Chapter 9 describes the compliance requirements for photovoltaic (PV) systems, battery storage systems, and solar readiness for newly constructed nonresidential, and hotel/motel buildings. The prescriptive PV and battery storage requirements for particular non-residential buildings determine the standard design energy budgets for the performance compliance method. Additional total TDV or hourly source energy compliance credit is available for installation of PV and battery storage systems that exceed the energy performance of the prescriptive requirement. For both prescriptive and performance compliance, the PV system must meet the requirements of JA11 Qualification Requirements for Photovoltaic Systems, and the battery storage system must meet the requirements of JA12|topic=Appendix JA12 – Qualification Requirements for Battery Storage System Qualification Requirements for Battery Storage Systems.
The Energy Standards allow the requirements for photovoltaics to be offset by community-shared solar electric generation. The community-shared solar program must be approved by the Commission. For more information, please see section 9.4.
The requirements for solar-ready buildings are mandatory measures for newly constructed nonresidential and hotel/motel buildings that do not have a PV system because the building either qualifies for an exception in Section 140.10(a) or complies with the PV requirements using community shared solar as a performance compliance option. The solar-ready requirement must be addressed when designing the roof and associated equipment of a building. The intent is to reserve a penetration-free and shade-free portion of the roof for the potential future installation of a solar energy system. There are no requirements to install panels, conduit, piping, or mounting hardware.
For information about requirements and compliance options for solar water heating systems, please see Chapter 4.
Photovoltaic (PV) and battery storage systems are now required for some nonresidential building categories and hotel/motel buildings. See Section 9.2 for details.
PV and battery storage system requirements also can be met by using the performance approach. See Section 9.3.1. A community-shared solar electric generation system, or other renewable electric generation system, and/or community shared battery storage system can be used to offset the solar electric generation system or battery storage system TDV energy required to comply using the performance compliance method. See Section 9.4.