California utilities lead in solar energy, report says

Southern California Edison is leading the way as utilities become the solar industry's largest customers, according to a report Wednesday by the Solar Electric Power Association, whose members include solar tech companies and more than 300 utilities.

The utility is ahead of its counterparts in both overall solar energy capacity per megawatt and per customer, the study found (PDF). Further north, Pacific Gas & Electric is in front in terms of overall solar capacity and megawatts per customer.

The nonprofit solar association compiled the rankings from data collected from 50 utilities this spring. It projected growth in U.S. solar electricity, particularly photovoltaics, to expand to 600 megawatts in 2012 from 150 megawatts last year.

Southern California Edison came out on top largely due to its interest in large, concentrating solar thermal projects, such as a 245-megawatt agreement with eSolar. And it's working to build 250 megawatts of solar panels across 65 million square feet of rooftops.

eSolar is among the companies working on large-scale installations with Southern California Edison.

(Credit: eSolar)

However, concentrating solar thermal projects under way by other electricity providers could dethrone the Southern California utility from its top spot, the report predicted.

Golden State utilities may be the earliest solar adopters, but others in the West, Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions are also increasingly embracing renewables, according to the study.

In its forecast, 4,600 megawatts of concentrating solar systems will be planned nationwide within the next eight years, at least 600 megawatts of which won't come from sprawling solar farms.

For instance, initiatives to encourage solar adoption by homeowners and businesses are coming from Duke Energy, Long Island Power Authority, San Diego Gas & Electric, and Southern California Edison.

State renewable energy portfolio standards will help to advance adoption of big solar installations, but progress will stall if federal tax credits, which are set to expire at the end of the year, aren't extended, said the report's author, Mike Taylor, in a conference call.

"We're hitting some new momentum with new business models, but this tax credit uncertainty is potentially holding things back and creating some friction in the system," added Taylor, the association's research director. "A lot of utilities are waiting in the wings to see what's happening. Some are jumping ahead of the game because they want to be the first movers."

By his group's estimation, other states making inroads with solar power include Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin.

The West may be the best place for utility-scale solar now, but other regions are catching up, according to the report.

(Credit: Solar Electric Power Association)

[samnation]

I am concerned about global warming. How much heat would be reflected back into our atmosphere from all the billions of solar panels required to replace fossil fuels?

[enovikoff]

sam: solar panels actually cool the atmosphere in two ways. If they are somewhat reflective, they will tend to beam the heat of the sun back into space, much like ice does. Also, because they absorb energy from the sun and turn it into electric power, they actually subtract from the total heat that would have hit the ground. That heat is delivered at the point-of-use of the electric power, but it replaces power that would have created more carbon in the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels. So overall, solar panels actually do a little better at cooling the earth than simply eliminating some fossil fuel use.

[as901]

They lead in solar energy, but when you look at their recent profits, it is still a drop in the bucket. We need all solar, wind or geothermal, and it can be done!

Mark Heinemann

[sughyosha]

The subject of sustainable energy is crucial to the preservation of many aspects of life on this planet. Every government should simply give a simple and unconditional tax holiday to anyone who wants to investigate any alternate sources of energy (stop - that statement needs a little re-consideration - but I hope you get my drift) .