Solar power in Vermont

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

File:HillcrestEnvironmentalCenter.jpg]]File:SolarGIS-Solar-map-USA-en.png]]

Solar power in the U.S. state of Vermont provides almost 11% of the state's in-state electricity production as of 2018.{{cite web |url= https://www.seia.org/sites/default/files/2019-06/Factsheet_Vermont_0.pdf|title= Solar Spotlight - Vermont|author= |date= June 2019|website= www.seia.org|access-date= August 11, 2019}} A 2009 study indicated that distributed solar on rooftops can provide 18% of all electricity used in Vermont.{{Cite web|url=https://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/30/report-argues-for-a-de-centralized-system-of-renewable-power-generation/|title=Report Argues for a Decentralized System of Renewable Power Generation|last=Witkin|first=Jim|date=2009-10-30|website=Green Blog|language=en-US}} A 2012 estimate suggests that a typical 5 kW system costing $25,000 before credits and utility savings will pay for itself in 10 years, and generate a profit of $34,956 over the rest of its 25-year life.{{Cite news|url=http://solarpowerrocks.com/vermont/|title=Guide to Vermont Home Solar Incentives, Rebates, and Tax Credits|work=Solar Power Rocks|language=en-US}}

Net metering is available for up to at least 500 kW generation, but is capped at 15% of utilities peak demand. Excess generation is rolled over each month but is lost once each year. Group net metering is also allowed.[http://www.dsireusa.org/incentives/incentive.cfm?Incentive_Code=VT02R&re=1&ee=1 Vermont Net Metering] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510215535/http://dsireusa.org/incentives/incentive.cfm?Incentive_Code=VT02R&re=1&ee=1 |date=2012-05-10 }} Vermont is given an A for net metering and a C for interconnection.[http://www.newenergychoices.org/uploads/FreeingTheGrid2011.pdf Freeing the grid] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616221249/http://www.newenergychoices.org/uploads/FreeingTheGrid2011.pdf |date=2012-06-16 }} A feed-in tariff was created in 2009, but is limited to 50 MW and is fully subscribed. The cap increases by 5 to 10 MW/year starting in 2013 until it reaches 127.5 MW in 2022. It is available for solar, wind, methane, and biomass.[http://vermontspeed.com/standard-offer-program Standard Offer Program] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120727000734/http://vermontspeed.com/standard-offer-program |date=2012-07-27 }}[http://www.dsireusa.org/incentives/incentive.cfm?Incentive_Code=VT36F&re=1&ee=1 Standard Offer for Qualifying SPEED Resources] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120527202532/http://www.dsireusa.org/incentives/incentive.cfm?Incentive_Code=VT36F&re=1&ee=1 |date=2012-05-27 }} Seven solar projects are receiving payments, of $0.30/kWh, for 25 years.[http://vermontspeed.com/speed-monthly-production/ Monthly Production] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120727000652/http://vermontspeed.com/speed-monthly-production |date=2012-07-27 }}

Installed capacity

style="background-color: #cfb;" \|Year ! style="background-color: #cfb;" \|Capacity ! style="background-color: #cfb;" \|Change ! style="background-color: #cfb;" \|% Change
class="wikitable" style="text-align:right;" ! colspan="13" style="background-color: #cfb;" \| Grid-Connected PV Capacity (MW){{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 \|last=Sherwood \|first=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 \|last=Sherwood \|first=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 \|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 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722202909/http://www.irecusa.org/fileadmin/user_upload/NationalOutreachDocs/IREC_Solar_Market_Trends_Revision_11_19_08-1.pdf \|archive-date=2012-07-22}}[http://www.slideshare.net/SEIA/us-solar-market-insight-report US Solar Market Insight Report] {{webarchive \|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120418122702/http://www.slideshare.net/SEIA/us-solar-market-insight-report \|date=2012-04-18 }}{{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://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 2012 \|page= 16 \|access-date= 2013-10-11}}{{cite web\|url=http://www.irecusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Final-Solar-Report-7-3-14-W-2-8.pdf\|title=U.S. Solar Market Trends 2013\|author=Sherwood, Larry\|publisher=Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC)\|date=July 2014\|access-date=2014-09-26}}[https://www.seia.org/state-solar-policy/vermont-solar "Vermont Solar"] SEIA
2007	0.7	0.2	40%
2008	1.1	0.4	57%
2009	1.7	0.6	55%
2010	3.9	2.2	129%
2011	11.7	7.8	200%
2012	28.0	16.3	139%
2013	41.5	13.6	49%
2014	64	22.5	54%
2015	107	43	67%
2016	185	78	73%
2017	220	35	19%
2018	302	82	37%
2019	355	53	18%
2020	379	24	7%
2021	397.6	18.6	4.9%
2022	417	19.4	4.8%

Solar farms

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:M

text:Month

pos:(90,230) textcolor:black fontsize:M

text:Burlington Sun Hours/day (Avg = 4.33 hrs/day)

Colors =

id:yellow value:yellow

PlotData=

width:20 textcolor:black

bar:Jan color:yellow from:0 till:3.12 text:3.12 shift:(-10,50)

bar:Feb color:yellow from:0 till:4.01 text:4.01 shift:(-10,55)

bar:Mar color:yellow from:0 till:4.91 text:4.91 shift:(-10,70)

bar:Apr color:yellow from:0 till:5.05 text:5.05 shift:(-10,70)

bar:May color:yellow from:0 till:5.51 text:5.51 shift:(-10,75)

bar:Jun color:yellow from:0 till:5.42 text:5.42 shift:(-10,75)

bar:Jul color:yellow from:0 till:5.47 text:5.47 shift:(-10,75)

bar:Aug color:yellow from:0 till:5.46 text:5.46 shift:(-10,75)

bar:Sep color:yellow from:0 till:4.70 text:4.70 shift:(-10,65)

bar:Oct color:yellow from:0 till:3.79 text:3.79 shift:(-10,55)

bar:Nov color:yellow from:0 till:2.37 text:2.37 shift:(-10,40)

bar:Dec color:yellow from:0 till:2.15 text:2.15 shift:(-10,35)

:Source: NREL{{cite web|title=PV Watts |publisher=NREL |url=http://rredc.nrel.gov/solar/calculators/PVWATTS/version1/US/Vermont/Burlington.html |access-date=23 July 2012}}

In 2012, Vermont had five solar arrays of at least 1 MW, the 2.2 MW SunGen Sharon 1 in Sharon.{{Cite news |url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20120731005409/en/Talmage-Solar-Engineering-Unveils-Largest-Smart-Array|title=Talmage Solar Engineering, Inc. Unveils Largest Smart Array in North America|date=2012-07-31|work=Business Wire|language=en}} the 2.1 MW concentrating photovoltaics array installed in July 2011 in South Burlington,{{Cite web |url=http://energypolicyupdate.blogspot.com/2011/07/july-28-2011-vermonts-largest-solar.html|title=Vermont's largest solar array compared to California's|last=Griset|first=Todd|date=2011-07-28|website=Energy Policy Update}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.allearthrenewables.com/energy-production-report/detail/316|title=Site #316 Production Report {{!}} AllEarth Renewables Energy Production Report|website=www.allearthrenewables.com|language=en}} the 1.5 MW photovoltaic array also in South Burlington installed in October 2011,{{cite web |url=http://www.atissun.com/blog/5373/military-invests-in-solar-at-vermont-national-guard-base/ |title=Military Invests in Solar at Vermont National Guard Base |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120726235500/http://www.atissun.com/blog/5373/military-invests-in-solar-at-vermont-national-guard-base/ |archive-date=2012-07-26}} the 1 MW photovoltaic array in Ferrisburgh,{{cite web |url=http://pomerleau.kiosk-view.com/ferrisburgh |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327161122/http://pomerleau.kiosk-view.com/ferrisburgh |archive-date=2012-03-27 |title=Ferrisburgh Solar Farm}} and the 2 MW Williamstown Solar Project.{{Cite web |url=http://www.rutlandherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120731/NEWS03/707319919/1004|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411183808/http://www.rutlandherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120731/NEWS03/707319919/1004|archive-date=2013-04-11|title=Williamstown solar array to be among state's biggest|date=2012-07-31|website=Rutland Herald}}

As of 2019, Green Mountain Power (GMP) has further constructed several solar arrays as large as 5 MW.{{cite web |url=https://energynews.us/2019/01/28/northeast/vermont-solar-storage-projects-aim-to-lower-costs-during-peak-demand/ |title=Vermont solar storage projects aim to lower costs during peak demand |author=Bill Opalka |publisher=Vermont Journal |date=2019-01-28 }} In 2015, the 20 MW Coolidge solar farm near Ludlow was opposed by GMP, which claimed that there was no need for such utility-scale solar in the state.{{Cite news|url=https://vtdigger.org/2015/12/06/20-megawatt-solar-project-needed-developers-report-says/|title=20-megawatt solar project needed, developers' report says|last=Polhamus|first=Mike|date=2015-12-06|work=VTDigger|language=en-US}} The farm was completed by NextEra Energy at the end of 2018.{{cite web |url=https://vermontjournal.com/featured-articles/coolidge-solar-project-on-schedule-and-expected-to-go-live-in-december/ |title=Coolidge Solar Project on schedule and expected to go live in December |author=Sharon Huntley |publisher=Vermont Journal |date=2018-10-17 }}

Generation

Using data available from the U.S. Energy Information Agency's Electric Power Annual 2017{{cite web |title=Electric Power Annual State Data |url=http://eia.gov/electricity/data/state |website=1990-2017 Existing Name Plate and Summer Capacity by Energy Source and State |access-date=2019-03-17}} and "Electric Power Monthly Data Browser",{{cite web |website=Electric Power Monthly Data Browser |title=Table 1.17B |url=http://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly |access-date=2019-03-15}}{{cite web |website=Electric Power Monthly Data Browser |title=Report 1.14 |url=http://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly |access-date=2017-06-17}}{{cite web |website=Electric Power Monthly Data Browser |title=Report 1.13 |url=http://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly |access-date=2019-03-17}}{{cite web |website=Electric Power Monthly Data Browser |title=Report 1.6 |url=http://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly |access-date=2019-03-17}} the following table summarizes Vermonts’s solar energy posture.

File:2017 VT Solar Energy Generation Profile.jpg

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Solar-electric generation in Vermont !Year !Facilities !Summer capacity (MW) !Electric energy (GWh or M kWh) !Capacity factor !Yearly growth of generating capacity !Yearly growth of produced energy !% of VT renewable electric energy !% of VT generated electric energy !% of U.S. Solar electric energy
2018	34	98.7	143	0.165	33%	44.4%	6.09%	6.07%	0.27%
2017	31	74.2	99	0.152	13%	67.8%	4.64%	4.62%	0.19%
2016		65.7	59	0.103	118%	23%	3.10%	3.08%	0.16%
2015		32.4	48	0.169	7%	100%	2.4%	2.42%	0.19%
2014		30.2	24	.091		41%	2.10%	0.34%	0.13%

Capacity factor for each year was computed from the end-of-year summer capacity.

2017 data is from Electric Power Monthly and is subject to change.

File:2017 15KW Vermont Farm Solar Energy Generation Profile.jpg

A small-scale 15KW installation at a homestead in middle Vermont generated 19,480 kWh of electrical energy at a Capacity Factor of 0.15. The homestead was sending energy to the utility when it was produced and taking energy from the utility when needed. Overall, the homestead consumed 80% of its generation and sold the remaining 20% to the utility. The generation profile is shown in the chart.

Beginning with the 2014 data year, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) has estimated the distributed solar-photovoltaic generation and distributed solar-photovoltaic capacity.{{cite web |title=Electric Power Annual |url=http://www.eia.gov/electricity/annual |access-date=2017-06-17}} These non-utility-scale appraisals evaluate that Vermont generated the following amounts of additional solar energy:

\| 2018 \|\| 102.3 \|\| 130
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Estimated distributed solar electric generation in Vermont{{cite web \|website=Electric Power Monthly \|url=https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/archive/february2018.pdf \|title=Electric Power Monthly (February 2018 with data for December 2017) - Table 1.17.B. Net Generation from Solar Photovoltaic \|access-date=2018-05-29}}{{cite web \|website=Electric Power Monthly \|url=https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/archive/february2018.pdf \|title=Electric Power Monthly (February 2018 with data for December 2017) - Table 6.2.B. Net Capacity from Solar Photovoltaic \|access-date=2018-07-27}} !Year !Summer capacity (MW) !Electric energy (GWh or M kWh)
2017	90.3	111
2016	59.8	76
2015	49.9	48
2014	27.9	33

References

External links

[https://archive.today/20130415020758/http://www.dsireusa.org/incentives/index.cfm?state=VT Incentives and policies]

Category:Energy in Vermont

Vermont