Qualifying Facility (QF) Process

An alternative to the standard interconnection process is the Qualifying Facility (QF) process, a federal review program that certifies renewable energy and other clean technologies for interconnection. The primary reason to pursue this process is to be able to establish a power purchase agreement with the local utility, which is needed only if a facility is greater than 60 kW in size.

Since the interconnection standards were implemented, the majority of projects have gone through this process rather than the QF process. If you pursue the QF process, your project will likely need to go through many of the same screens and review studies required by the interconnection standards for a system of the size and type that you are installing.

To apply using the QF process, you must explicitly notify the utility that you are pursuing this process rather than the interconnection process. It is not possible to switch between processes once you have submitted an application for one or the other.

The Massachusetts Division of Energy Resources (DOER) Permitting and Interconnection Guidebook provides a clear and concise description of the QF process, its requirements, and its uses.