Source: Currently Interconnected Data Set, California Solar Statistics
Note: The data set only includes interconnected solar PV Net Energy Metering (NEM) projects and presents the current "state of the world" in terms of how many interconnected solar PV projects and how many megawatts are installed in a given geographic area. Calculations based on "Application Approved Date."
Other includes the educational, military, non-profit, and government sectors.
Analysis by Beacon Economics
Highlights
- Interconnected distributed capacity within the three investor-owned utilities service territories totaled 2,218 megawatts (in alternating current) in 2022, a 30.3 percent increase from 2021. Residential continues to be the largest sector, accounting for 80.3 percent of the interconnected distributed generation installed (1,701 MW) in 2022. Notably, the residential interconnected distributed generation has grown significantly—its share of the total increased by 20 percent in 2022 (in absolute terms), compared to 2021, while the shares of all other sectors have decreased. The vast majority of the interconnected distributed generation is for net energy metering solar photovoltaic, accounting for 74.9 percent of interconnections, followed by solar PV (12.1% share of the total); solar PV + storage (8.2% share of the total) and advanced energy storage (1.9 % share of the total).
- The pace of residential rooftop solar has slowed since the net energy meter tariff was revised earlier this year in a way that reduces the economic benefit to rooftop solar customers (the new tariff is called NEM 3.0). Utility interconnection request data shows that solar sales have fallen between 66 percent and 83 percent year-over-year following NEM 3.0.142
142 Kennedy, Ryan. “California rooftop solar installations drop 80% following NEM 3.0.” PV Magazine, December 1, 2023. Available at: https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2023/12/01/california-rooftop-solar-installations-drop-80-following-nem-3-0/
Opportunity
- In 2023, California became the first state to require both solar PV and energy storage systems on all new and some retrofitted commercial buildings, following the California Energy Commission (CEC) update to the 2022 Building Energy Efficiency Standards. This could lead to a rebound in storage installations from the residential and commercial sectors.143
143 California Energy Commission.2022 Building Energy Efficiency Standards Title 24, Part 6, and Associated Administrative Regulations in Part 1. December 23, 2022. Assessed August 15, 2023. Available at: https://www.energy.ca.gov/publications/2022/2022-building-energy-efficiency-standards-residential-and-nonresidential
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