Solar panels

Solar power in Idaho comprised 550 MW in 2019.[1] A 2016 report by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory estimated that rooftops alone have the potential to host 4,700 MW of solar panels, and thus provide 26.4% of all electricity used in Idaho.[2] A large increase in the state's solar generating capacity began starting year 2015 when 461 MW of solar power was contracted to be built in Idaho.[3]

Net metering is limited to 25 kW for residential users, and 100 kW for commercial users, other than for Avista Utilities customers, where the limit for all users is 100 kW.

Statistics

Installed capacity

Source: NREL[4]
Grid-Connected PV Capacity (MW)[5][6][7][8][9][10][1]
Year Capacity Installed % Change
2009 0.1
2010 0.2 0.2 100%
2011 0.4 0.2 100%
2012 1 0.7 175%
2013 1.8 0.7 64%
2014 2.6 0.8 44%
2015 4.6 2 76%
2016 300.6 296 6430%
2017 460 160.4 53%
2018 478 18 4%
2019 550.7 72.7 15%
2020 573 22.3 4%
2021 612.5 39.5 %
2022 644 31.5 %

Utility-scale generation

Utility-scale solar generation in Idaho (GWh)[11]
Year Total Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2016 30 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 9 5 4 6
2017 461 9 10 38 50 52 61 54 52 46 43 25 21
2018 554 26 32 44 53 62 69 64 57 55 40 31 21
2019 556 27 28 46 53 58 68 64 64 51 48 30 19
2020 565 20 36 46 61 65 62 75 61 51 42 24 22
2021 433 23 30 54 62 70 73 64 57

Solar Farms

Main article: List of power stations in Idaho § Solar

The 80 MWAC (108 MWp) Grandview Solar Farm has been the state's largest facility since its commissioning in 2016.[3][12][13] In 2019, Idaho Power contracted a Power Purchase Agreement for a 120 MW solar power station in 2022 at 2.175¢/kWh.[14]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Idaho Solar". Solar Energies Industry Association (SEIA). Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  2. ^ "Rooftop Solar Photovoltaic Technical Potential in the United States" (PDF). National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). January 31, 2016.
  3. ^ a b "Solar Power Gains Traction in Idaho". Twin Falls Times-News. January 14, 2015.
  4. ^ "PV Watts". NREL. Retrieved 22 July 2012.
  5. ^ Sherwood, Larry (August 2012). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2011" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-09-06. Retrieved 2012-08-16.
  6. ^ Sherwood, Larry (June 2011). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2010" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). Retrieved 2011-06-29.
  7. ^ Sherwood, Larry (July 2010). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2009" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-09-25. Retrieved 2010-07-28.
  8. ^ Sherwood, Larry (July 2009). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2008" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). p. 16. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-11-23. Retrieved 2010-07-24.
  9. ^ Sherwood, Larry (July 2012). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2012" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). p. 16. Retrieved 2013-10-11.
  10. ^ Sherwood, Larry (July 2014). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2013" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). Retrieved 2014-09-26.
  11. ^ "Electricity Data Browser". U.S. Department of Energy. March 28, 2018. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  12. ^ Idaho's first major solar plant takes shape Archived 2013-01-23 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ Parsons Gretchen (2016-10-20). "Biggest solar farm in Idaho opens". KTVB news. Retrieved 2020-11-28.
  14. ^ Hill, Joshua S (1 April 2019). "Idaho sets record low solar price as it starts on shift to 100pct renewables". RenewEconomy. Retrieved 2 April 2019.

External links

Solar power in the United States
Energy in the United States
Categories