Solar installation, Fort Bragg

Solar power has been increasing rapidly in the U.S. state of North Carolina, from less than 1 MW (megawatts) in 2007 to 6,152 MW in 2019, when it had the second-largest installed PV capacity of all states.[1]

In addition to federal incentives, the state has a Renewable Portfolio Standard of 12.5% by 2021 and a state renewable energy tax credit, both of which have been credited with boosting solar installations.[2][3][4]

A 2018 Smithsonian Magazine article described North Carolina as likely being the national leader in the "solar shepherd phenomenon"  combining sheep farming with solar power plants to reduce the high costs of grass trimming.[5]

According to a report from the Solar Energy Industries Association, as of June 2019, North Carolina generates 5.81% of its electricity through solar power, and ranks second (up from 3rd in 2018) in total installed photovoltaics.[6]

Grid-connected PV capacity[7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14]
YearTotal (MW)Installed (MW)% Change
20070.7
20084.74571%
200912.57.8166%
20104028.7220%
201185.545.5114%
2012207.9122.4143%
2013469261.1126%
201484938081%
20151,9741,125132%
20162,9841,01051%
20173,287.5303.510%
20184,692.11,404.642.7%
20196,152.31,460.231%
20207,037.8885.514%
20217,811.2773.4 %
20228,179367.8 %
Source: NREL[15]

Currently operating

The following tables show some of the major solar power projects currently operating in North Carolina (NC).

Dominion Energy

North Carolina solar projects[16]
NameLocationMWCurrent statusPV modulesFootprint
(acres)
Clipperton Sampson County5Operational as of 2017 (Nov.)56,64028.52
Fremont Wayne County5Operational as of 2017 (Nov.)21,12829.76
Gutenberg Solar Northampton

County

79.9Operational as of 2019 (Sept.)287,4301,126
IS37 Anson County79Operational as of 2017 (Aug.)344,056550
Moorings 2 Lenoir County5Operational as of 2017 (Nov.)58,40036
Morgans Corner Pasquotank County20Operational as of 2017 (Nov.)81,054110
Mustang Solar Moore County5Operational as of 2018 (July)21,30030
Pecan Solar Northampton

County

74.9Operational as of 2018 (Dec.)929,1001,050
Pikeville Wayne County5Operational as of 2017 (Nov.)56,64030
Summit Farms Currituck County60Operational as of 2016 (Dec.)650
Wakefield Solar Wake County5Operational as of 2017 (Dec.)22,30030

Duke Energy

Duke Energy Renewables
NameLocationMWConstruction
completed
PV ModulesElectricity purchaser (offtaker)
Battleboro Solar[17] Edgecombe County52015-0423,300Dominion North Carolina Power
Bethel Price Solar[18] Pitt County52013-1223,000Dominion North Carolina Power
Capital Partners, Phase I[19] Elizabeth City202014-1293,000George Washington University
American University
GWU Hospital
Capital Partners, Phase II[20] Kelford
Whitakers
33.52015-12147,300George Washington University
American University
GWU Hospital
Conetoe II[21] Edgecombe County802015-09375,000Lockheed-Martin (38%)[22]
Corning (62%)[23]
Creswell Solar[24] Washington County142015-0266,500Dominion North Carolina Power
Davie Solar[25] Davie County29201763,308
Dogwood Solar[26] Halifax County202013-1293,000
Everett's Wildcat Solar[27] Martin County52014-1223,300Dominion North Carolina Power
Halifax Solar Power Project[28] Roanoke Rapids202014-12100,000Dominion North Carolina Power
Holiness Solar[29] Murphy12011-114,242Tennessee Valley Authority
Martins Creek Solar[30] Murphy14,400Tennessee Valley Authority
Millfield Solar[31] Beaufort County52013-1127,450North Carolina Eastern Municipal Power Agency
Monroe Solar[32] Union County602017
Murfreesboro Solar[33] Murfreesboro52011-1219,960North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation
Shawboro Solar[34] Currituck County202015-1295,000Dominion North Carolina Power
Shelby Solar[35] Shelby12010-054,522North Carolina Eastern Municipal Power Agency
Sunbury Solar[36] Gates County52015-0823,000Dominion North Carolina Power
Taylorsville Solar[37] Taylorsville12010-104,224EnergyUnited
Tarboro Solar[38] Edgecombe County52015-0423,000Dominion North Carolina Power
Washington Airport Solar[39] Beaufort County52013-1223,000North Carolina Eastern Municipal Power Agency
Washington White Post Solar[40] Beaufort County12.52012-1253,000North Carolina Eastern Municipal Power Agency
Wingate Solar[41] Murphy12011-084,340Tennessee Valley Authority
Windsor Cooper Hill Solar[42] Bertie County5201323,000Dominion North Carolina Power
Duke Energy Regulated Utility
NameLocationMWConstruction
completed
PV modules
Camp Lejeune Solar[43] Onslow County17.252017-0355,000
Elm City Solar[44][45] Wilson County402016-06487,000
Fayetteville Solar[46] Cumberland County232015-12105,000
Warsaw Solar[47] Duplin County652016-06850,000
Solar installation, Sandy Grove Middle School, Robeson County

On September 15, 2014, Duke Energy committed US$500 million to an expansion of solar power in North Carolina.[48] Announced projects include:

  • Warsaw Solar Facility (65 MW) – Duplin County, developed by Strata Solar. This was scheduled to be the largest PV plant east of the Mississippi River as of the announcement date.
  • Elm City Solar Facility (40 MW) – Wilson County, developed by HelioSage Energy
  • Fayetteville Solar Facility (23 MW) – Bladen County, developed by Tangent Energy Solutions

In addition, Duke Energy plans to purchase energy from five new projects:

Other Generators (20MW+)

Recurrent Energy
(A subsidiary of Canadian Solar)
NameLocationMWConstruction
completed
NC 102[49] Cabarrus County74.8
(102 MWP)
2018
IS-42[50] Cumberland County71
(92 MWP)
2018

    Generation

    Using data available from the U.S. Energy Information Agency's Electric Power Annual 2017[51] and "Electric Power Monthly Data Browser",[52][53][54][55] the following table summarizes North Carolina's solar energy posture.

    Solar-electric generation in North Carolina
    Year Facilities Summer capacity (MW) Electric energy (GWh or M kWh) Capacity factor Yearly growth of generating capacity Yearly growth of produced energy % of NC renewable electric energy % of NC generated electric energy % of U.S. Solar electric energy
    2018 523398269970.20118.7%25.4%53.5%5.2%10.5%
    2017 481335555790.19037.7%63.1%51.6%4.3%10.5%
    2016 411243734210.1669.6%149%32.9%2.6%9.5%
    2015 2621436.813740.11112.5%88.5%15.8%1.07%5.5%
    2014 6767290.123103%111%9.10%0.60%4.10%
    2013 84333.23450.176190.8%148.2%3.5%0.27%3.82%
    2012 38114.61390.199156.4%717.7%2.16%0.12%3.21%
    2011 1544.7170.04927.7%54.6%0.27%0.01%0.94%
    2010 935110.0661067%120%0.16%0.01%0.91%
    2009 3350.1900%150%0.07%0.00%0.56%
    2008 3320.1520%0%0.04%0.00%0.23%
    2007 00000%0%0.00%0.00%0.00%

    Capacity factor for each year was computed from the end-of-year summer capacity. 2018 data is from Electric Power Monthly and is subject to change.

    2017 NC Solar Energy Generation Profile
    NC Utility Scale solar generation (GWh, Million kWh)[56][57]
    Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Total
    201117
    2012224666979172348139
    2013101724213234343236403035345
    2014314156587467697568884954729
    2015635295110160151167156109100761351,374
    20161681753483002653203364483282541822983,421
    20172653354234775344825374804734233723145,115
    20184023565146326296776436584404833693086,111
    2019 410 398 661 680 772 753 838 749 683 556 481 472 7,451
    2020 477 492 641 872 873 850 955 766 650 660 552 484 8,274
    2021 517 520 817 1018 1085 990 1037 986 916 775 715 548 9,922
    2022 635 719 969 1157 1173 1251 1174 1111 1048 938 664 534 11,373

    Beginning with the 2014 data year, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) has estimated the distributed solar-photovoltaic generation and distributed solar-photovoltaic capacity.[58] These non-utility-scale appraisals evaluate that North Carolina generated the following amounts of additional solar energy:

    Estimated distributed solar electric generation in North Carolina[59]
    Year Summer capacity (MW) Electric energy (GWh or M kWh)
    2018 140.1212
    2017 114.9186
    2016 109.7167
    2015 71.784
    2014 56.872

    Duke Energy rebates

    On January 22, 2018, Duke Energy Renewables proposed a $62 million rebate program for both residential and nonresidential customers. It was the first of three programs Duke is proposing as part of "Competitive Energy Solutions for North Carolina" legislation, signed into law in 2017 by Gov. Roy Cooper. The program requires approval from the North Carolina Utilities Commission.[60]

    Proposal details
    Electricity customer Eligible rebate Maximum rebate
    Residential
    (10 kilowatts or less)
    60 cents per watt$6,000
    Nonresidential 50 cents per watt$50,000
    Nonprofit entity 75 cents per watt$75,000

    Customers would also have the option of leasing solar equipment from a third-party.

    On April 16, 2018, the North Carolina Utilities Commission approved the program. It applies to Duke Energy's residential, nonresidential and nonprofit customers who installed a solar system and a bi-directional meter on their property on or after January 1, 2018.[61]

    See also

    References

    1. http://www.eia.gov/electricity/annual /2017/06/19
    2. Lauren Shwisberg (February 27, 2014). "Utility Scale Solar Energy: North Carolina's Emergent Success". The Energy Collective. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
    3. Daniel Gross (July 5, 2014). "NC quietly becomes a star on solar energy stage". The News & Observer. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
    4. Steve DeVane (July 18, 2014). "Solar farms taking root in North Carolina". The Fayetteville Observer. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
    5. Molly A. Seltzer. "There's a New Job in the Solar Industry." Smithsonian Magazine. February 6, 2018.
    6. "Solar Spotlight – North Carolina" (PDF). Solar Energy Industries Association. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
    7. 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.
    8. 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.
    9. Sherwood, Larry (June 2011). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2010" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). Retrieved June 29, 2011.
    10. Sherwood, Larry (August 2012). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2011" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). p. 17. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 6, 2012. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
    11. Sherwood, Larry (July 2013). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2012" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). p. 16. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
    12. Sherwood, Larry (July 2014). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2013" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). Retrieved July 28, 2014.
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