Solar Energy Facts: A Guide to Solar Energy Information

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Looking for a new source of energy to power our daily lives may be as simple as turning our eyes toward the sky. Solar energy is one of the steadiest and most passive forms of energy available on the planet.

So, what is the definition of solar energy?

With increased awareness of climate change and more clean energy initiatives taking hold not just in America but around the world, it’s no wonder more people are looking up solar energy facts.

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Visualizing the Growth of California’s New Energy Economy

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The integration of renewables and distributed energy resources (DERs) are driving electricity planning in California — inviting new and existing players to collaborate and battle over the future of the state’s energy system.

In advance of GTM’s California Distributed Energy Future conference, GTM Research and Wood Mackenzie examined some of the characteristics of the new energy economy.

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Here’s How Nearly 15 Gigawatts of Solar Gets Built in One Year

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In 2010, the U.S. installed 852 megawatts-DC of solar photovoltaics from just over 53,000 individual projects. The non-residential (aka commercial) segment took the largest share (40 percent) of that capacity, and the largest state (California) accounted for 216 megawatts of new solar.

How times have changed. In the record-breaking 2016, a year in which U.S. solar installations grew 95 percent over the previous high, the U.S. installed 14.6 gigawatts of solar from nearly 375,000 projects. The non-residential sector represented just 11 percent of that total, while utility-scale solar accounted for a massive 72 percent. California, still the leading state, installed over 5 gigawatts alone — over 2,000 percent growth relative to 2010.

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100% by 2045 renewable energy bill introduced in California

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On the same day that the U.S. Senate in a mostly party-line vote approved Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt – who is by all accounts an enemy of environmental regulation – to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, the head of California’s state senate was busy leaving a very different kind of legacy. Last Friday, Speaker Pro Tempore Kevin de Léon introduced a bill (SB 584) to mandate that utilities procure 100% of their electricity from renewable energy sources by 2045.

This would accelerate the 50% by 2030 mandate which is currently in place, and would put California tied with Hawaii (which also has a 100% by 2045 mandate) for the most aggressive renewable portfolio standard (RPS) in the United States. On the global scale there are only a few nations with more ambitious plans, among them Denmark, which seeks to obtain all energy – not just electricity – from renewables by 2050.

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U.S. Solar Market Grows 95% in 2016, Smashes Records

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BOSTON, Mass. and WASHINGTON, D.C. – In its biggest year to date, the United States solar market nearly doubled its annual record, topping out at 14,626 megawatts (MW) of solar photovoltaic (PV) installed in 2016. This represents a 95 percent increase over 2015’s then record-breaking 7,493 MW. GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) previewed this data in advance of their upcoming U.S. Solar Market Insight report, set to be released on March 9.

For the first time ever, U.S. solar ranked as the number one source of new electric generating capacity additions on an annual basis. Altogether, solar accounted for 39 percent of new capacity additions across all fuel types in 2016.

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How US solar capacity could double year-over-year

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Despite a whopping 4,143MW of solar PV installed in the US in the third quarter of last year, Q4 2016 is expected to surpass that historic total, according to latest figures from GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).

2016 is set to be a record year for solar on all counts; shattering all previous quarterly installation results.

“Coming off our largest quarter ever and with an extremely impressive pipeline ahead, it’s safe to say the state of the solar industry here in America is strong,” said Tom Kimbis, SEIA’s interim president. “The solar market now enjoys an economically-winning hand that pays off both financially and environmentally, and American taxpayers have noticed. With a 90% favourability rating and 209,000 plus jobs, the US solar industry has proven that when you combine smart policies with smart 21st century technology, consumers and businesses both benefit.”

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American Quality, Proximity to Domestic Market Powers Panel Pact Between SunSpark USA and Gigawatt

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(RIVERSIDE, CA) –  For Southern California-based solar panel manufacturer SunSpark USA and distributor Gigawatt, there’s no place quite like home – particularly when it comes to operating efficiencies and customer value.  The two companies have reached agreement on a deal which effectively enables the LA-based distributor to move much of its panel sourcing from overseas markets to SunSpark USA facilities in nearby Riverside, California.

Terms call for the manufacturer to supply Gigawatt with high-efficiency American solar panels that allow Gigawatt’s diverse customer base to power their lives with sunshine. SunSpark USA panels, which come in mono and poly crystalline form, feature industry leading solar cell technology.

The agreement continues strong 2017 sales momentum for SunSpark, which opened its U.S. plant a little more than a year ago.  The panel manufacturer already supplies more than 200MW of power annually to the U.S. market – a number that continues to grow.  Core segments include residential and commercial facilities, as well as government and military installations.

SunSpark views the partnership as a prime opportunity to expand its revenue growth without a corresponding increase in sales and marketing infrastructure.   Gigawatt, in turn, benefits by bringing its customer base top-quality American panels with all the customer support and logistical advantages created by working with an onshore manufacturing partner.

SunSpark USA vice president Hans Liu said, “GigaWatt fits the partner prototype we developed as part of our broader strategy for building market share in the United States.  The product and operational synergies were clear from the onset of our discussions.  We’re looking forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship.”

 

About SunSpark USA

Launched in 2015, SunSpark USA’s mission is to sustainably produce solar panels in support of a cleaner, greener world. The Riverside, California-based company maintains all operations – including manufacturing, product assembly, distribution, finance, sales and customer service – all under one roof.

 

About GigaWatt Inc.

In 2006, GoGreenSolar.com was founded and operated out of a garage, quickly becoming one of the top online destinations for solar panels, inverters, batteries, racking, and other solar energy products.  Since its humble beginnings of getting people started with green energy, the website evolved into GigaWatt, Inc., a multimillion dollar green energy corporation.  Distribution, installation, and product development are at the heart of GigaWatt’s core competencies.

San Diego Sees 54% Rise in Solar Power Installations

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The city of San Diego issued permits for more than 2,200 solar energy systems last year, compared to just over 1,200 the year before, the mayor’s office reported Wednesday.

City officials credited lower costs, technological innovations and streamlined solar permit processing services for the 54 percent jump.

Increasing the use of solar and other renewable resources is a key element of the city’s plan to address the effects of climate change.

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American Solar Job Force Hits New Record Growth, Now Stands at 260,000-Strong

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Experiencing its biggest growth year yet, the solar industry in the United States now employs more than 260,000 Americans, according to The Solar Foundation’s seventh annual National Solar Jobs Census released today.

“Last year, one out of every 50 new jobs created here in America was a solar job,” said Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). “That’s an incredible finding that proves that solar energy is increasingly becoming a linchpin in America’s economy. When communities across America open their doors to solar, the jobs come racing in.”

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Solar Installations Reach Milestone: 300GW of global PV capacity

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The growth of photovoltaic technology around the world continues, and the global success story has now reached a further milestone: 300 gigawatts (GWp) of total installed solar power capacity around the world. This was announced by the German Solar Association in Berlin, on the basis of their own calculations. In 2016 there was a global deployment of solar power systems with an additional nominal capacity of around 70 gigawatts. That amounts to a jump of around 30% in new deployment compared to the previous year 2015. The photovoltaic systems installed in 2016 alone generate around 90 terawatt hours of clean solar power. In mathematical terms, this new capacity would supply 25 million additional households with an annual electricity consumption of 3500 kilowatt hours.

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