Solar Power Use In The Us

Over the past few years the cost of a solar energy system has dropped significantly helping to give more american families and business access to affordable clean energy.

Solar power use in the us. Solar power in the united states includes utility scale solar power plants as well as local distributed generation mostly from rooftop photovoltaics as of the end of 2019 the united states had over 71 3 gigawatts gw of installed photovoltaic capacity. The golden state generated more than 37 percent of the u s. Hit 1 million solar installations at the end of february amounting to roughly 27 2 gigawatts of solar power capacity according to the solar energy industries association seia a trade. Solar market insight report from wood mackenzie power and renewables and the seia.

The figures come from the latest u s. However this also includes other renewable sources like wind geothermal and solar. It probably comes as no surprise that california ranks first among states in generating electricity from solar power. The data for states is current through the second quarter of 2018.

Nuclear energy supplied 8 4 and renewable energy supplied 8 mainly from hydroelectric dams and biomass. The tremendous growth in the u s. In 2018 utility scale solar power generated 66 6 terawatt hours twh 1 66 of total u s. Energy in the united states comes mostly from fossil fuels.

Solar industry is helping to pave the way to a cleaner more sustainable energy future. Solar s abundance and potential throughout the united states is staggering. Residential installations were down 23 from q1 to q2 2020 due largely to shelter in place orders during the initial stages of the covid 19 pandemic that imposed restrictions on selling. Through a portfolio of r d efforts the energy department remains committed to leveraging america.

Concentrating solar thermal power csp is the other method for. In 2010 data showed that 25 of the nation s energy originates from petroleum 22 from coal and 22 from natural gas.