Solar power in Wisconsin

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Solar powered road sign
Solar powered road sign
Average solar insolation

Solar power in Wisconsin In 2026, Wisconsin rooftops can accommodate approximately 37 GWs of solar capacity and produce 44,183 GWh of electricity, nearly 70% of the statewide generation in 2019. 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.[1] Best practices recommend no limits, either individually or aggregate, and perpetual roll over of kilowatt credits.[2]

A 2016 estimate indicates that a typical 5 kW solar array installed in Wisconsin will pay for itself in 13 years and go on to provide an additional profit of $18,860 during its 25-year life.[3] Wisconsin's renewable portfolio standard requires 10% renewable sources for electricity by 2015.[4]

Implications[edit]

In 2007, Wisconsin's largest solar array was the 44.4 kW array on the Urban Ecology Center in Milwaukee.[5][self-published source?]

In 2011, the largest array was the 360 kW parking lot array in Verona owned by Epic,[6] which is being expanded to 2.2 MW. A 3.177 MW array is planned for a distribution center in Oconomowoc.[citation needed]

In June 2016, the 2.3 MW Rock River solar project near Beloit became the largest solar farm in Wisconsin.[7]

The KI convention center located in Green Bay, WI currently (as of 2013) has the largest solar PV installation in Northeastern Wisconsin. The new 115-kilowatt array comprises 480 PV solar panels.[8]

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, Wisconsin has added 800 jobs in the solar industry.[9]

Water Treatment Facilities[edit]

In Superior, WI the cities wastewater treatment plant has installed four So-larBee units to provide adequate aeration without the use of the cities 75-hp units. After this installation the 75-hp blower units could be completely shut off during no-flow periods and in result the city of Superior saved $18,000 per month.[10]

Statistics[edit]

Utility-scale solar generation in Wisconsin (GWh)[18]
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

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Net Metering". dsireusa.org. Archived from the original on 18 April 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  2. ^ "Net Metering Model Rules" (PDF). irecusa.org. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  3. ^ "2018 Guide to Wisconsin Home Solar Incentives, Rebates, and Tax Credits". solarpowerrocks.com. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  4. ^ "DSIRE". programs.dsireusa.org. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  5. ^ "Largest Wisconsin Solar Array to be Dedicated February 10". madisonpeakoil-blog.blogspot.com. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  6. ^ Ferolie, Jim (18 December 2011). "Epic's half-built solar field is biggest in the state". The Verona Press (Unified Newspaper Group). Archived from the original on 2 April 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  7. ^ "Wisconsin's largest solar project delivering power to Alliant Energy customers" (Press release). Alliant Energy. 18 July 2016.
  8. ^ "KI Installs Largest Solar Energy Array In Northeast Wisconsin" (Press release). KI. 16 January 2013. ProQuest 1269689657.
  9. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-04-16.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. ^ Green Grocer Update Archived 2012-08-06 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ Sherwood, Larry (August 2012). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2011" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). p. 17. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-09-06. Retrieved 2012-08-16.
  12. ^ Sherwood, Larry (June 2011). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2010" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). Retrieved 2011-06-29.
  13. ^ Sherwood, Larry (July 2010). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2009" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-09-25. Retrieved 2010-07-28.
  14. ^ Sherwood, Larry (July 2009). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2008" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-11-23. Retrieved 2010-07-24.
  15. ^ Sherwood, Larry (July 2014). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2013" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). Retrieved 2014-09-26.
  16. ^ "Wisconsin Solar". seia.org. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  17. ^ "PV Watts". NREL. Retrieved 24 July 2012.
  18. ^ "Electricity Data Browser". U.S. Department of Energy. March 28, 2018. Retrieved October 11, 2021.

External links[edit]