Solar power in Colorado

Solar roof installation, Grand Junction

Solar power in Colorado has grown rapidly, partly because of one of the most favorable net metering laws in the country, with no limit on the number of users.[1][2] The state was the first in the nation to establish a Renewable Portfolio Standard for its electric utilities.[3]

Colorado consumers typically obtain varying amounts of solar power from rooftop solar, community solar gardens, and larger solar farms. Colorado is home to many solar installers which are ranked annually by the amount of power installed.[4] Several thousand people are employed in solar-energy-related activities throughout the state.[3] A few companies have attempted to establish solar panel manufacturing operations in Colorado, including Abound Solar, Ascent Solar, and Primestar Solar.[5] Colorado was the first state where Dow introduced some of the earliest solar shingles.[6]

Fitting solar panels, Norwood

The Colorado Solar and Storage Association (COSSA),[7] a state affiliate of the national non-profit Solar Energy Industries Association, supports solar use and industry growth through its efforts which include both business and residential consumer education.[8] The Interstate Renewable Energy Council[9] is also a source for information on consumer protection, workforce development, and for other news affecting industry developments in the state.[10]

Solar cars in Boulder

Colorado's colleges and universities support educational and research programs in solar power science and technology,[11][12] and in the related interdisciplinary subjects of energy, environment, and sustainability.[13][14] Golden, Colorado is home to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and to the Golden Field Office of the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, both of which are funded by the United States Department of Energy. The Rocky Mountain Institute with offices in Boulder and Basalt in also especially dedicated to promoting efficient energy use within the world's rapidly developing economies.

Solar farms

Main article: List of power stations in Colorado § Solar farms

The 7.7 megawatt (MWAC) Alamosa Photovoltaic Power Plant completed in 2007 in the San Luis Valley was one of the first utility-scale solar farms in the U.S. utilizing photovoltaics.[15] More than a dozen additional facilities sized between 5 and 50 MW came online throughout the state during the following decade. The 120 MW Comanche Solar Project located near Pueblo was the state's largest solar farm as of 2017.

Installed capacity

As of 2017, Colorado was the 12th largest solar state in the U.S., with nearly 1 gigawatt of cumulative solar capacity installed.[16]

Colorado Solar Capacity (MWp)[17][18][19][20][21][22]
Year Photovoltaics CSP
Capacity Installed % change Capacity Installed % change
2007 14.6 11.5 371%
2008 35.7 21.7 145%
2009 59.1 23.4 66%
2010 121.1 62.0 105% 1 1
2011 196.7 75.5 62% 2.4 1.4
2012 299.6 102.9 52% 31.8 29.4
2013 360.4 58.0 19% 31.8 0
2014 400 67 20% 31.8 0
2015 544 144 36% 31.8 0
2016 921 377 69% 31.8 0
2017 1,019 98 11% 31.8 0
2018 1,197 178 17% 31.8 0
2019 1,377.6 180.6 15% 31.8 0
2020 1,708.3 330.7 24% 31.8 0
2021 2,183.2 474.9 %

Generation

Colorado electricity production by type
Total solar generation in Colorado (GWh)[23]
Year Total % growth Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2014 606 38 40 52 53 58 61 57 61 54 52 44 36
2015 643 5.8% 34 39 57 59 58 66 62 64 60 51 45 48
2016 999 35.6% 47 57 71 74 87 91 92 80 120 115 87 80
2017 1,485 32.7% 75 85 132 146 159 169 138 143 134 128 91 85
2018 1,653 10.2% 91 101 137 156 175 185 169 166 158 124 104 87
2019 1,852 10.7% 100 106 152 173 186 204 201 199 172 158 110 92
2020 2,204 16.0% 117 121 179 213 249 241 245 212 203 166 143 116
2021 2,790 26.6% 132 143 196 227 242 307 312 304 276 231 224 198
2022 3,819 26.9% 217 250 318 368 391 373 395 383 347 310 238 229

See also

References

  1. ^ "A Landmark Settlement in Colorado Over Solar Grid Fees: 'This Could Be a Model'". greentechmedia.com. August 16, 2016. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  2. ^ "How does net metering work in Colorado". reenergizeco.com. June 7, 2018. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  3. ^ a b "State of Colorado, Energy Office, Renewable Energy Standard". colorado.gov. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  4. ^ Solar Power World, 2018 Top Colorado Contractors
  5. ^ "First Solar Acquires GE's Primestar Solar IP". greentechmedia.com. August 6, 2013. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  6. ^ "DOW Brings the Revolutionary DOW POWERHOUSE™ Solar Shingle to U.S. Markets". businesswire.com. October 4, 2011.
  7. ^ Colorado Solar and Storage Association (COSSA)
  8. ^ Colorado Solar Industries Association website
  9. ^ Interstate Renewable Energy Council
  10. ^ "Interstate Renewable Energy Council - Colorado". irecusa.org. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
  11. ^ "CSU Sustainability Initiative - Solar Energy Research". colostate.edu. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
  12. ^ "CU Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute". colorado.edu. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
  13. ^ "UNC Environmental and Sustainability Studies". unco.edu. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
  14. ^ "CU Sustainability, Energy, and Environment Community". colorado.edu. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
  15. ^ "SunEdison Activates Largest Photovoltaic Power Plant for Xcel Energy". arizonaenergy.org. December 17, 2007. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  16. ^ Kelsey Misbrener (March 23, 2018). "SEIA praises Colorado energy storage legislation". Solar Power World. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
  17. ^ Sherwood, Larry (August 2012). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2011" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-09-06. Retrieved 2012-08-16.
  18. ^ Sherwood, Larry (July 2010). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2009" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). p. 23. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-09-25. Retrieved 2012-07-12.
  19. ^ Sherwood, Larry (June 2011). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2010" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). p. 20. Retrieved 2011-06-29.
  20. ^ Sherwood, Larry (July 2012). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2012" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). p. 16. Retrieved 2013-10-11.
  21. ^ Sherwood, Larry (July 2014). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2013" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). Retrieved 2014-09-26.
  22. ^ "SEIA Colorado Solar". Solar Energy Industries Association. Retrieved 2019-11-05.
  23. ^ "Electricity Data Browser". www.eia.gov. Retrieved 2022-01-10.
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