http://www.hdpaperwall.com/sunlight/

“State of Solar” Energy in the U.S.

Kathy JackEnvironmental Science

University of North TexasOctober 4, 2014

Solar Energy Technologies

Soalr One, Barstow, CA. http://solartribune.com/solar-power-plants/

http://solartribune.com

Jarlanbah EcoVillage, Nimbin, Australia.

Red Oak Subdivtision. Boulder,CO. http://www.lighthousesolar.com/

U.S. Primary Energy Consumption by Source (2000-2013)

U.S. Energy Information Administration. Monthly Energy Review. September 2014. http://www.eia.gov/totalenergy/data/monthly/#summary

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 20130

20

40

60

80

100

120

Biomass

Wind

Solar/PV

Geothermal

Hydroelectric

Nuclear

Petroleum

Natural Gas

Coal

YEAR

QU

ADRI

LLIO

N B

TU (Q

UAD

)

.3% Solar as % total.03% .06% .1%

Cumulative Solar by Technology (2013)

PV89%

CSP11%

1.275 GWAC

10.4665 GWAC

Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC).U.S. Solar Market Trends 2013 (2014); GWDC derated by 13.% as recommended by Larry Sherwood, IREC (Oct 2014).

11.74 GW AC

.4% total U.S. electricity

2012 2013

New Electric Generation by Technology

USEIA and IREC in U.S. Solar Market Trends 2012. 2013:5 and U.S. Solar Market Trends 2013, 2014: 6.

Solar31%

Natural Gas45%

Wind7%

Coal 10%

Other7%

Solar12%

Natural Gas30%

Wind41%

Coal 11%

Other6%

PTC was slated to end 12/12, but extended by American Taxpayer Relief Act 0f 2012

Cumulative Installed GPV in U.S.

Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC).U.S. Solar Market Trends 2013 (2014:8).

82% of cumulative GPV installed in last 3 years!

Annual Installed GPV by Sector (2003-2012)

Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC).U.S. Solar Market Trends 2012. 2013: 12.

Annual Installed GPV by Sector (2009-2013)

Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC).U.S. Solar Market Trends 2013. 2014: 12

34% increase Total

47% increase in utility

68% increase in residential

92% PPA

Increase in leases

8% decrease

Top 10 States - Annual PV Installation Capacity

Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC).U.S. Solar Market Trends 2013 (2014:17).

PV Leases - California

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, based on California Solar Initiative data at USEI, http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=12991.

Trends/Drivers

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 20130

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500

5000

$0.00

$1.00

$2.00

$3.00

$4.00

$5.00

$6.00

$7.00

$8.00

$9.00

$10.00An

nual

Inst

alle

d Ca

paci

ty M

WDC

Inst

alle

d Co

st $

/W

Installed Cost- LBNL Tracking the Sun VII; Annual Installed PV Capacity- IREC Solar Market Trends 2013; Freeing the Grid:http://freeingthegrid.org/ ; WRI Bottom Line on Renewable Energy Tax Credits: http://www.wri.org/publication/bottom-line-renewable-energy-tax-credits

A.R.R.A 2009E.R.S.A 2008

12

33

2

26A’s/B’s Net Metering

A’s/B’s InterconnectionRPS- 20

RPS- 37

538 utility or gov. rebates

• Workforce development• Financing• Ownership models

EPA 2005

Installed Cost of PV

LBNL. Tracking the Sun VII (2014).http://www.pvsolarreport.com/lbnl-report-shows-decreasing-soft-costs-of-solar/

44% in 4 years

11%

Annual Installed CPS in U.S. (2009-2013)

The most CSP capacity ever installed in U.S. in a single year

3 new CSP plants

2009 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

900

800

700

600

500

400

300

200

100

0

GW DC

On the Horizon

• Continued work on Soft Costs

• Continued Growth expected

• Grid Saturation– Technical– Loss revenue

Key Sources

• Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC).– www.irec.com– U.S. Solar Market Trends 2013. (also 2009-20012)

• Database for State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE). IREC, USDOE, NCSC. – http://www.dsireusa.org/

• U.S. Energy Information Administration.– www.eia.gov – Monthly Energy Review.

• Freeing the Grid: http://freeingthegrid.org/