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Solar power in Nevada

{{short description|Overview of solar power in the U.S. state of Nevada}}

File:Giant photovoltaic array.jpg]]

Solar power in Nevada is growing due to a renewable portfolio standard which requires 50% renewable energy by 2030. The state has abundant open land areas and some of the best solar potential in the country.{{cite web|url=http://www.neo.ne.gov/statshtml/201.htm |title=Comparison of Solar Power Potential by State |website=neo.ne.gov |access-date=7 February 2019}}

Solar power plants

{{Main Article|List of power stations in Nevada#Solar photovoltaic}}

File:Nevada Electricity Generation Sources Pie Chart.svg

The number and size of photovoltaic power stations in Nevada has been growing rapidly since 2010. As of 2018, the largest is the 552 MW Copper Mountain Solar Facility near Boulder City, which is a group of co-located units, each sized up to 250 MW.{{cite web |url=http://www.semprausgp.com/project/copper-mountain-solar-1/ |title=Copper Mountain 1 facility details}}{{cite web |url=http://www.semprausgp.com/project/copper-mountain-solar-2/ |title=Copper Mountain 2 facility details}}{{cite web |url=http://www.semprausgp.com/project/copper-mountain-solar-3/ |title=Copper Mountain 3 facility details}}{{cite web |url=http://www.semprausgp.com/project/copper-mountain-solar-4/ |title=Copper Mountain 4 facility details}} Another 250 MW unit has been approved for construction, which could make it the largest solar facility in the United States.[http://www.tdworld.com/renewables/commission-approves-largest-clean-energy-investment-nevada-history Commission Approves Largest Clean Energy Investment in Nevada History], T&D World, January 08, 2019{{Cite web|url=https://solarindustrymag.com/nv-energy-proposes-giant-solar-investment-in-nevada/|title=NV Energy Proposes Giant Solar Investment In Nevada|last=Lillian|first=Betsy|date=2018-06-01|website=Solar Industry|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-22}} Earlier notable solar facilities in the state include the 14.2 megawatt (MW-peak), 140 acre Nellis Solar Power Plant; and the 64 MW, 400 acre concentrating solar thermal power plant Nevada Solar One, which both began operation in 2007.

Nevada has also been a leader in low-cost solar electricity generation, establishing several milestones. The Nellis plant was able to provide Nellis Air Force Base with electricity for only 2.2 cents/kWh—compared to the 9 cents they were paying Nevada Power—by selling renewable energy credits (RECs).[http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2007/11/airforce_nellis_solar_071119w/ Solar panels at Nellis could be win-win] In 2015, the 100 MW Playa Solar 2 project—to be constructed by First Solar with a 20-year power purchase agreement with NV Energy - was proposed for $0.0378 per kilowatt-hour. This was below the lowest price of $0.046 available the previous year from the 100 MW Boulder Solar plant.{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2015/07/13/solar-weekly-notes-first-solars-record-ppa-higher-rd-spending-yinglis-debt-woes/ |title=First Solar Signs PPA With A Record Low Rates |author=Forbes |website=Forbes |date=July 13, 2015 }} In 2018, the 300 megawatt (MWAC) Eagle Shadow Mountain Solar Farm was approved for construction with flat rate of $0.02376 per kilowatt-hour throughout its 25-year PPA term, which could establish a new record.{{Cite web|url=https://www.utilitydive.com/news/nv-energy-23-cent-solar-contract-could-set-new-price-record/525610/|title=NV Energy 2.3-cent solar contract could set new price record|website=Utility Dive|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-22}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2018/7/13/17551878/natural-gas-markets-renewable-energy|title=Clean energy is catching up to natural gas|last=Roberts|first=David|date=2018-07-13|website=Vox|access-date=2019-01-22}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/nevada-beat-arizona-record-low-solar-ppa-price|title=Nevada's 2.3-Cent Bid Beats Arizona's Record-Low Solar PPA Price|last=Spector|first=Julian|date=2018-06-12|website=www.greentechmedia.com|access-date=2019-01-22|quote=Instead, we can turn to 8minutenergy’s 300-megawatt Eagle Shadow Mountain Solar Farm, which clocks in at a flat rate of $23.76 per megawatt-hour throughout its 25-year PPA term.}}

Solar photovoltaic and/or thermal power has also been proposed to augment some geothermal power plants in the region—which struggle to meet demand during mid-day peak hours due to their higher bottom of the thermodynamic cycle—since the solar plants will peak at that time.{{cite web |url=https://pangea.stanford.edu/ERE/db/WGC/papers/WGC/2015/38001.pdf |title=The Stillwater Triple Hybrid Power Plant - Integrating Geothermal Solar Photovoltaic and Solar Thermal Power Generation |author=DiMarzio, Angelini, Price, Dhin, Harris |date=April 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160305204442/https://pangea.stanford.edu/ERE/db/WGC/papers/WGC/2015/38001.pdf |archive-date=2016-03-05 |url-status= live}}{{cite web|url= https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2017/08/solarworld-americas-supplies-14-2-mw-solar-panels-nevada-solargeothermal-project/ |title=SolarWorld Americas supplies 14.2 MW of solar panels to Nevada solar+geothermal project|date= August 31, 2017|access-date= September 10, 2017}}{{cite web|url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NunxxiWpNgs |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/NunxxiWpNgs |archive-date=2021-12-15 |url-status=live|title=8/31 6:30p.m. Fallon Gets Another Brand New Solar Plant|date= August 31, 2017|publisher=KTVN Channel 2 News|access-date= September 10, 2017|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}

As of February 2022, there are 26 large proposed projects in Nevada, totaling over 21 GW of capacity, or five times the state's existing solar capacity. These projects also include more than 17 GW of energy storage.{{Cite web |title=Solar power storage, grid expansion spark energy transition, land rush in Nevada |url=https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/latest-news-headlines/solar-power-storage-grid-expansion-spark-energy-transition-land-rush-in-nevada-68549968 |access-date=2023-02-21 |website=www.spglobal.com |language=en-us}} Half of these were proposed in Nye County, which would be enabled by two new transmission lines, though some are close to Death Valley National Park.{{Cite web |last=Streater |first=Scott |date=2022-03-15 |title=Solar boom casts shadow on Death Valley National Park |url=https://www.eenews.net/articles/solar-boom-casts-shadow-on-death-valley-national-park/ |access-date=2023-02-21 |website=E&E News |language=en-US}}

Solar-related businesses in Nevada

File:Las Vegas - 45121580911 (cropped).jpg

Prominent Nevada-based solar installation companies include 702 Energy Savers, Radiant Solar, Summerlin Energy, Bombard Renewable Energy, and Hamilton Solar.[http://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2013/10/solar-power-world-top-250-top-solar-contractors-nevada/ Solar Power World]

Nevada had 129 MW in private installations of rooftop solar in 2015.[https://www.wecc.biz/Reliability/2016%20SOTI%20Final.pdf 2016 State of the Interconnection] page 15. WECC, 2016. [https://web.archive.org/web/20160809221758/https://www.wecc.biz/Reliability/2016%20SOTI%20Final.pdf Archive]

Incentives

The federal Residential Energy Efficient Property Credit (income tax credit on IRS Form 5695) for residential PV and solar thermal was extended in December 2015 to remain at 30% of system cost (parts and installation). There is no maximum cap on the credit, the credit can be applied toward the alternative minimum tax, and any excess credit (greater than that year's tax liability) can be rolled into the following year.{{cite web|title=Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit|url=http://energy.gov/savings/residential-renewable-energy-tax-credit|website=Energy.gov|publisher=US Department of Energy|access-date=April 29, 2016}}{{cite web|title=Federal Income Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency|url=https://www.energystar.gov/about/federal_tax_credits|website=EnergyStar.gov|publisher=US EPA|access-date=December 21, 2016}}

Net metering controversy

Net energy metering rules were changed in December 2015, unfavorably for homeowners having or considering rooftop solar, and were applied even to existing installations. Some major installers, including SolarCity, Vivint, and SunRun, withdrew from the Nevada market.

After a public outcry, the earlier favorable rules were grandfathered for up to 32,000 customers whose systems were active or had a pending application by December 31, 2015.{{cite web|last1=Roerink|first1=Kyle |url= http://lasvegassun.com/news/2015/aug/21/nv-energy-rooftop-solar-cap-will-be-hit-saturday/ |website=The Las Vegas Sun|title=NV Energy Rooftop Solar Cap Will Be Hit Saturday|date=21 August 2015 }}{{cite web|last1=Whaley|first1=Sean |url= http://www.reviewjournal.com/business/energy/solarcity-stopping-nevada-sales-installations-after-puc-ruling |website=The Las Vegas Review Journal|title=SolarCity Stopping Nevada Sales Installation After PUC Ruling|date=24 December 2015 }}{{cite web|last1=Buhayar | first1=Noah |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2016-solar-power-buffett-vs-musk/ |website=Bloomberg Businessweek |date=January 28, 2016| title=Who owns the sun?}}{{cite web|url= http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/nevada-supreme-court-blocks-rooftop-solar-referendum |title=Nevada Supreme Court Blocks Rooftop Solar Referendum|access-date=9 August 2016}}{{cite news|last1=Gross|first1=Damiel|title=Why Solar Energy Is Fleeing Nevada|url= http://www.slate.com/articles/business/the_juice/2016/01/solarcity_and_vivint_pulled_out_of_nevada_is_solar_power_losing_at_the_state.html |access-date=December 22, 2016|publisher=Slate.com|date=January 22, 2016}}{{cite news|last1=Hidalgo|first1=Jason|title=Nevada regulators unanimously approve rooftop solar grandfathering deal|url= http://www.rgj.com/story/money/business/2016/09/13/nv-energy-solarcity-deal-grandfather-residential-rooftop-solar-customers/90306788/ |access-date=December 22, 2016|work=Reno Gazette-Journal|date=September 16, 2016}} The Public Utilities Commission of Nevada approved bill AB405 in 2017 to restore net metering.{{cite web|url= http://www.nnbw.com/news/public-utilities-commission-of-nevada-makes-decision-on-solar-energy-bill/ |title=Public Utilities Commission of Nevada makes decision on solar energy bill|date=September 1, 2017|access-date= September 7, 2017}}

Statistics

class="wikitable" style="text-align:right;"

|+ Nevada Solar Capacity (MW){{cite web|url=http://www.irecusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Final-Solar-Report-7-3-14-W-2.pdf|title=U.S. Solar Market Trends 2013|author=Sherwood, Larry|publisher=Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC)|date=July 2014|access-date=2014-07-17}}{{cite web |url= http://www.irecusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Solar-Report-Final-July-2013-1.pdf |title= U.S. Solar Market Trends 2012 |last= Sherwood |first= Larry |publisher= Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) |date=July 2013 |page= 16 |access-date= 2013-10-11}}{{cite web|url=http://www.irecusa.org/wp-content/uploads/IRECSolarMarketTrends-2012-web.pdf|title=U.S. Solar Market Trends 2011|author=Sherwood, Larry|publisher=Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC)|date=August 2012|access-date=2012-08-16|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120906231846/http://www.irecusa.org/wp-content/uploads/IRECSolarMarketTrends-2012-web.pdf|archive-date=2012-09-06}}{{cite web|url=http://irecusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/IREC-Solar-Market-Trends-Report-June-2011-web.pdf|title=U.S. Solar Market Trends 2010|author=Sherwood, Larry|publisher=Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC)|date=June 2011|access-date=2011-06-29}}{{Cite web|url=http://irecusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/IREC-Solar-Market-Trends-Report-2010_7-27-10_web1.pdf|title=U.S. Solar Market Trends 2009|author=Sherwood, Larry|publisher=Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC)|date=July 2010|access-date=2010-07-28|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100925184512/http://irecusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/IREC-Solar-Market-Trends-Report-2010_7-27-10_web1.pdf|archive-date=2010-09-25}}{{cite web |url= http://irecusa.org/fileadmin/user_upload/NationalOutreachDocs/SolarTrendsReports/IREC_Solar_Market_Trends_Report_2008.pdf |title= U.S. Solar Market Trends 2008 |last= Sherwood |first= Larry |publisher= Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) |date= July 2009 |page= 16 |access-date= 2010-07-24 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091123030109/http://www.irecusa.org/fileadmin/user_upload/NationalOutreachDocs/SolarTrendsReports/IREC_Solar_Market_Trends_Report_2008.pdf |archive-date= 2009-11-23 }}{{cite web |url=http://irecusa.org/fileadmin/user_upload/NationalOutreachDocs/IREC_Solar_Market_Trends_Revision_11_19_08-1.pdf |title=U.S. Solar Market Trends 2007 |last=Sherwood |first=Larry |publisher=Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) |date=August 2008 |access-date=2010-07-24 }}{{dead link|date=May 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}[https://www.seia.org/state-solar-policy/nevada-solar Nevada Solar]{{cite web | url=https://www.seia.org/sites/default/files/USSMI-YIR-2017-FR_FINAL_SEIA-Cover.pdf | title=Solar Market Insight 2017 Year in Review - USSMI-YIR-2017-FR_FINAL_SEIA-Cover.pdf |date=December 17, 2018 |access-date=2019-02-08 |page=9 }}

! rowspan=2 |Year

! colspan=3 style="background-color: #cfb;" |Photovoltaics

! colspan=3 style="background-color: #bcf;" |CSP

style="background-color: #cfb;" |Capacity

! style="background-color: #cfb;" |Installed

! style="background-color: #cfb;" |% change

! style="background-color: #bcf;" |Capacity

! style="background-color: #bcf;" |Installed

! style="background-color: #bcf;" |% change

200718.815.9548%64
200834.214.982%64
200936.42.56%64
2010104.768.3188%64
2011124.119.419%64
2012349.7225.6182%64
2013424.074.321%64
201482339994%64
20151,24041751%184120
20162,241.91,001.981%1840
20172,421.3179.48%1840
20182,951.353021%1840
20193,556.2604.920%1840
20203,871.7315.58%1840
20214,510.8639.1%
20225,366855.2%

File:2017 NV Solar Energy Generation Profile.jpg

File:2015 Monthly Profile of Solar Energy for NV.png

class="wikitable" style="float: center; text-align: center;"

|+ Utility scale solar generation"Electric Power Monthly-Data Browser "[http://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly] retrieved 2019-3-17

!Year

!Generation
(GWh)

!Generation
(% of NV total)

!Generation
(% of US solar)

20102170.6%17.9%
20112900.9%16%
20124731.3%10.9%
20137492.1%8.2%
20141,0282.8%5.6%
20151,6584.2%6.6%
20163,1247.85%8.67%
20173,96610.38%7.44%
2018*4,34410.88%6.52%

(*) Preliminary data from Electric Power Monthly.

Beginning with the 2014 data year, the Energy Information Administration has estimated distributed solar photovoltaic generation and distributed solar photovoltaic capacity. These non-utility scale estimates project that, Nevada, generated the following additional solar energy.

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|+ Estimated distributed solar electric generation in Nevada“Electric Power Monthly” [http://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_table_grapher.cfm?t=epmt_6_2_b] |title=Electric Power Monthly (February 2019 with data for December 2018) - Table 6.2.B. Net Summer Capacity using Primarily Renewable Sources retrieved 2019 3 17“Electric Power Monthly” [http://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_table_grapher.cfm?t=epmt_1_17_b] |title=Electric Power Monthly (February 2019 with data for December 2018) - Table 1.17.B. Net Generation from Solar Photovoltaic retrieved 2019 3 17

!Year

!Summer capacity (MW)

!Electric energy (GWh or M kWh)

2014

|49

| 86

2015

| 120.4

| 186

2016

| 209.5

| 372

2017

| 227.3

| 412

2018*

| 299.1

| 493

See also

{{Portal|Renewable energy|Energy|United States}}

References

{{commons category}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

External links

  • [https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f5695.pdf IRS Form 5695 - Residential Energy Credits] and [https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i5695.pdf instructions]

{{Solar power in the United States}}

{{Energy in the USA}}

Category:Energy in Nevada

Nevada

Category:Solar power in Nevada