Solar power in Ohio
{{short description|Overview of solar power in the U.S. state of Ohio}}
File:Front View of the Great Lakes Science Center.jpg]]
Solar power in Ohio has been increasing, as the cost of photovoltaics has decreased. Ohio installed 10 MW of solar in 2015. Ohio adopted a net metering rule which allows any customer generating up to 25 kW to use net metering, with the kilowatt hour surplus rolled over each month, and paid by the utility once a year at the generation rate upon request. For hospitals there is no limit on size, but two meters are required, one for generation, the other for utility supplied power.{{Cite web|url=https://programs.dsireusa.org/system/program/detail/36|title=DSIRE|website=programs.dsireusa.org}}
In 2010, the 12 MW solar farm in Upper Sandusky was the largest solar farm in the state.{{Cite web|url=http://www.care2.com/index.html|title=Care2 is the world's largest social network for good, a community of over 40 million people standing together, starting petitions and sharing stories that inspire action.|website=www.care2.com}}[http://www2.nbc4i.com/news/2010/aug/20/ohios-largest-solar-farm-goes-online-ar-201359/ Ohio's Largest Solar Farm Goes Online] It was later surpassed by the 20MW DG AMP Solar Bowling Green farm, which was completed in January 2017.[https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_table_grapher.cfm?t=epmt_6_03 Table 6.3. New Utility Scale Generating Units by Operating Company, Plant, and Month, 2017], Electric Power Monthly, U.S. Energy Information Administration, March 24, 2017
The First Solar factory in Perrysburg can produce almost 600 MW of panels per year.
Costs have decreased to the point that the average consumer may save approximately $17,527 over a 20-year period by installing solar panels.{{Cite web|url=http://solarpowerrocks.com/solar-incentives/how-much-does-solar-cost/|title=How Much Does Solar Cost?}} Euclid's City Hall and library installed solar panels and expects to save $25,000 over the next 15 years. The panels were installed at no cost to the city by Ohio Cooperative Solar, which is leasing the rooftops.{{Cite web|url=http://www.news-herald.com/articles/2011/11/03/news/doc4eb2942c1aa9a229873335.txt?viewmode=fullstory|title=Euclid City Hall, library turning to solar energy for savings}}
Solar projects
File:Defense.gov photo essay 091019-F-ZJ624-023.jpg, Swanton]]
Overall capacity of Ohio's utility-scale solar projects was estimated at 100 MW in December 2020, with an additional 400 MW projected to come online within a year.{{Cite web|last=Gearino|first=Dan|date=2020-12-17|title=Inside Clean Energy: The Solar Boom Arrives in Ohio|url=https://insideclimatenews.org/news/17122020/inside-clean-energy-ohio-solar-boom/|access-date=2021-02-06|website=Inside Climate News|language=en-US}}
=Toledo area=
In 2009, ground broke on what was then one of the largest solar fields in the United States, located in Wyandot County, near Upper Sandusky. The 12-MW plant, finished in September 2010,[http://www.juwisolar.com/wyandot-county-solar-project-finishes-early/ "Wyandot County solar project finishes early"], Juwi Solar. Accessed January 4, 2011 was constructed by Germany-based Juwi Solar and is called Wyandot Solar LLC., leasing its energy to AEP.[http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090911/BUSINESS03/909110330/0/CLCARS "German company to build area's largest solar field in Wyandot County"], Retrieved 19 nov 2009.[http://cmpnd.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=127:solar-coming-to-wyandot-county&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=50 "Solar Coming to Wyandot County"], CMPND, Retrieved 19 nov 2009.
A 1.1 MW solar field was constructed by Advanced Distributed Generation on the University of Toledo campus.[http://www.toledofreepress.com/2009/11/12/solar-field-nears-completion/ "Solar Field Nears Completion"], Toledo Free Press. Retrieved 27 nov 2009.[https://www.utoledo.edu/facilities/energymgmt/renewables.html Facilities and Construction: Renewable Energy ], University of Toledo, accessed May 29, 2016
The airbase for 180th Fighter Wing of the Ohio Air National Guard in Toledo has a 1.2 MW solar installation.[http://www.toledofreepress.com/2010/01/08/ohio-air-national-guard-expands-solar-energy-field/ "Ohio Air National Guard expands solar energy field"], Toledo Free Press, Retrieved 9 jan 2010.[http://www.toledoblade.com/local/2010/01/06/Air-Guard-base-adds-to-solar-field.html Air Guard base adds to solar field], The Toledo Blade, Tom Henry, 1/6/2010
In 2010, the Ohio Department of Transportation announced Xunlight and First Solar would provide 100 kW of panels for a $1.5 million research project at the Veterans' Glass City Skyway in Toledo.[http://www.wiot.com/cc-common/news/sections/newsarticle.html?feed=315557&article=6989598 "Skyway to Become Ohio's First "Solar Highway"], 104.7 WIOT. Retrieved 16 apr 2010.[http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100414/NEWS16/4140324 "Skyway going solar on $1.5M U.S. grant"], Toledo Blade. Retrieved 16 apr 2010.
=Dayton=
In 2009, University of Dayton graduate Zachary Layman's company Solar Roadways received a $100,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to develop his solar road prototype, which embeds solar panels into driving surfaces.[http://greenlivingideas.com/topics/alternative-energy/idaho-man-builds-12-foot-solar-road "Idaho Man Builds 12 Foot Solar Road"], Green Living Ideas. 17 feb 2010. Retrieved 25 June 2010. It won General Electric's Ecomagination Challenge Award in 2010.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bonnercountydailybee.com/news/local/article_b2855c5e-d36c-11df-a31e-001cc4c03286.html|title=Solar Roadways shines in contest's popular vote}}
Another of the state's largest solar arrays was constructed by The Dayton Power and Light Company in Dayton.[http://www.marketwatch.com/story/dpl-officially-opens-largest-solar-power-facility-in-southwestern-ohio-2010-06-22?reflink=MW_news_stmp "DP&L Officially Opens Largest Solar Power Facility in Southwestern Ohio"], Market Watch. 22 June 2010. Retrieved 25 June 2010. The solar field generates 1.1 Megawatts of power.[http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=93052&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1366705&highlight= " Largest Solar Power Facility in Southwestern Ohio"], Retrieved 17 dec 2009. The facility will consist of 9,000 solar panels constructed over {{convert|7|acre|m2}}, and will generate enough electricity to power nearly 150 homes.{{update-inline|This paragraph was written over a decade ago, before the farm even went live.|date=November 2022}}
=Elsewhere=
In September 2009, Third Sun Solar in collaboration with the Akron Metro Regional Transit Authority and Sharp Solar Energy Solutions Group installed the largest rooftop solar array in the state, comprising 2,076 solar modules producing 488 kW.{{Cite web|url=http://energy.agwired.com/2010/09/30/ohio-unveils-states-largest-rooftop-solar-array/|title=Ohio Unveils State's Largest Rooftop Solar Array|date=September 30, 2010|website=Energy}}{{Cite web|url=http://sunpluggers.com/news/ohios-largest-solar-roof-celebrated-0997|title=Ohio's Largest Solar Roof Celebrated}}
Cincinnati Zoo and Melink Corporation announced the opening of a new 1.56 MW solar canopy in 2011. The 6,400 solar panels, located in the Zoo's Vine Street Parking Lot, provide 20% of the Zoo's power needs.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=May 9, 2011|title=Largest Publicly Accessible Urban Solar Array|url=http://cincinnatizoo.org/news-releases/largest-publicly-accessible-urban-solar-array/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-02-06|website=Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden|language=en-US}}
In 2012, Campbell Soup Company built a 9.8 MW solar plant constructed to provide energy for its operations in Napoleon.{{Cite web|url=http://www.tradingmarkets.com/news/stock-alert/cpb_campbell-soup-plans-21-6m-solar-facility-1269784.html|title=Campbell Soup plans $21.6M solar facility}}[http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/campbell-dedicates-98-megawatt-solar-power-system-159850375.html Campbell Dedicates 9.8-Megawatt Solar Power System], SunPower Corp., June 21, 2012
Renewable portfolio standard
HB6, which passed the state legislature in July 2019, phases out Ohio's renewable portfolio standard completely.{{Cite web|url=https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2019/7/27/8910804/ohio-gop-nuclear-coal-plants-renewables-efficiency-hb6|title=Ohio just passed the worst energy bill of the 21st century|last=Roberts|first=David|date=2019-07-27|website=Vox|language=en|access-date=2019-10-11}} A referendum petition has been started to overturn HB6. Ohio had a renewable portfolio standard which calls for 0.06% from solar by 2012, 0.09% by 2013, and 0.5% from solar and 12.5% from renewable sources by 2026.{{Cite web|url=https://programs.dsireusa.org/system/program/detail/2934|title=DSIRE|website=programs.dsireusa.org}} However, the standard was frozen in government in 2014 and no further increases were required.[http://www.toledoblade.com/Energy/2016/05/29/U-S-solar-power-demand-intensifies.html U.S. solar power demand intensifies], Toledo Blade, Jon Chavez, May 29, 2016 Ohio used 154,145 million kWh in 2010.[http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/states/electricity_generation.cfm/state=OH Ohio Electricity Generation] Approximately 75 MW is required to generate 0.5% of the state's demand. Covering rooftops with solar panels in Ohio (46,800 MW) would generate 35.3% of demand.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nrel.gov/news/press/2016/24662|title=Rooftop Solar Photovoltaic Technical Potential in the United States: A Detailed Assessment}}{{update-inline|date=November 2022}}
Statistics
| style="float: right; margin: auto;" |
ImageSize = width:420 height:240 PlotArea = width:350 height:150 left:40 bottom:40 AlignBars = late DateFormat = x.y Period = from:0 till:6 TimeAxis = orientation:vertical ScaleMajor = unit:month increment:1 start:0 TextData = pos:(15,220) textcolor:black fontsize:M text:hrs pos:(205,25) textcolor:black fontsize:S text:Month pos:(90,230) textcolor:black fontsize:M text:Columbus Sun Hours/day (Avg = 4.26 hrs/day) Colors = id:yellow value:yellow PlotData= width:20 textcolor:black bar:Jan color:yellow from:0 till:2.91 text:2.91 shift:(-10,50) bar:Feb color:yellow from:0 till:3.24 text:3.24 shift:(-10,55) bar:Mar color:yellow from:0 till:4.03 text:4.03 shift:(-10,60) bar:Apr color:yellow from:0 till:5.07 text:5.07 shift:(-10,70) bar:May color:yellow from:0 till:5.07 text:5.07 shift:(-10,75) bar:Jun color:yellow from:0 till:5.47 text:5.47 shift:(-10,75) bar:Jul color:yellow from:0 till:5.26 text:5.26 shift:(-10,75) bar:Aug color:yellow from:0 till:5.56 text:5.56 shift:(-10,80) bar:Sep color:yellow from:0 till:4.96 text:4.96 shift:(-10,70) bar:Oct color:yellow from:0 till:4.51 text:4.51 shift:(-10,60) bar:Nov color:yellow from:0 till:2.77 text:2.77 shift:(-10,45) bar:Dec color:yellow from:0 till:2.20 text:2.20 shift:(-10,40) |
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right;"
|+ Utility-scale solar generation in Ohio (GWh){{cite web|title=Electricity Data Browser|url=http://www.eia.gov/electricity/data/browser/|publisher=U.S. Department of Energy|access-date=August 30, 2024}} | |||||||||||||
| Year
! Total ! Jan ! Feb ! Mar ! Apr ! May ! Jun ! Jul ! Aug ! Sep ! Oct ! Nov ! Dec | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| align=right
| 2010 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| align=right
| 2011 | 16 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| align=right
| 2012 | 37 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| align=right
| 2013 | 47 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| align=right
| 2014 | 53 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 |
| align=right
| 2015 | 57 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| align=right
| 2016 | 64 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 |
| align=right
| 2017 | 107 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 7 | 6 | 5 |
| align=right
| 2018 | 120 | 5 | 4 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 9 | 4 | 4 |
| align=right
| 2019 | 142 | 5 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 20 | 19 | 14 | 12 | 7 | 6 |
| align=right
| 2020 | 164 | 5 | 9 | 10 | 14 | 17 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 17 | 11 | 10 | 5 |
| align=right
| 2021 | 656 | 9 | 24 | 47 | 49 | 56 | 53 | 95 | 96 | 86 | 57 | 51 | 33 |
| align=right
| 2022 | 858 | 43 | 53 | 74 | 82 | 104 | 125 | 109 | 103 | 88 | 78 | 47 | 30 |
| align=right
| 2023 | 1315 | 30 | 54 | 71 | 86 | 106 | 148 | 175 | 166 | 179 | 116 | 114 | 70 |
| align=right
| 2024 | 1753 | 87 | 244 | 247 | 318 | 382 | 476 |
See also
{{Portal|Renewable energy|Energy|United States|Ohio}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- [http://www.dsireusa.org/incentives/index.cfm?getRE=1?re=1&ee=0&state=OH Incentives and Policies]
{{Solar power in the United States}}
{{Energy in the USA}}