Solar power in Vermont

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Solar panels at Middlebury College
U.S. solar potential

Solar power in Vermont provides almost 11% of the state's electricity as of 2018.[1] A 2009 study indicated that distributed solar on rooftops can provide 18% of all electricity used in Vermont.[2] 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.[3]

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.[4] Vermont is given an A for net metering and a C for interconnection.[5] 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.[6][7] Seven solar projects are receiving payments, of $0.30/kWh, for 25 years.[8]

Installed capacity[]

Source: NREL[9]
Grid-Connected PV Capacity (MW)[10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]
Year Capacity Change % Change
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%

Solar farms[]

See also: List of power stations in Vermont § Solar

In 2012, Vermont had five solar arrays of at least 1 MW, the 2.2 MW SunGen Sharon 1 in Sharon.[20] the 2.1 MW concentrating photovoltaics array installed in July 2011 in South Burlington,[21][22] the 1.5 MW photovoltaic array also in South Burlington installed in October 2011,[23] the 1 MW photovoltaic array in Ferrisburgh,[24] and the 2 MW Williamstown Solar Project.[25]

As of 2019, Green Mountain Power (GMP) has further constructed several solar arrays as large as 5 MW.[26] 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.[27] The farm was completed by NextEra Energy at the end of 2018.[28]

Generation[]

Using data available from the U.S. Energy Information Agency's Electric Power Annual 2017[29] and "Electric Power Monthly Data Browser",[30][31][32][33] the following table summarizes Vermonts’s solar energy posture.

2017 VT Solar Energy Generation Profile
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.

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.

2017 15KW Vermont Farm Solar Energy Generation Profile

Beginning with the 2014 data year, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) has estimated the distributed solar-photovoltaic generation and distributed solar-photovoltaic capacity.[34] These non-utility-scale appraisals evaluate that Vermont generated the following amounts of additional solar energy:

Estimated distributed solar electric generation in Vermont[35][36]
Year Summer capacity (MW) Electric energy (GWh or M kWh)
2018 102.3 130
2017 90.3 111
2016 59.8 76
2015 49.9 48
2014 27.9 33

Specific solar farm data follows:

2.597 MW fixed tilt Barton Solar Farm generation (kWh)[8]
Year January February March April May June July August September October November December Total
2014 2,283 34,522 36,805
2015 42,153 18,082 233,572 267,032 372,320 354,479 380,525 351,880 326,723 210,548 138,288 59,410 2,755,012
2016 53,732 101,948 251,409 407,089
Total 3,198,906
2.2 MW 15° fixed tilt Champlain Valley Solar Farm generation (kWh)[8]
Year January February March April May June July August September October November December Total
2015 108,347 249,021 360,222 265,585 200,987 98,580 1,282,742
2016 77,601 122,304 281,687 481,592
Total 1,764,334
2.4 MW (2 MW AC) fixed tilt Chester Solar Farm generation (kWh)[8]
Year January February March April May June July August September October November December Total
2014 57,759 57,759
2015 42,315 16,759 209,274 264,691 240,143 283,030 325,057 321,341 280,149 230,717 175,196 83,384 2,472,056
2016 123,410 148,742 253,174 525,326
Total 3,055,141
2.2 MW dual axis tracking Claire Solar Farm generation (kWh)[8]
Year January February March April May June July August September October November December Total
2014 130,850 103,416 234,266
2015 152,048 165,820 332,192 366,615 446,376 418,882 455,352 414,911 367,641 251,605 194,385 78,083 3,643,910
2016 147,394 170,433 309,100 626,927
Total 4,505,103
2 MW (AC) fixed tilt Clarendon Solar Project generation (kWh)[8]
Year January February March April May June July August September October November December Total
2014 301,303 335,058 306,499 178,405 122,241 83,373 1,326,879
2015 96,300 97,945 270,681 278,804 354,004 328,733 361,781 359,061 323,554 240,268 197,673 104,831 3,013,635
2016 149,878 143,090 266,066 559,034
Total 4,899,548
2 MW (AC) fixed tilt Coventry Solar Project generation (kWh)[8]
Year January February March April May June July August September October November December Total
2014 330,116 202,364 89,553 60,542 682,575
2015 72,032 4,848 178,931 317,191 387,374 359,905 392,978 366,215 350,035 248,943 155,426 71,027 2,904,905
2016 84,779 140,603 266,066 491,448
Total 4,078,928
1 MW fixed tilt Ferrisburgh generation (kWh)[8][37]
Year January February March April May June July August September October November December Total
2010 25,234 25,234
2011 33,369 56,396 134,873 115,728 126,312 141,528 168,590 136,755 127,040 89,381 75,377 64,207 1,269,556
2012 54,200 99,123 124,243 141,875 149,987 159,116 172,179 157,429 125,141 76,049 81,109 38,388 1,378,839
2013 49,832 71,062 103,822 142,788 155,750 133,042 151,457 151,357 138,927 94,205 81,126 25,208 1,298,576
2014 62,535 80,093 122,697 135,764 144,689 149,194 155,393 150,523 140,847 84,005 63,143 47,421 1,336,304
2015 67,304 57,224 129,006 138,137 164,962 147,367 164,337 160,370 142,472 110,303 80,006 40,178 1,401,666
2016 56,057 74,093 116,415 246,565
Total 6,956,740
2.96 MW fixed tilt Limerick Road Solar Farm generation (kWh)[8]
Year January February March April May June July August September October November December Total
2014 143,283 302,752 349,450 408,968 415,763 417,116 400,982 367,301 206,457 129,759 104,784 3,246,615
2015 173,705 89,761 344,700 356,793 423,377 402,312 431,826 399,128 369,191 265,299 188,618 98,782 3,543,492
2016 157,178 142,184 314,958 614,320
Total 7,404,427
2.2 MW (AC) fixed tilt Sheldon Springs Solar generation (kWh)[8]
Year January February March April May June July August September October November December Total
2013 163,563 106,354 46,225 316,142
2014 96,439 177,357 252,833 282,338 247,703 327,458 307,030 297,535 289,377 170,249 110,910 74,394 2,633,623
2015 68,947 106,711 281,187 279,562 340,301 331,230 347,405 349,903 309,172 215,892 139,514 58,729 2,828,553
2016 86,921 111,006 266,421 464,348
Total 6,242,666
2.130 MW dual axis tracking South Burlington Solar Farm generation (kWh)[8]
Year January February March April May June July August September October November December Total
2011 244,684 446,839 355,547 298,142 200,576 163,960 121,541 1,831,289
2012 88,165 223,306 311,089 327,782 376,112 427,720 470,300 398,723 342,073 177,785 171,268 73,913 3,388,236
2013 110,132 158,350 259,135 323,186 398,593 342,079 398,939 384,244 311,970 213,894 154,758 65,348 3,120,628
2014 148,701 212,791 282,233 314,116 379,219 422,849 400,390 360,539 325,255 173,608 120,763 87,096 3,227,560
2015 144,288 188,949 322,022 335,103 404,573 376,422 421,317 378,240 331,775 227,702 173,307 69,819 3,373,517
2016 136,367 155,539 292,557 584,463
Total 15,525,693
2.2 MW fixed tilt Southern Vermont Energy Park solar generation (kWh)[8]
Year January February March April May June July August September October November December Total
2012 84,161 84,161
2013 159,783 173,281 227,341 304,241 323,422 297,834 319,004 296,161 306,550 221,959 189,433 76,128 2,895,137
2014 157,092 152,204 265,162 248,732 294,583 290,899 338,331 315,905 311,017 170,226 122,108 78,523 2,744,782
2015 131,006 182,363 272,022 253,885 334,770 307,140 355,227 364,144 322,860 244,182 198,686 101,695 3,067,980
2016 166,388 195,836 298,828 661,052
Total 9,453,112
2.130 MW dual axis tracking St Albans Solar Farm generation (kWh)[8]
Year January February March April May June July August September October November December Total
2013 76,225 43,347 119,572
2014 78,820 95,318 247,998 298,935 367,216 391,940 386,239 363,182 315,772 179,754 101,528 52,788 2,879,490
2015 48,378 15,652 295,229 314,182 384,267 373,847 391,216 386,599 339,096 223,144 119,906 45,598 2,937,114
2016 73,767 82,744 283,832 440,343
Total 6,376,519
2.2 MW fixed tilt SunGen Sharon generation (kWh)[8]
Year January February March April May June July August September October November December Total
2012 291,536 251,252 141,742 146,717 59,795 891,042
2013 81,010 103,008 208,807 257,346 288,636 281,957 304,840 309,871 354,830 173,428 157,957 44,817 2,566,507
2014 119,447 106,083 208,960 337,259 336,858 368,353 375,237 341,780 293,615 179,531 106,704 51,449 2,825,276
2015 95,989 54,009 260,840 296,375 360,884 349,691 382,944 364,598 293,377 224,871 184,715 88,653 2,956,946
2016 112,867 149,618 260,544 523,029
Total 9,762,800
2.2 MW (AC) fixed tilt Technology Drive Solar generation (kWh)[8]
Year January February March April May June July August September October November December Total
2014 73,650 181,716 126,734 95,293 477,393
2015 26,577 3,826 254,844 296,799 403,213 339,704 375,881 360,579 304,769 233,311 162,018 76,542 2,838,063
2016 145,346 174,998 303,787 624,131
Total 3,939,587
3.6 MW fixed tilt Whitcomb Farm Solar generation (kWh)[38][8]
Year January February March April May June July August September October November December Total
2014 17,657 131,350 90,146 239,153
2015 84,114 65,460 371,751 409,124 446,622 459,223 506,489 473,532 419,565 299,021 211,618 89,414 3,835,933
2016 94,938 158,824 350,141 603,903
Total 4,678,989
2.166 MW (AC) fixed tilt White River Junction Solar Farm generation (kWh)[8]
Year January February March April May June July August September October November December Total
2012 79,857 198,037 93,176 371,070
2013 117,776 172,621 263,185 349,969 366,581 335,279 356,356 368,425 326,301 227,760 192,711 66,500 3,143,464
2014 171,235 175,112 281,547 344,922 342,107 377,409 373,716 363,257 319,198 205,203 144,504 99,129 3,197,339
2015 158,081 123,034 317,280 316,782 397,837 349,473 377,662 370,192 328,015 256,058 219,090 100,342 3,313,846
2016 169,381 208,070 296,739 674,190
Total 10,699,909
2.0 MW Williamstown Solar Project generation (kWh)[8]
Year January February March April May June July August September October November December Total
2012 43,159 43,159
2013 46,254 28,541 195,539 283,670 340,484 286,397 331,462 350,358 310,678 216,175 127,224 44,522 2,561,304
2014 80,023 49,408 168,005 290,858 236,033 289,530 307,128 315,700 292,625 181,512 88,252 43,952 2,343,026
2015 21,296 1,791 217,432 271,501 358,738 296,162 368,317 346,472 322,967 240,280 162,739 87,279 2,694,974
2016 67,449 114,092 258,083 439,624
Total 8,082,087

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Solar Spotlight - Vermont" (PDF). www.seia.org. June 2019. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
  2. ^ Witkin, Jim (October 30, 2009). "Report Argues for a Decentralized System of Renewable Power Generation". Green Blog.
  3. ^ "Guide to Vermont Home Solar Incentives, Rebates, and Tax Credits". Solar Power Rocks.
  4. ^ Vermont Net Metering Archived 2012-05-10 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ Freeing the grid Archived 2012-06-16 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ Standard Offer Program Archived 2012-07-27 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ Standard Offer for Qualifying SPEED Resources Archived 2012-05-27 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Monthly Production Archived 2012-07-27 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ "PV Watts". NREL. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  10. ^ Sherwood, Larry (August 2012). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2011" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 6, 2012. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
  11. ^ Sherwood, Larry (June 2011). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2010" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). Retrieved June 29, 2011.
  12. ^ Sherwood, Larry (July 2010). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2009" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 25, 2010. Retrieved July 28, 2010.
  13. ^ Sherwood, Larry (July 2009). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2008" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 23, 2009. Retrieved July 24, 2010.
  14. ^ Sherwood, Larry (August 2008). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2007" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). Retrieved July 24, 2010.[permanent dead link]
  15. ^ US Solar Market Insight Report Archived 2012-04-18 at the Wayback Machine
  16. ^ Sherwood, Larry (July 2009). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2008" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). p. 16. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 23, 2009. Retrieved July 24, 2010.
  17. ^ Sherwood, Larry (July 2012). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2012" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). p. 16. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
  18. ^ Sherwood, Larry (July 2014). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2013" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). Retrieved September 26, 2014.
  19. ^ Vermont Solar
  20. ^ "Talmage Solar Engineering, Inc. Unveils Largest Smart Array in North America". Business Wire. July 31, 2012.
  21. ^ Griset, Todd (July 28, 2011). "Vermont's largest solar array compared to California's". Energy Policy Update.
  22. ^ "Site #316 Production Report | AllEarth Renewables Energy Production Report". www.allearthrenewables.com.
  23. ^ Military Invests in Solar at Vermont National Guard Base Archived 2012-07-26 at the Wayback Machine
  24. ^ Ferrisburgh Solar Farm
  25. ^ "Williamstown solar array to be among state's biggest". Rutland Herald. July 31, 2012. Archived from the original on April 11, 2013.
  26. ^ Bill Opalka (January 28, 2019). "Vermont solar storage projects aim to lower costs during peak demand". Vermont Journal.
  27. ^ Polhamus, Mike (December 6, 2015). "20-megawatt solar project needed, developers' report says". VTDigger.
  28. ^ Sharon Huntley (October 17, 2018). "Coolidge Solar Project on schedule and expected to go live in December". Vermont Journal.
  29. ^ "Electric Power Annual State Data"[1] 1990-2017 Existing Name Plate and Summer Capacity by Energy Source and State retrieved 2019-3-17
  30. ^ "Electric Power Monthly Data Browser" [2] Table 1.17B retrieved 2019-3-15
  31. ^ "Electric Power Monthly Data Browser "[3] Report 1.14 retrieved 2017-6-17
  32. ^ "Electric Power Monthly Data Browser "[4] Report 1.13 retrieved 2019-3-17
  33. ^ "Electric Power Monthly Data Browser "[5] Report 1.6 retrieved 2019-3-17
  34. ^ "Electric Power Annual" retrieved 2017 6 17
  35. ^ "Electric Power Monthly"[6] |title=Electric Power Monthly (February 2018 with data for December 2017) - Table 1.17.B. Net Generation from Solar Photovoltaic retrieved 2018 5 29
  36. ^ "Electric Power Monthly"[7] |title=Electric Power Monthly (February 2018 with data for December 2017) - Table 6.2.B. Net Capacity from Solar Photovoltaic retrieved 2018 7 27
  37. ^ Ferrisburgh Solar Farm Archived 2016-06-03 at the Wayback Machine
  38. ^ "Vermont's largest solar array installed in Essex Jct | Vermont Business Magazine". www.vermontbiz.com. January 25, 2015.

External links[]

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