The United States has officially surpassed 5 million solar installations, achieving another milestone and a rapid increase from the one million installations recorded in 2016. This achievement comes just over four decades after the nation's first grid-connected solar installation in 1973.
Recent data from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and Wood Mackenzie highlight this exponential growth, particularly noting that more than half of these installations occurred since 2020, with over 25% following the enactment of the Inflation Reduction Act 20 months ago. The installations span residential homes, businesses, and large ground-mounted arrays nationwide.
SEIA President and CEO, Abigail Ross Hopper, emphasizes the impact of solar energy, stating, "Solar is scaling by the millions because it consistently delivers on its promise to lower electricity costs, boost community resilience, and create economic opportunities." Hopper adds, "Today 7% of homes in America have solar, and this number will grow to over 15% of U.S. homes by 2030. Solar is quickly becoming the dominant source of electricity on the grid, allowing communities to breathe cleaner air and lead healthier lives.”
This growth is not only improving community health by providing cleaner air but is also set to continue expanding. SEIA forecasts suggest that solar installations will double to 10 million by 2030 and triple to 15 million by 2034, despite recent state policy changes.
Remarkably, the residential sector, which accounts for 97% of all installations, has broken annual installation records for five consecutive years and in ten of the last twelve years.
As of today, 11 U.S. states and territories have each installed over 100,000 solar systems. California leads with 2 million installations, despite recent challenges to the rooftop solar market due to changes in policies. Meanwhile, Illinois and Florida have shown impressive growth; Illinois jumped from 2,500 installations in 2017 to over 87,000 today, and Florida surged from 22,000 to 235,000 installations in the same period.
Looking ahead, by 2030, 22 states or territories are projected to have more than 100,000 solar installations, covering an area as extensive as every residential rooftop in the four corners states of Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico.
This milestone marks a significant step toward a more sustainable and resilient energy future in the United States, with solar energy at the forefront of this transformation.
Source: https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2024/05/us-surpasses-5-million-solar-installations/