Solar-Plus
High-Value Resource Solutions

In just two decades, this century has staked its claim as a new age of synergy, and the call has gone out for energy solutions that are worth more than the sum of their parts. At Cliburn and Associates, LLC, we helped pioneer solar plus storage and solar plus load flexibility solutions—offering solar plus storage and a "triple play," adding load flexibility as well, with benefits for utilities, their customers and their stakeholders. These solutions are complex, but not confounding. They are not only within our reach; they are within your reach, and we will show you how.

Cliburn and Associates offers expertise in emerging-market research, program design, training development, policy and evaluation, across the range of renewables and emerging integration strategies. We also provide change-management and facilitation for local utilities, local government and others engaged in innovation. Keys to our success include a deep resource of  best practices and a network of leading, expert associates, who thrive in a results-oriented culture.

Take an in-depth look at our work on the Solar Value Project site, including recent work as a technical advisor for the National Community Solar Partnership and solar plus storage with the U.S. DOE Solar Energy Innovation Network.

    Research

Cliburn and Associates research services range from emerging-market assessments to business and program plans, best practices research, policy and training support. We focus on content, but also offer design and presentation. Contact us for samples of our award-winning work.

    Collaboration

Whether you are aiming to launch a new community solar program or to co-market solar with DR, or are crafting a new policy or procuring solar plus storage, these efforts require collaboration. Cliburn and Associates is expert at cross-disciplinary process design, facilitation and training.  Cliburn also offers expert, affordable process coaching.

    Imagination

Cliburn has remained at the forefront of change. The firm participates in innovation networks and often leads cross-disciplinary planning and solar or storage procurement. Our approach is exemplified by leadership of the Solar Value Project. It also takes place in customized settings, virtual and in-person.
Cliburn is a frequent presenter at industry conferences and an a participant in innovation networks. Recently (above) she presented to a utility gathering in Aspen, CO. She is a frequent speaker or panelist for national conferences and association meetings. Cliburn has been a board member of the American Solar Energy Society, and was recently named a Fellow in that organization. She is currently a board member of Solar Energy International, a leader in solar training and professional development.


News and Highlights

Cliburn Coaching Contributes to Broadening Access to Solar
The National Community Solar Partnership (NCSP) is a coalition of community-focused solar stakeholders, working to expand access to affordable community solar to every American household by 2025. As a consultant to the NCSP in 2021-22, Cliburn has supported efforts in five states, ranging from assisting in state-level efforts to build inclusive participation in community solar development guidelines to supporting local NGOs and consumer-owned utilities involvement combining solar plus energy efficiency or storage to impact the low-income energy burden.

Previously, Cliburn and Associates assisted the U.S. DOE Solar in Your Community Challenge. It was aimed at a similar goal as the NCSP, but through a competition format. Local Challenge teams stood a chance of winning cash awards and recognition for their work. Cliburn supported this program as a coach and training consultant. The firm produced two national Challenge workshops, held at ASES Solar 2017 and 2018 conferences in Denver and Boulder, CO, respectively. A 2019 NREL publication, Up to the Challenge, spotlights two of the teams that Cliburn coached, Solar Holler (WV) and VEIC Sun Shares (VT). Sun Shares was subsequently honored with a category prize. Many of the Challenge projects deserve recognition, offering models to replicate widely. Cliburn authored a brief assessment of the Challenge program and its impact for the fall 2019 issue Solar Today Magazine.

SPECs: Building a Value-Based Market for Solar Plus Storage
Solar-Plus for Electric Co-ops (SPECs) is a new project led by Cliburn and Associates, to help optimize the procurement and operations of battery storage projects at electric cooperatives and other local utilities. The project was one of eight selected by the U.S. Department of Energy for the second round of the Solar Energy Innovation Network (SEIN). Cliburn and Associates is joined by a number of partners on this project, including Cobb Electric Membership Corp., Kit Carson Electric Cooperative, United Power, North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center and others.

SEIN is a collaborative research effort led by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and supported by the U.S. DOE Solar Energy Technologies Office. It works with multi-stakeholder teams pursuing new applications of solar energy and other distributed energy resources in unique locations and contexts. As a highly interactive project, adapted to the "Covid Era," SPECs has successfully developed economic modeling, procurement and planning tools for a market that is defined by flexibility and change. Contact us or review available products on the Solar Value Project website.

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New Publications for Public Power Utilities
The American Public Power Association recently released two new publications, developed by Cliburn and Associates to serve local utility needs nationwide. This is the third edition of Energy Matters for Your Home and Energy Matters for Your Small Business that Cliburn has produced for APPA and its members over the past 15 years . Altogether these publications have hundreds of thousands of copies in print. The work is also reflected in digital content on numerous public power utility websites. This edition introduces new concepts to utility customers, as many public power utilities have updated their business models. Today, public power utilities are often oriented towards clean energy services, from providing incentive rate structures to compatibility with building controls, rooftop or community solar, and EVs. In addition, the Home guide is now available in Spanish. If you are not an APPA member, contact us for other ways we can help to improve your energy efficiency and renewable energy outreach.