 
• 30kW to 39kW – $9,000 grant
• 40kW to 49kW – $12,000 grant
• 50kW to 59kW – $15,000 grant and so on.
• There is no limit on the array size eligible for the grant. 
• The grant will be disbursed to the grant recipient once proof of installation is provided.
• These rules are subject to change at any time.

No. 

Solar on Schools is for Wisconsin public schools. If you have been granted an SOS grant, you do not qualify to also apply for a Solar for Good grant.

If you are not sure if your school is a public or private school, contact either program administrator to find out.

Yes.

We encourage you to apply for as much assistance as you can to get your solar array installed.

However, there is one caveat. The Couillard Solar Foundation has limited funds, and we are working with our program administrators to make the kinds of hard choices that will allow us to continue to help as many organizations across the state as we can. Therefore, if you have received sufficient funding to make your project happen, please consider not applying for a Solar for Good or Solar on Schools grant, to allow us to help other organizations who will not be able to install their solar array without the help of a CSF grant.

That depends on the situation.

Initially we were happy to give a second grant if an organization came back the next year with a new project. Now we are asking the organization to consider refraining from applying, especially if they have sufficient funding from other sources, so that we can fund organizations that don’t have any solar arrays at all yet.

There are some exceptions to this guideline, (for example, if the project is for low income housing, or a food bank or other human service, or the organization is larger but each site is located in a different town, like the Boys & Girls Club) so if you are considering asking for a second round of funding, talk to the program administrator about your project.

Sometimes a single project covers more than one location, while another group choses to submit multiple applications, one for each location. This is often the case, for example, with senior housing. Program administrators do their best to honor as many projects as possible, and this is not necessarily considered a “second bite at the apple” especially if all locations are completed within the same year.

Sometimes a project is considered a good candidate for a grant, but for a variety of reasons the selection committee feels that it would be better if the organization applied later.

Usually this is because the time line for installation is quite long (it’s Spring, for example, and they don’t plan to install the project until the next Spring). They may be asked to reapply so that the types of panels granted are more likely to be available when they will need them.

Other reasons for being asked to reapply are that they are too early in the planning process, maybe they haven’t even selected an installer yet, or they still have to get project approval from their organization or community.

One of the requirements of a grant from Solar for Good and Solar on Schools is the education/promotion requirement. We ask all of our grant recipients to acknowledge the support of the Couillard Solar Foundation and the SFS or SOS program as they celebration their new solar array.

This serves two purposes.

First, your commitment to renewable energy is multiplied when you celebrate it with your community. Studies show that individuals and businesses that install solar, often do so because they saw that their neighbors or important organizations had done so. 

In fact, continuing the focus on the benefits of green energy (incorporating education and information on your website, making regular references to the savings in your newsletters or bulletins, showing other potential customers and donors your commitment to cost savings and climate change mitigation) will help you raise support for your efforts long after the press release has been sent out.

Second, you will be helping the Couillard Solar Foundation continue to raise money for our programs, which can, in turn, help other Wisconsin nonprofits. If we can’t show our potential donors and customers the benefit of the work we do, we will run out of money in a few years. We need your help to keep these programs going. So send us your press releases, your photos and video, your stories. We love to hear them and with your help we can array it forward.

You may have heard that the Inflation Reduction Act has something new for nonprofits when it comes to investing in renewable energy. There’s a lot of information in the IRA about new tax credits, additional add-on credits for those installing green energy, and most importantly for nonprofits, a new direct pay option for nonprofits who can’t take advantage of a tax credit. 

Here are a few details:

• Nonprofits will be eligible for a 30% direct pay rebate for investing in any of the clean energy technology identified in the IRA, which includes solar arrays and batteries.
• There are also funds available for a rebate on the purchase of new and used EVs (Electric Vehicles)
• How this will all work is determined by guidelines issued by the IRS. Please contact the IRS directly, or your tax preparer or accountant for specific details. CSF does not provide tax or legal advice.

We do know that this will impact how SFG and SOS grants are calculated since the grant is for solar panels, which means that it lowers the overall amount of money spent on the project, making the amount eligible for a rebate lower. 

As of March 2024, CSF does not plan to change the nature of our grant programs. Any changes to the programs will be announced.

Bifacial solar panels expose both the front and back side of the solar cells to sunlight, allowing more surface area to generate electrical power. They do that by using either a clear sheet of glass or a fluoropolymer back sheet on the back of the panel.  Mono-facial panels typically use a white back sheet. In other words, power is produced from both the front and the back of the solar panel.

Bifacial solar panels take advantage of reflected light (albedo) to produce more power. Designing a solar array so that more light reaches the back of the panels is the best way to get the most out of bifacial panels. Even in standard roof mounting (relatively flat and close to the roof) the panels will produce around 5% more energy.

If the panels are tilted at a steeper angle and spaced further apart so that albedo can reach the back of the panel more easily, the increase in energy production is more significant. Ground or pole mounted panels are also able to take advantage of albedo, especially in snowy conditions or on a lighter surface (such as sand or concrete.) Please see the Ground Vs. Roof Mount page for more.

Bifacial panels work in all kinds of weather; cloudy, sunny, rainy, or snowy. Due to their ability to collect light from both sides of the panel, they are especially effective on cloudy, overcast days when direct sunlight levels are low. Bifacial solar panels will also collect scattered light on the backside of the panels in the morning and at the end of day in addition to abundant production during peak collection hours mid-day. 

When it snows, the back of a bifacial panel remains clear and able to produce power, even when the front is covered with snow. This energy production from the back creates a slight rise in the temperature of the panel, which helps melt the snow on the front of the panel faster.

Couillard Solar Foundation bifacial solar panels are also PID resistant, and certified to withstand a high wind load (50 psf) and a heavy snow load (112 psf).

Our bifacial solar panels mount like standard framed panels and can be used with standard racking systems. However, the mounting system itself can affect the performance of the bifacial panels. Racking systems with support rails can shade back rows of bifacial cells reducing the back-side power. Junction boxes on bifacial panels have become smaller or separated into multiple units positioned along the panel’s edge to prevent shading, too. To get the most out of your bifacial solar panels, consider using mounting and racking systems specially formatted for bifacial installations.

The Couillard Solar Foundation has developed a beautifully functional solar canopy, designed specifically for bifacial panels, that both creates power and provides elegant outdoor living space. Please see the Couillard Canopies website for more information.

Bifacial panels perform well on flat rooftops, awnings, pergolas, and ground mounted arrays because there is more room to angle the array and optimize the access of albedo to the cells on the back of the panels. However, even in a typical roof mount, bifacial panels generally produce 5% more energy than monofacial panels. Please see the Ground Vs. Roof Mount page for more information.

Even when snow covered, bifacial solar panels continue to produce power from light reflected to the back side of the panel. This power produces enough warmth on the front panel surface to cause the snow to melt and shed more quickly. All solar panels are more efficient in colder weather but the bifacial’s superior functionality in low light situations makes then even more efficient than monofacials.

Hot weather conditions actually diminish solar panel electricity production. Industry research has demonstrated that solar panels begin losing efficiency around 77ºF (25 C). In addition, our bifacial solar panels are certified to withstand a 112 pounds per square foot (psf) snow load.

No, you can mount CSF bifacial modules just like standard solar panels because they have a standard aluminum frame.  Other brands of bifacial panels can come without a metal frame making them more difficult to mount in a racking system.

Yes our modules meet the newest level of solar industry certification.  They are IEC/UL 61730 certified and California Energy Commission (CEC) rated. Find the complete list of certifications on our Bifacial Solar Panel Products page.

Philadelphia Solar bifacial solar modules are made in the country of Jordan, one of the U.S.’s staunchest allies in the Middle East. Our two countries have a great trading relationship due to bilateral agreements and longstanding international support

Albedo is another term for reflected light. CSF bifacial solar panels use albedo to collect more sunlight from each panel. This allows you to produce more power from the same number of panels. It’s also possible to reduce the number of panels needed for an array, if size is an issue. Please see our Tech Info page for more.

Yes. At the beginning of 2020, CSF worked with vendor partners to establish three test sites directly comparing the performance of our bifacial solar modules to a standard monofacial modules. These sites used a variety of mounting systems and varying numbers of panels between sites. See our Tech Info page for more.

The Couillard Solar Foundation prefers to supply a minimum order quantity of one pallet (27 solar panels). However, we can work with you if you need less than a pallet for the system you’re installing. If you need just a few individual panels, there are options available for shipping less than 10 panels.  Contact Us >>

We do not currently have volume discounts. The proceeds from all panel and canopy sales go back into the Solar for Good and Solar on Schools grant programs. When you purchase panels from CSF you know that your money is going to support nonprofits in Wisconsin.

Shipping costs vary due to shipping distance and quantity. The quantity of solar panels you buy does impact price but there’s not much difference in price between trucking four pallets or one pallet to the same location. If you have the room to store your panels, buying for multiple jobs at once can save you shipping costs.

Our warehouse is located in Wisconsin.

Price quotes are provided within 24 hours.  Orders can be shipped the same day payment is received. Please see How to Order for more details.

If we have the inventory in stock we can make it available as soon as your payment clears. You are also welcome to pick up your order at our warehouse if you are in the Madison/Deerfield area. 

We strive to have all quotes processed within 1 business day and emailed to the customer. If you have not received a quote once requested, please contact us.

The ACH payment process is a secure, fast, and easy way to make a payment, so we encourage the use of this funds transfer process to expedite the shipment of your order.

The Couillard Solar Foundation also accepts cashiers’ checks by mail.  If paying by company or personal check, we ship the order when the funds have been processed and received at our bank. This can present a potential time delay for the order to be shipped.

If sending by mail, please be sure to send to our PO Box, not our street address, to avoid delays in your order.

Paying by ACH (automated clearing house) is easy. It allows us to process your order more quickly which gets your solar panels on the road sooner. There is no setup necessary on your part and we pay all associated fees for the funds transfer.

1. We email your invoice from QuickBooks. The invoice email includes a PDF copy of the invoice attached to the email.
2. In the body of the email there is a button. 
   
3. When you click on the Pay invoice button there is a screen that allows you to enter your bank routing number and account number just like it was a check.
4. When you submit it, the funds are automatically transferred to our account via ACH. As soon as the funds clear we send you your order.

Speed Solar belongs to the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA), which offers several courses on solar technology. Visit the MREA course list for more details.

Yes. In 2022 the Inflation Reduction Act was passed into law, which included a 30% tax credit to help offset the cost of your solar energy system. There are additional credits available when you follow specific guidelines detailed in the IRA. Also, there are often local programs, through your state or community, and many financial institutions offer special loan rates for installing renewable energy system. Please visit our Financial Incentives section for more information.