Solar power in Idaho comprised 550 MW in 2019. A 2016 report by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory estimated that rooftops alone have the potential to host 4,700 MW of solar panels, and thus provide 26.4% of all electricity used in Idaho. A large increase in the state's solar generating capacity began starting year 2015 when 461 MW of solar power was contracted to be built in Idaho.
Net metering is limited to 25 kW for residential users, and 100 kW for commercial users, other than for Avista Utilities customers, where the limit for all users is 100 kW.
Statistics Installed capacity Source: NREL
Grid-connected PV capacity (MW)YearCapacityInstalled% Change 2009 0.1 2010 0.2 0.2 100% 2011 0.4 0.2 100% 2012 1 0.7 175% 2013 1.8 0.7 64% 2014 2.6 0.8 44% 2015 4.6 2 76% 2016 300.6 296 6430% 2017 460 160.4 53% 2018 478 18 4% 2019 550.7 72.7 15% 2020 573 22.3 4% 2021 612.5 39.5 % 2022 644 31.5 %
Utility-scale generation + Utility-scale solar generation in Idaho (GWh) Year Total Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 2016 30 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 9 5 4 6 2017 461 9 10 38 50 52 61 54 52 46 43 25 21 2018 554 26 32 44 53 62 69 64 57 55 40 31 21 2019 556 27 28 46 53 58 68 64 64 51 48 30 19 2020 565 20 36 46 61 65 62 75 61 51 42 24 22 2021 433 23 30 54 62 70 73 64 57
Solar Farms
The 80 MWAC (108 MWp) Grandview Solar Farm has been the state's largest facility since its commissioning in 2016.Idaho's first major solar plant takes shape In 2019, Idaho Power contracted a power purchase agreement for a 120 MW solar power station in 2022 at 2.175¢/kWh.
See also
Wind power in Idaho Solar power in the United States Renewable energy in the United States
References
External links