Commercial, Distributed Energy Resources, Commercial, Distributed Generation, Solar  -  February 4, 2016

EIA provides monthly, state-level, small-scale solar estimates

A new information resource is available to energy managers interested in monitoring where facilities are using onsite solar power. In December, the U.S. Energy Information Administration began regular reporting of monthly estimates of small-scale distributed solar photovoltaic, or PV, electricity generation and capacity by state and sector.

A majority of U.S. solar power is generated by large-scale or utility-scale systems, but smaller onsite systems — like those found on residential and commercial rooftops — increasingly generate a larger share. EIA estimates total U.S. solar generation was 3.5 million MWh in September 2015, with 33% coming from small-scale solar PV and 67% from utility-scale solar. 

"Generation from roof-top PV systems has become an increasingly important part of total solar generation in the United States. The new monthly reporting on small-scale distributed solar PV systems gives the country a better way to track their contribution to the nation's electricity supply," EIA Administrator Adam Sieminski said in a Dec. 1 news release.

Almost 40% of the distributed PV capacity in the United States is located in California. New Jersey, Massachusetts and New York are among the top distributed solar states because of significant state solar PV policies and incentives despite having average to below-average solar resources, according to EIA.

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