Solar power in Wisconsin on rooftops is estimated to be able to provide 40.1% of the electricity used in Wisconsin, using 23,600 MW of solar panels. Net metering is available for systems up to at least 20 kW, and excess generation is credited at retail rate to customers' next bill. Some utilities allow net metering up to 100 kW. For Xcel customers, kilowatt credits are rolled over monthly and are reconciled annually at avoided cost. Best practices recommend no limits, either individually or aggregate, and perpetual rollover of kilowatt credits.
A 2016 estimate indicated that a typical 5 kW solar array installed in Wisconsin would pay for itself in 13 years, and go on to provide an additional profit of $18,860 during its 25-year life. Wisconsin's renewable portfolio standard required 10% renewable sources for electricity by 2015.
Implications In 2007, Wisconsin's largest solar array was the 44.4 kW array on the Urban Ecology Center in Milwaukee.
In 2011, the largest array was the 360 kW parking lot array in Verona owned by Epic, which is being expanded to 2.2 MW. A 3.177 MW array is planned for a distribution center in Oconomowoc.
In June 2016, the 2.3 MW Rock River solar project near Beloit became the largest solar farm in the state.
The KI convention center located in Green Bay currently (as of 2013) has the largest solar PV installation in Northeastern Wisconsin. The new 115-kilowatt array comprises 480 PV solar panels.
As of May 2014, there are about 2,250 homes powered by solar energy in Wisconsin.
Wisconsin ranks 24th in the nation for the number of solar jobs. Between 2012 and 2014, the state added 800 jobs in the solar industry.
Water treatment facilities In Superior, the city's wastewater treatment plant has installed four So-larBee units to provide adequate aeration without the use of the city's 75-hp units. After this installation, the 75-hp blower units can be completely shut off during no-flow periods. As a result, the city of Superior saved $18,000 per month.Green Grocer Update
Statistics
Wisconsin photovoltaics capacity (MWp) Year Capacity Installed % change 2007 1.4 0.6 75% 2008 3.1 1.7 121% 2009 5.3 2.1 71% 2010 8.7 3.5 64% 2011 12.9 4.2 48% 2012 21.1 8.2 64% 2013 22.5 1.4 7% 2014 20 2 11% 2015 25 5 25% 2016 30 5 20% 2017 150.2 120.2 400% 2018 165.2 15 9% 2019 209.2 44 26% 2020 442 232.8 111% 2021 837 395 % 2022 1,205 368 %
Source: NREL
+ Utility-scale solar generation in Wisconsin (GWh) Year Total Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 2017 21 0 1 1 1 2 3 3 3 3 2 1 1 2018 39 2 1 4 4 5 5 5 4 4 3 1 1 2019 37 1 2 3 3 3 4 5 4 4 4 2 2 2020 96 4 5 6 8 9 8 10 9 7 6 14 10 2021 391 11 22 27 29 40 43 44 41 49 33 32 20 2022 147 38 47 62
Policies As of 2026, Wisconsin does not have any laws that permit Community solar or Plug-in solar. A bill for community solar was introduced in 2025, but did not become law.
See also Wind power in Wisconsin Solar power in the United States Renewable energy in the United States
References
External links