{"id":386,"date":"2021-05-06T08:30:26","date_gmt":"2021-05-06T08:30:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pscsolaruk.com\/blog\/?p=386"},"modified":"2021-05-06T08:30:26","modified_gmt":"2021-05-06T08:30:26","slug":"this-is-the-first-of-a-multi-part-series-on-the-state-of-the-main-sources-of-energy-in-the-us-and-how-they-compare-globally","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pscsolaruk.com\/blog\/this-is-the-first-of-a-multi-part-series-on-the-state-of-the-main-sources-of-energy-in-the-us-and-how-they-compare-globally\/","title":{"rendered":"The Future Of US Solar Is Bright"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Solar<\/a> cell power engineer technician checks the maintenance of the solar panels.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This is the first of a multi-part series on the state of the main sources of energy in the US and how they compare globally. The series will cover\u00a0<\/em>solar<\/em><\/a>,\u00a0<\/em>wind<\/em><\/a>,\u00a0<\/em>oil & gas<\/em><\/a>,\u00a0<\/em>coal<\/em><\/a>,\u00a0<\/em>nuclear<\/em><\/a>, and geothermal (so far) and will answer the same four questions for each.<\/em><\/p>

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1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0How big is the US solar industry, and what is its growth trajectory?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Currently, the US solar industry employs\u00a0about 242,000<\/a>\u00a0people and generates\u00a0tens of billions<\/a>\u00a0of dollars of economic value. By the end of September 2019, the US had deployed over 2 million solar PV systems, totaling about\u00a071,300 MW<\/a>\u00a0of solar capacity, and generating\u00a0over 100 TWh<\/a> of electricity (2019 total, est.). In 2018, solar-generated\u00a0about 1.5%<\/a>\u00a0of US electricity. Of all renewable energy generation, solar PV is expected to\u00a0grow the fastest<\/a>\u00a0from now to 2050. Some solar-heavy grids, such as the California Independent System Operator have experienced times where\u00a0over half of demand<\/a>\u00a0was met by solar PV.<\/p>

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EIA projections of electricity generation by type to 2050:\u00a0… [+]<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Total installed U.S. PV capacity is expected to more than double over the next five years as grid interconnection queues from\u00a0California<\/a>\u00a0to\u00a0Texas<\/a>\u00a0to the\u00a0Mid Atlantic<\/a>\u00a0are full of solar projects. Thus, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that solar PV installer will be the\u00a0fastest growing job<\/a>\u00a0between 2018 and 2028, with a median annual wage of over $42,000.<\/p>\n

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Solar PV growth projections by type:\u00a0… [+]<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Paring solar systems with energy storage is also starting to gain traction. So far, grids have been able to absorb the variable nature of solar PV\u2019s output and most locations can easily incorporate more still. However, the more solar that you install in one location, the more impact it can have. During sunny spring days in California, there is so much solar generation relative to electricity demand, that wholesale electricity prices\u00a0can go negative<\/a>. Then, only a few hours later, the grid must quickly ramp up other power plants because the solar starts to lower its output just as demand is increasing, giving us what has been called the\u00a0Duck Curve<\/a>. Thus, there is\u00a0considerable interest<\/a>\u00a0in paring solar with energy storage systems to that allow the output of the solar (or any electricity really) to be saved for later.<\/p>

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Energy storage prices are still too high to shift bulk amounts of energy around, but there are\u00a0some hybrid solar + storage projects<\/a>\u00a0that have been able to pencil out in the peak demand market, but peaking power plants only provide about 1% of our total energy consumed. However, as prices come down, more and more solar farms are likely to be paired with energy storage systems, like the\u00a0recently greenli<\/a>t 690 MW solar + storage Gemini project in Nevada.<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Which US states lead in solar?<\/strong><\/p>

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