More than 14.6GW of new solar capacity was added in the US in 2016, up 95% on the 7.5GW installed in 2015, according to data from GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).
The data – from the upcoming ‘US Solar Market Insight’ report to be released on 9 March – shows that solar accounted for 39% of new capacity additions last year, the first time the market was the number one source of new generating capacity.
GTM and SEIA said the success was bolstered by a pipeline of projects initially hedging against the extension of the federal Investment Tax Credit.
The US now hosts more than 1.3 million solar PV installations with a cumulative capacity of over 40GW, the two organisations said.
GTM associate director of US solar research Cory Honeyman said: “In a banner year for US solar, a record 22 states each added more than 100MW.”
Image: sxc
