SOLAR POWER
The net metering policy landscape continues to change as customer-sited generation expands. More states are shifting from traditional net metering to implement new rate structures. Over the last year, California, Arkansas, and North Carolina have adopted revisions to…Read the full report …...
The net metering policy landscape continues to change as customer-sited generation expands. More states are shifting from traditional net metering to implement new rate structures. Over the last year, California, Arkansas, and North Carolina have adopted revisions to the policy. Net energy metering (NEM), which credits customer generators for grid-exported power, has been a key component of the policy framework to spur investment in customer-sited renewable energy facilities, including solar and energy storage systems.
The drive towards a low-carbon future has prompted changes to solar incentive programs as lawmakers and regulators emphasize the role of the distributed generation market in achieving energy and environmental goals. Recent measures range from…Read the full report …...
The drive towards a low-carbon future has prompted changes to solar incentive programs as lawmakers and regulators emphasize the role of the distributed generation market in achieving energy and environmental goals. Recent measures range from New Jersey’s dual-use solar pilot to California’s revisions to solar tariffs and a report examining virtual power plants for grid reliability.
Community solar is poised for significant growth across the U.S. driven by state actions to encourage solar power and incentives in the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Also known as shared solar, community solar allows multiple energy customers to participate in projects that are remotely located and receive credits to lower their electricity bill.
Amid the growing number of initiatives to unlock the benefits of distributed energy resources, states across the U.S. are pursuing measures that support customer-oriented solutions while ensuring reliable system operations.
Net metering policies, which have been instrumental in driving the growth of distributed solar across the U.S., are poised for further evolution as states explore a holistic approach to establish compensation mechanisms. In California, a long-time leader in solar adoption, regulators have approved a significant overhaul of the net metering program, a decision that will likely have broad implications for the industry nationwide.
Technological advancements and climate goals are driving the transformation to distributed energy resources (DER), such as solar photovoltaic systems. The transformation, which is empowering consumers with more choices and energy management options, has also prompted an evaluation of potential cybersecurity risks stemming from anticipated future growth.
Federal and state actions to boost distributed solar show the growing interest in harnessing the technology to achieve broader policy goals.
Amid federal and state policies aimed at catalyzing solar power to facilitate power sector decarbonization, an investigation into circumvention of tariffs on solar panels imported from Southeast Asia has created market uncertainty, threatening U.S. solar buildout.
The importance of U.S. state renewable portfolio standards (RPS) continues to grow, with recent changes reflecting the trend of strengthening renewable energy targets. Several states have expanded their RPS programs to broader clean energy standards, which establish milestones to achieve a carbon-free electricity supply.
The expansion of renewable portfolio standards (RPS) has prompted several states to reshape their solar incentive programs. The market for solar renewable energy certificates (SRECs) is driven by solar carve-outs in RPS programs, which require utilities to procure a certain percentage of their electricity from renewable resources.