Photo Credit: RoofersCoffeeShop and SEIA

RoofersCoffeeShop reports, “For the second year in a row, solar led all technologies in new electric-generating capacity added, accounting for 43%.” According to the U.S. Solar Market Insight 2020 Year-in-Review report, released today by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and Wood Mackenzie, the U.S. solar industry grew 43% and installed a record 19.2 gigawatts (GWdc) of capacity in 2020.

SEIA, along with their members and allies across the energy system, have set an ambitious goal for solar energy to comprise 20% of all U.S. electricity generation by 2030. To reach this target, the industry must work collaboratively across technologies and industries to build a strong Solar+ economy.

Solar Solutions at METALCON

METALCON 2021 is thrilled to be returning to an “IN PERSON” event, scheduled for October 6-8 in Tampa, Florida. As the demand for solar panel installation grows from both the residential and commercial sectors, so has the industry’s appreciation of metal for long-term durability. Discover the latest metal applications for solar at METALCON this year in a dedicated area on the exhibit floor. If you represent a business that manufactures solar components, develops performance monitoring systems or provides smart energy, energy storage or solar consulting services, consider exhibiting at the show. Participating exhibitors will meet hundreds of architects, developers, roofing contractors and others in the METALCON community who are eager to learn about solar energy. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE.

Key figures for Growth of Solar

California, Texas and Florida are the top three states for annual solar capacity additions for the second straight year, and Virginia joins them as a fourth state installing over 1 GWdc of solar PV. In 2020, 27 states installed over 100 MWdc of new solar capacity, a new record.

  • Residential deployment was up 11% from 2019, reaching a record 3.1 GW. This was lower than the 18% annual growth in 2019, as residential installations were significantly impacted by the pandemic in the first half of 2020.
  • Non-residential installations declined 4% from 2019, with 2 GW installed. The pandemic impacted this segment through delayed project interconnections and prolonged development timelines.
  • There was a historic 6.3 GWdc of utility-scale projects installed in Q4 2020, bringing the annual total just shy of 14 GWdc.
  • A total of 5 GWdc of new utility solar power purchase agreements were announced in Q4 2020, bringing the volume of project announcements in 2020 to 30.6 GWdc and the full utility-scale contracted pipeline to 69 GWdc.
  • The 2-year extension of the ITC in the final days of 2020 has led to a 17% increase in deployment in our 2021 – 2025 forecast.

For more details, see article published by RoofersCoffeeShop.