You Won't Believe How Much Small-Scale Solar Power the US Added in 2022

Sept 11 - Big news from the U.S. Energy landscape! A whopping 6.4 gigawatts (GW) of pint-sized solar potential has found its place under the American sun in 2022, marking the highest annual addition, according to the latest from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) this Monday.

From a modest 7.3 GW in 2014, the land of opportunity witnessed its small-scale solar jump to an impressive 39.5 GW by 2022, as shared by the data gurus at the U.S. Department of Energy.

So, what do we mean by small-scale solar? It's often dubbed as distributed or rooftop solar and encapsulates solar-power setups with a might of 1 megawatt (MW) or under. Here's a fun fact: it makes up approximately a third of the country's full solar strength!

This year, the stars seem to align for the U.S. solar realm. Projections are shining brightly with an anticipated record-breaking 32 GW of production capability, all thanks to the generous boost from the Inflation Reduction Act's investment perks.

Now, where's the solar action really heating up? Hawaii is leading the way in terms of per capita solar love, boasting 541 watts for every resident. But in the sheer volume game, California reigns supreme, holding onto a robust 36% of the nation's small-scale solar glory, as highlighted by EIA.

However, sunshine isn't the only game-changer here. Despite their relatively cloudier skies, New York and New Jersey have clinched the silver and bronze for small-scale solar prowess. Yet, keep an eye out for sunny contenders like Texas and Arizona, who are rapidly making their way up the leaderboard, says the EIA.

Source : Reuters (Reporting by Anjana Anil)