A free app that instantly processes rooftop solar and battery storage permit applications has saved nearly 5,000 hours in its first year.

Developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, SolarAPP+ is a web-based platform that integrates directly into local jurisdictions' permit management systems. As of March, 13 communities had saved 4,700 hours and approved 31 MW of permits using the app.

The communities that have fully adopted SolarAPP+ include Pleasant Hill, Stockton, Simi Valley, San Ramon, Sanoma County, and Benicia in California, as well as Tuscon, Pima County, and Menifee in Arizona.

Beaumont and Modesto, California are piloting the SolarAPP+ while Oceanside and Richmond, California are in testing.

SolarAPP+'s success going forward depends on education, as there are thousands of permitting jurisdictions in the U.S.

In the past, individual companies have tried (and failed) to develop permitting platforms of their own. SolarAPP+ is free and open to any company and jurisdiction to use.

"In the past year, we've seen more companies come to the table on some of our bigger policy challenges," said Anne Hoskins, chief policy officer at Sunrun, which supported NREL's work on the SolarAPP+. "It's a winner all the way around."

Source: NREL

Legislation proposed by California state Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) would implement instant, online solar permitting in counties with more than 150,000 residents. The bill, the Solar Access Act, passed the California Senate and has moved on to the Assembly.

NREL said the residential solar PV market has grown from around 50,000 system installations in 2010 to more than 420,000 systems in 2020. Most of those systems were required to apply for a building permit from one of more than 20,000 authorities having jurisdiction.

NREL said that nationally, both average and median permit review times exceed 5 business days. In some places, they can stretch to a month or more. At the same time, many residential solar systems are simple and standardized, allowing for software to automate the permitting process for those systems.

Last, September, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm wrote a letter urging mayors across the country to adopt the SolarAPP+ platform.

You can find more information about SolarAPP+ here.