Solar power in the United States
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Solar power in the United States is the largest available energy source for the United States, although it currently accounts for less than 1% of electricity generation.[1]
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[edit] Solar thermal power plants
The largest solar power plant in the world is the 354 MW SEGS thermal power plant, in California.[2]
Each of California's electric utilities are required to provide 20% of their electricity from renewable sources by 2017. Sterling Energy Systems is building a 4,500 acre sun farm to supply 500 MW by 2012. Output will go to Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas and Electric.[3] Annual output is expected to be 1,047 GWh.[4] California electricity consumption was 272,464 GWh in 2005.[5]
[edit] Solar photovoltaic power plants in the U.S.
[edit] Nellis Solar Power Plant
The Nellis Solar Power Plant was completed in December, 2007. It is the largest solar photovoltaic system built in North America and is located at Nellis Air Force Base in Clark County, Nevada. It includes approximately 70,000 solar panels and the peak power generation capacity of the plant will is approximately 15 megawatts.[6][7]
| Name | Location | DC Peak Power (MW) |
Description | GW·h/year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KCRD Solar Farm[8] | California | 80 | Scheduled to be completed in 2012 | Proposed[9][10] | |
| Kohl's[11] | California | 25 | Installed on 63 of the 80 stores | 35 | Under construction |
| Nellis Solar Power Plant | Nevada | 18 | 70,000 solar panels | 25 | |
| Alamosa photovoltaic power plant[12] | Colorado | 8.22 | 17 | ||
| CalRENEW-1[13] | California | 5 | Cleantech America | n.a. | Proposed |
| Springerville Generating Station[14] | Arizona | 4.59 | 34,980 BP solar modules | 7.8 | |
| Rancho Seco[14] | California | 3.9 | n.a. | n.a. | |
| Prescott Airport Solar Power Plant[14] | Arizona | 3.5 | n.a. | 4.9 | |
| Destiny USA[15] | New York | 3.2 | n.a. | 3.7 | Proposed |
| LVVWD Distributed Solar Array[16] | Nevada | 3.1 | Located at the Luce Reservoir, Fort Apache Reservoir, Ronzone Reservoir, Spring Mountain-Durango Reservoir and Grand Canyon Reservoir | One of the largest public agency facilities. | |
| Falls Township[17] | Pennsylvania | 3 | Proposed | ||
| Fort Carson[14] | Colorado | 2 | n.a. | 3.2 | |
| Google[18] | California | 1.6 | 9212 Sharp ND-208-U1 modules | 3.2 | |
| HP[19] | California | 1 | SunPower | Proposed | |
| Beverly High School[20] | Massachusetts | 0.1 | Solar Power Corporation single crystal modules | 0.09 |
[edit] Distributed solar power
In recent years thousands and soon millions of homes, as well as many schools and businesses will include photovoltaic solar panels on their roof. Most of these are grid connected and use net metering laws to allow use of electricity in the evening that was generated during the daytime. New Jersey lead the nation with the least restrictive net metering law,[21] while California leads in total number of homes which have solar panels installed. Many were installed because of the million solar roof initiative.[22] California decided that it was not moving forward fast enough on photovoltaic generation and has enacted a Feed-in Tariff.[23][24] Washington state has a feed-in tariff of 15 ₡/kWh which increases to 54 ₡/kWh if components are manufactured in the state.[25] Hawaii and Michigan are also considering feed in tariffs. A comparison of the 38 states plus Washington D.C. which have net metering gives 5 an A and 5 an F.[26]
Many of the homes, schools and businesses which have installed solar panels can be monitored online on the internet.[27]
Another proposal for distributed generation is to cover the nations parking lots with solar car parks.
[edit] Incentives
[edit] States and local
The San Francisco´s Board of Supervisors passes solar incentives of up to $6,000 for homeowners and up to $10,000 for businesses. [28]
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[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Renewable Resources in the U.S. Electricity Supply
- ^ SEGS III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII & IX
- ^ Sun Rises on Solar
- ^ Press Release
- ^ California Electricity Consumption by County in 2005
- ^ Largest U.S. Solar Photovoltaic System Begins Construction at Nellis Air Force Base
- ^ Nellis activates Nations largest PV Array
- ^ KCRD Solar Farm
- ^ "Californians plan solar mega-farm", Upstream Online, 2007-07-06. Retrieved on 2007-07-10.
- ^ Cleantech America Plans 80 MW Solar PV Farm for California Renewable Energy Access, 10 July 2007.
- ^ Kohl's Activates Largest Rooftop Solar Rollout in U.S. History
- ^ 8.22-Megawatt Photovoltaic Solar Plant
- ^ Mendota to Host 5 Megawatt Photovoltaic System
- ^ a b c d World's largest photovoltaic systems
- ^ Destiny USA Plans 3.2 Megawatt Solar Project
- ^ Solar Projects. Las Vegas Valley Water District. Retrieved on 2008-02-01.
- ^ Going solar in a big way in Bucks
- ^ Solar Panel Project
- ^ SunPower Partners With HP to Boost Energy Conservation Efforts
- ^ A 100 Kilowatt Photovoltaic Array Still Producing After Twenty Years
- ^ Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency
- ^ Million Solar Roofs Initiative
- ^ Are Feed-in Tariffs a Possibility in California?
- ^ California Approves Feed-In Tariffs, Rewards Energy Efficiency
- ^ Washington State Passes Progressive Renewable Energy Legislation
- ^ Report: States Falling Short on Interconnection and Net Metering
- ^ Live monitoring
- ^ http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/san-francisco-solar-subsidy-steps-closer-970.html
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