Solar Energy Tops Natural Gas in 2015 US Capacity Growth

Source: Thinkstock

New solar photovoltaic (PV) projects installed in the United States during 2015 totaled 7,260 megawatts, up 16% compared with 2014 and 8.5 times the total installed in 2010. Total operating capacity in the country reached 25,600 megawatts from more than 900,000 individual projects.

Solar capacity growth accounted for nearly 30% of new U.S. electricity generating capacity in 2015, marking the first time that new solar capacity exceeded new natural gas generating capacity.

Residential solar installations accounted for nearly 2,100 megawatts of new generation in 2015, commercial capacity rose by about 1,000 megawatts and utility-scale capacity grew by 4,150 megawatts. The contracted pipeline of new utility-scale projects is currently more than 19,800 megawatts.

The final research report was released Wednesday by Greentech Media’s GTM Research division and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). A preliminary report was released in February.

The top 10 states for new capacity installation in 2015 were as follows:

1. California, 3,266 megawatts


2. North Carolina, 1,134 megawatts


3. Nevada, 307 megawatts


4. Massachusetts, 286 megawatts


5. New York, 241 megawatts


6. Arizona, 234 megawatts


7. Utah, 231 megawatts


8. Georgia, 209 megawatts


9. Texas, 207 megawatts


10. New Jersey, 181 megawatts

Utah has moved from 30th place in 2013 to seventh, the best two-year improvement of any state, while Arizona has fallen from second place in 2013 to sixth.

Looking ahead to this year, the researchers are wary of changes to net metering programs, similar to the recently adopted changes in Nevada, that severely restrict incentives to install residential solar projects.

Growth has been stagnant in the commercial sector due to weak incentive funding or constrained development opportunities for projects larger than 1 megawatt. The researchers say that a rebound in 2016 is supported by a “triple-digit-megawatt pipeline of community solar projects, plus continued dependence on California to support nearly one-third of annual demand.”

Utility-scale projects provided 57% of the new installed capacity in 2015, and the segment is expected to triple installations in 2016. The report noted:

With PPA [power-purchase agreement] prices for utility-scale solar already ranging between $35/MWh [megawatt-hour] and $60/MWh, utility PV’s value proposition is evolving beyond simply meeting renewable portfolio standard (RPS) obligations. On top of RPS-driven demand, centralized PV is proving to be an economically competitive resource to meet utilities’ peak power needs. This is especially true in regions like Texas and the Southeast, where utilities are retiring their aging coal fleets and replacing them with utility PV, alongside combined-cycle natural gas plants.

By Paul Ausick

Solar Energy Tops Natural Gas in 2015 US Capacity Growth

NALCO to expand Suzlon-built wind power project to 27000 households capacity

National Aluminium Company or NALCO has awarded to Suzlon a contract to double its wind energy production capacity to 100.80 MW, the wind energy company said.

The project will be capable of providing power to around 27,000 households and reducing “0.10 million tonnes of CO2 emissions per annum.

NALCO which is a public sector enterprise of the Government of India is also Asia’s largest integrated aluminum company.

The corporate forayed into the renewable energy space in the year 2011 by entering into a partnership with Suzion for setting up its maiden 50.40MW wind power project in the state of Andhra Pradesh.

Suzlon will be responsible for the entire project lifecycle, from development to construction and commissioning including operations, maintenance and services of the project for an initial period of 10 years.

The project comprises of 24 units of S97-90 m tubular towers with rated capacity of 2.1Mw each and is scheduled for completion in FY2017.

The S97-90 m hub height wind turbine generator features Doubly Fed Induction Generator (DFIG) technology.

NALCO to expand Suzlon-built wind power project to 27000 households capacity

Solar energy capacity grows in the UK

Solar energy capacity grows in the UK

Posted on 08 June 2015. Tags: climate change, Department of Energy and Climate Change, renewable energy, renewable energy news, solar energy, solar energy news, uk renewable energy, uk solar energy, uk solar projects, United Kingdom

UK government continues to show financial support for solar energy

The United Kingdom has been showing strong support for solar energy in recent years. Recently, the government had committed more than $50 million to help developing countries overcome the challenges they face concerning climate change, with some of this funding being used to promote solar energy. Domestically, the government has also been advocating for solar power, suggesting that the solar sector could be a source of economic growth and potential prosperity for the country.

Solar capacity reaches 6,526 MW

According to recent information from the Department of Energy and Climate Change, the country’s solar capacity reached 6,526 megawatts at the end of April this year. Capacity has grown by 25% during the first quarter of this year when compared to the fourth quarter of 2014, with growth being powered by the rapid adoption of solar energy. In the residential sector, homeowners are beginning to make use of solar panels as a way to save money and become more environmentally friendly. Businesses are following suit, making use of new solar products in order to distance themselves from the costs associated with fossil-fuels.

UK also shows support for solar energy projects in developing countries

Outside of the United Kingdom, solar energy is establishing a foothold in developing countries. Many of these countries face potential problems due to climate change, and renewable energy solutions may be able to help them prepare for issues relating to climate change. The United Kingdom has been supporting the growth of solar energy in these countries, offering financial support for solar projects t hat show promise in developing nations.

UK organizations continue to invest in solar power and energy efficiency within the country and in developing nations

The UK Green Investment Bank recently invested more than $200 million into the development of renewable energy systems and energy efficiency projects in developing countries. Other organizations have done so as well, but they are also committing funding to the domestic solar energy industry, which has been growing at a rapid pace in recent years due to government support.

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Solar energy capacity grows in the UK

Planned project would nearly double Michigan's solar capacity

This former GM plant site in Lansing, shown here in 2006, is among the locations being considered for a 20 MW solar array by the city’s utility. (Photo by Keith Kris via Creative Commons)

Developers and Michigan’s largest municipally owned utility could nearly double the state’s solar energy portfolio by partnering in what would decidedly be the largest single solar project here.

An official with the Lansing Board of Water and Light confirmed with Midwest Energy News Wednesday that the utility has selected a developer for a 20 MW solar project.

The original request for proposals, which was under development are less than 1.5 MW, while roughly 23 MW of commercial-scale solar statewide is tracked by the Michigan Public Service Commission.

Solar currently makes up roughly 1 percent of Michigan’s 2,300 MW renewable energy portfolio, according to the PSC.

One of the sites in the running is a vacant industrial property formerly owned by General Motors less than two miles from the state Capitol building.

A power purchase agreement is yet to be finalized and the original proposed location — GM’s former Verlinden plant that was demolished nearly 10 years ago — still needs to be secured, but the BWL is intent on increasing the scale of its original proposal.

“We got a whole lot of bids, there was a lot of interest,” said George Stojic, the BWL’s executive director of planning and development. “It just made sense to scale this thing up.”

The utility selected Vermont-based groSolar to develop a 20 MW project. Stojic said it’s up to the developer to ultimately secure a location.

Steve Remen, groSolar’s executive vice president of business development, said the former GM site is one of several the company is considering in the Lansing area and the project could need more than one property.

“Oftentimes, those sites make very good sites for solar projects,” Remen said, referring to vacant industrial parcels that likely have legacy contamination. “It’s an excellent re-use of the property.”

Stojic said the cost of solar would be roughly $60 per MWh at the former GM site, but that could vary depending on the location.

The property is owned by RACER Trust, which was created to manage, clean up and market former GM properties after the company’s bankruptcy in 2009. RACER oversees more than 250 acres of vacant industrial land in the Lansing area. The proposed site is on 57 acres west of downtown Lansing where Pontiacs, Oldsmobiles and Chevrolets used to be assembled.

Stojic said it made sense economically to scale up the project based on data taken from the BWL’s smaller, 150 kW solar array. Also, the BWL has limited, point-to-point transmission, he said.

“We are a summer-peaking utility. Solar fits well into that very well for two reasons: It’s there in the summertime if we need it and it helps offset transmission costs,” he said.

Stojic said he hopes details will be finalized and made public within the next couple of months.

“I wanted a fairly significantly sized project,” Stojic said. “I’m very excited about it.”

Planned project would nearly double Michigan"s solar capacity

India Plans 100 GW Wind Energy Capacity By 2022

January 25th, 2015 by Smiti Mittal 

The Indian government is looking to set a target of 100 GW under its national wind energy mission. While the mission is being mulled for almost a year it could be launched within months, if not weeks.

During the first meeting of the Council on Climate Change, the impending national wind energy mission was discussed. The mission would see annual capacity addition of 10 GW capacity every year to add 70-80 GW capacity by 2022 adding to the currently operational capacity of 22.5 GW.

The Indian government has already announced and started working on the revised national solar mission. As per the revised plan, a total of 100 GW of solar power capacity will be established by 2022, compared to the initial plan of 22 GW. To achieve this target the government is looking to attract significant foreign investment and provide low-cost finance through national agencies. The National wind energy mission will also be implemented through similar schemes.

The Indian wind energy market has already achieved a significant amount of maturity and is home to some of the leading wind energy companies from around the world. The investors are happy to lend to wind energy projects, especially because the tariffs for wind energy projects have been increasing for the last 2-3 years.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has also been able to get a significant incentive for the wind energy sector re-introduced. The accelerated depreciation was reintroduced during the current financial year, while the ministry plans to provide certainty to the generation-based incentive and plans to the continue it for the next five years with a cost of Rs 15,000 crore (~$2.5 billion).

In addition to the increased support for onshore wind energy sector the government is also planning to promote offshore wind energy market. It has already announced a 100 MW wind energy project in Gujarat. This has prompted private companies to enter the offshore wind energy market. Suzlon Energy has announced a 300 MW project off the coast of Gujarat.

The government would like to announce the initiation of the mission during or before the first-ever RE-INVEST forum scheduled in early February. During the event the government hopes to attract investment worth billions of dollars in several renewable energy markets.

Image Credit: wind turbines in India via Shutterstock

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Tags: accelerated depreciation, India, India Council on Climate Change, India Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, India National Wind Energy Mission, India Offshore Wind Energy, india renewable energy, india wind energy

About the Author

Smiti Mittal works as a senior solar engineer at Mott MacDonald, a reputed engineering and management consultancy. She has conducted due diligence of several solar PV projects in India and Southeast Asia. She has keen interest in renewable energy, green buildings, environmental sustainability, and biofuels. She currently resides in New Delhi, India.

India Plans 100 GW Wind Energy Capacity By 2022

Let the sun shine: Colorado Springs Utilities adding solar capacity

A ray of sunshine came out of the Colorado Springs Utilities Board meeting this week as the panel OK’d two projects that will add 20 megawatts of solar power and credits to the area’s energy portfolio.

“It’s very exciting,” John Romero, Colorado Springs Utilities general manager of energy acquisitions, engineering and planning, said Friday. He said the added solar capacity will help keep the utility in compliance with state renewable energy standards until 2030.

The projects are expected to be completed by the end of June.

The first is a 10 megawatt solar array to be constructed on Utilities’ property near the Nixon Power Plant in south Colorado Springs. An array is a group of solar panels or cells that convert sunlight to electricity. Ten megawatts of solar translates into enough power for 3,000 homes each year.

The utility is working with El Paso County officials to expedite rezoning of the area, Romero said. Construction of the arrays will be contracted out to solar developers.

The other project is a 20-year purchase of renewable energy credits that will equal about 10 megawatts of capacity. These credit investments enable renewable solar energy projects and will help the utility meet and even exceed state regulations.

The state requires that utilities generate 10 percent of their power from renewable sources by 2020. But Colorado Springs Utilities has voluntarily upped its energy plan to 20 percent.

The two projects will help the utility meet of the Colorado Renewable Energy Standard until 2030. Romero said Utilities is using an accelerated timetable to take advantage of the state’s so-called multipliers that provide three times the number of credits if put in place by the end of June, when the plan expires.

“For every renewable energy credit we purchase, it would be counted three times. It’s a state incentive to get utilities on board early,” Utilities spokeswoman Amy Trinidad said.

Romero declined to provide an estimate of the cost of the projects because the utility is in negotiations with various entities involved in the development proposals.

The solar projects will be owned and operated by third parties and located in Springs Utilities’ electric service territory.

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Contact Carol McGraw: 636-0371

Twitter: @mcgrawatGazette

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Let the sun shine: Colorado Springs Utilities adding solar capacity