The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) has found that California is the first state to use more than 5 percent utility-scale solar power for electricity generation. Utility-scale power is defined as 1 megawatt (MW) or larger.
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Click on image to enlarge. Credit: EIA |
According to the report, the solar plants generated 9.9 megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity in 2014 -- 6.6 MWh more than in 2013.
California's solar production was more than all other states combined, and more than three times as much as Arizona, which came in second place for 2014. California was also the top producer of nonhydroelectric renewable energy in 2014 -- just ahead of Texas.
"Several large plants were phased into operation in California during 2014, including two 550 MW solar photovoltaic plants, Topaz and Desert Sunlight (Phases 1 and 2), as well as the 377 MW Ivanpah (Phases 1, 2, and 3) and the 250 MW Genesis solar thermal plants. In total, nearly 1,900 MW of new utility-scale solar capacity was added, bringing the state's utility-scale capacity for all solar technologies to 5,400 MW by the end of 2014," the EIA reported.
Solar isn't the only renewable resource being used by California utilites. Non-hydropower renewables, including wind, solar and biomass, accounted for a total of 22 percent of energy production in 2014. California's renewable portfolio standard (RPS) requires electricity providers to get 33 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2020.
"California also created incentives, including rebates and net-metering policies, to encourage rooftop and other small-scale solar capacity, whose generation is not captured in the above figure," the report said. "By the end of 2014, more than 2,300 MW of small-scale solar capacity was installed on homes and businesses, according to the California Public Utilities Commission."
The significant solar increase in 2015 is due in part to the drought currently hitting the state. According to EIA, hydroelectric generation in California dropped 46 percent compared to the previous five-year average -- but "solar generation in 2014 offset 83 percent of the decrease in hydroelectric generation."
California, Arizona, Nevada, New Jersey and North Carolina all had impressive solar numbers for 2014.
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