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Solar power in North Carolina

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Solar installation, Fort Bragg

Solar power has been increasing rapidly in the U.S. state of North Carolina, from less than 1 MW (megawatts) in 2007 to 6,152 MW in 2019, when it had the second-largest installed PV capacity of all states.[1]

In addition to federal incentives, the state has a Renewable Portfolio Standard of 12.5% by 2021 and a state renewable energy tax credit, both of which have been credited with boosting solar installations.[2][3][4]

In North Carolina, the distribution of solar power production is mainly on land that is classified as agricultural land, at 63%.[5] Furthermore, a 2018 Smithsonian Magazine article described North Carolina as likely being the national leader in the "solar shepherd phenomenon" – combining sheep farming with solar power plants to reduce the high costs of grass trimming.[6]

According to a report from the Solar Energy Industries Association, as of June 2019, North Carolina generates 5.81% of its electricity through solar power, and ranks second (up from 3rd in 2018) in total installed photovoltaics.[7] As of 2022 this number is up to 9% being ranked 4th.[8]

Grid-connected PV capacity[9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]
Year Total (MW) Installed (MW) % Change
2007 0.7
2008 4.7 4 571%
2009 12.5 7.8 166%
2010 40 28.7 220%
2011 85.5 45.5 114%
2012 207.9 122.4 143%
2013 469 261.1 126%
2014 849 380 81%
2015 1,974 1,125 132%
2016 2,984 1,010 51%
2017 3,287.5 303.5 10%
2018 4,692.1 1,404.6 42.7%
2019 6,152.3 1,460.2 31%
2020 7,037.8 885.5 14%
2021 7,811.2 773.4 %
2022 8,179 367.8 %
Source: NREL[17]

Currently operating

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The following tables show some of the major solar power projects currently operating in North Carolina (NC).

Dominion Energy

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North Carolina solar projects[18]
Name Location MW Current status PV modules Footprint
(acres)
Clipperton Sampson County 5 Operational as of 2017 (Nov.) 56,640 28.52
Fremont Wayne County 5 Operational as of 2017 (Nov.) 21,128 29.76
Gutenberg Solar Northampton

County

79.9 Operational as of 2019 (Sept.) 287,430 1,126
IS37 Anson County 79 Operational as of 2017 (Aug.) 344,056 550
Moorings 2 Lenoir County 5 Operational as of 2017 (Nov.) 58,400 36
Morgans Corner Pasquotank County 20 Operational as of 2017 (Nov.) 81,054 110
Mustang Solar Moore County 5 Operational as of 2018 (July) 21,300 30
Pecan Solar Northampton

County

74.9 Operational as of 2018 (Dec.) 929,100 1,050
Pikeville Wayne County 5 Operational as of 2017 (Nov.) 56,640 30
Summit Farms Currituck County 60 Operational as of 2016 (Dec.) 650
Wakefield Solar Wake County 5 Operational as of 2017 (Dec.) 22,300 30

Duke Energy

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Duke Energy Renewables
Name Location MW Construction
completed		 PV Modules Electricity purchaser (offtaker)
Battleboro Solar[19] Edgecombe County 5 2015-04 23,300 Dominion North Carolina Power
Bethel Price Solar[20] Pitt County 5 2013-12 23,000 Dominion North Carolina Power
Capital Partners, Phase I[21] Elizabeth City 20 2014-12 93,000 George Washington University
American University
GWU Hospital
Capital Partners, Phase II[22] Kelford
Whitakers		 33.5 2015-12 147,300 George Washington University
American University
GWU Hospital
Conetoe II[23] Edgecombe County 80 2015-09 375,000 Lockheed-Martin (38%)[24]
Corning (62%)[25]
Creswell Solar[26] Washington County 14 2015-02 66,500 Dominion North Carolina Power
Davie Solar[27] Davie County 29 2017 63,308
Dogwood Solar[28] Halifax County 20 2013-12 93,000
Everett's Wildcat Solar[29] Martin County 5 2014-12 23,300 Dominion North Carolina Power
Halifax Solar Power Project[30] Roanoke Rapids 20 2014-12 100,000 Dominion North Carolina Power
Holiness Solar[31] Murphy 1 2011-11 4,242 Tennessee Valley Authority
Martins Creek Solar[32] Murphy 1 4,400 Tennessee Valley Authority
Millfield Solar[33] Beaufort County 5 2013-11 27,450 North Carolina Eastern Municipal Power Agency
Monroe Solar[34] Union County 60 2017
Murfreesboro Solar[35] Murfreesboro 5 2011-12 19,960 North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation
Shawboro Solar[36] Currituck County 20 2015-12 95,000 Dominion North Carolina Power
Shelby Solar[37] Shelby 1 2010-05 4,522 North Carolina Eastern Municipal Power Agency
Sunbury Solar[38] Gates County 5 2015-08 23,000 Dominion North Carolina Power
Taylorsville Solar[39] Taylorsville 1 2010-10 4,224 EnergyUnited
Tarboro Solar[40] Edgecombe County 5 2015-04 23,000 Dominion North Carolina Power
Washington Airport Solar[41] Beaufort County 5 2013-12 23,000 North Carolina Eastern Municipal Power Agency
Washington White Post Solar[42] Beaufort County 12.5 2012-12 53,000 North Carolina Eastern Municipal Power Agency
Wingate Solar[43] Murphy 1 2011-08 4,340 Tennessee Valley Authority
Windsor Cooper Hill Solar[44] Bertie County 5 2013 23,000 Dominion North Carolina Power
Duke Energy Regulated Utility
Name Location MW Construction
completed		 PV modules
Camp Lejeune Solar[45] Onslow County 17.25 2017-03 55,000
Elm City Solar[46][47] Wilson County 40 2016-06 487,000
Fayetteville Solar[48] Cumberland County 23 2015-12 105,000
Warsaw Solar[49] Duplin County 65 2016-06 850,000
Solar installation, Sandy Grove Middle School, Robeson County

On September 15, 2014, Duke Energy committed US$500 million to an expansion of solar power in North Carolina.[50] Announced projects include:

  • Warsaw Solar Facility (65 MW) – Duplin County, developed by Strata Solar. This was scheduled to be the largest PV plant east of the Mississippi River as of the announcement date.
  • Elm City Solar Facility (40 MW) – Wilson County, developed by HelioSage Energy
  • Fayetteville Solar Facility (23 MW) – Bladen County, developed by Tangent Energy Solutions

In addition, Duke Energy plans to purchase energy from five new projects:

Other Generators (20MW+)

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Recurrent Energy
(A subsidiary of Canadian Solar)
Name Location MW Construction
completed
NC 102[51] Cabarrus County 74.8
(102 MWP)		 2018
IS-42[52] Cumberland County 71
(92 MWP)		 2018

Generation

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Using data available from the U.S. Energy Information Agency's Electric Power Annual 2017[53] and "Electric Power Monthly Data Browser",[54][55][56][57] the following table summarizes North Carolina's solar energy posture.

Solar-electric generation in North Carolina
Year Facilities Summer capacity (MW) Electric energy (GWh or M kWh) Capacity factor Yearly growth of generating capacity Yearly growth of produced energy % of NC renewable electric energy % of NC generated electric energy % of U.S. Solar electric energy
2018 523 3982 6997 0.201 18.7% 25.4% 53.5% 5.2% 10.5%
2017 481 3355 5579 0.190 37.7% 63.1% 51.6% 4.3% 10.5%
2016 411 2437 3421 0.16 69.6% 149% 32.9% 2.6% 9.5%
2015 262 1436.8 1374 0.11 112.5% 88.5% 15.8% 1.07% 5.5%
2014 676 729 0.123 103% 111% 9.10% 0.60% 4.10%
2013 84 333.2 345 0.176 190.8% 148.2% 3.5% 0.27% 3.82%
2012 38 114.6 139 0.199 156.4% 717.7% 2.16% 0.12% 3.21%
2011 15 44.7 17 0.049 27.7% 54.6% 0.27% 0.01% 0.94%
2010 9 35 11 0.066 1067% 120% 0.16% 0.01% 0.91%
2009 3 3 5 0.190 0% 150% 0.07% 0.00% 0.56%
2008 3 3 2 0.152 0% 0% 0.04% 0.00% 0.23%
2007 0 0 0 0 0% 0% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%

Capacity factor for each year was computed from the end-of-year summer capacity. 2018 data is from Electric Power Monthly and is subject to change.

2017 NC Solar Energy Generation Profile
NC Utility Scale solar generation (GWh, Million kWh)[58][59]
Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Total
2011 17
2012 2 2 4 6 6 6 9 7 9 17 23 48 139
2013 10 17 24 21 32 34 34 32 36 40 30 35 345
2014 31 41 56 58 74 67 69 75 68 88 49 54 729
2015 63 52 95 110 160 151 167 156 109 100 76 135 1,374
2016 168 175 348 300 265 320 336 448 328 254 182 298 3,421
2017 265 335 423 477 534 482 537 480 473 423 372 314 5,115
2018 402 356 514 632 629 677 643 658 440 483 369 308 6,111
2019 410 398 661 680 772 753 838 749 683 556 481 472 7,451
2020 477 492 641 872 873 850 955 766 650 660 552 484 8,274
2021 517 520 817 1018 1085 990 1037 986 916 775 715 548 9,922
2022 635 719 969 1157 1173 1251 1174 1111 1048 938 664 534 11,373

Beginning with the 2014 data year, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) has estimated the distributed solar-photovoltaic generation and distributed solar-photovoltaic capacity.[60] These non-utility-scale appraisals evaluate that North Carolina generated the following amounts of additional solar energy:

Estimated distributed solar electric generation in North Carolina[61]
Year Summer capacity (MW) Electric energy (GWh or M kWh)
2018 140.1 212
2017 114.9 186
2016 109.7 167
2015 71.7 84
2014 56.8 72

Duke Energy rebates

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On January 22, 2018, Duke Energy Renewables proposed a $62 million rebate program for both residential and nonresidential customers. It was the first of three programs Duke is proposing as part of "Competitive Energy Solutions for North Carolina" legislation, signed into law in 2017 by Gov. Roy Cooper. The program requires approval from the North Carolina Utilities Commission.[62]

Proposal details
Electricity customer Eligible rebate Maximum rebate
Residential
(10 kilowatts or less) 		60 cents per watt $6,000
Nonresidential 50 cents per watt $50,000
Nonprofit entity 75 cents per watt $75,000

Customers would also have the option of leasing solar equipment from a third-party.

On April 16, 2018, the North Carolina Utilities Commission approved the program. It applies to Duke Energy's residential, nonresidential and nonprofit customers who installed a solar system and a bi-directional meter on their property on or after January 1, 2018.[63]

Duke Energy Solar Centers

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A solar center is a facility that has thousands of installed solar panels. Duke Energy has proposed projects for a variety of solar centers using PV panels. The plan is to have the centers operating by late 2025 and they are estimated to produce enough electricity to power 23,000 homes.[64]

Solar Center Location Megawatts Solar Panel Amount
Bailey Mill[65] Jefferson County 74.9 MW ~163,000
Half Moon[66] Sumter County 74.9 MW ~142,000
Rattler[67] Hernando County 74.9 MW ~210,000

In the chart above are the plans for facilities in various area but a propsed plan in North Carolina is called the Longleaf Solar Center. It will be located in New Hill, NC and is proposed to be completed in 2028. It is said to be a 100 MW facility with about 215,000 solar panels and the ability to power 27,900 homes.[68]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ http://www.eia.gov/electricity/annual /2017/06/19
  2. ^ Lauren Shwisberg (February 27, 2014). "Utility Scale Solar Energy: North Carolina's Emergent Success". The Energy Collective. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  3. ^ Daniel Gross (July 5, 2014). "NC quietly becomes a star on solar energy stage". The News & Observer. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  4. ^ Steve DeVane (July 18, 2014). "Solar farms taking root in North Carolina". The Fayetteville Observer. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  5. ^ Curtis, Scott; Etheridge, Randall; Malali, Praveen; Peralta, Ariane L.; Filho, Faete (2020). "Planning for Future Solar Farm Development in North Carolina: A Geographic Food Energy-Water Approach". Southeastern Geographer. 60 (1): 48–64. ISSN 1549-6929.
  6. ^ Molly A. Seltzer. "There's a New Job in the Solar Industry." Smithsonian Magazine. February 6, 2018.
  7. ^ "Solar Spotlight – North Carolina" (PDF). Solar Energy Industries Association. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
  8. ^ https://www.eia.gov/state/print.php?sid=NC
  9. ^ Sherwood, Larry (July 2009). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2008" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 23, 2009. Retrieved July 24, 2010.
  10. ^ Sherwood, Larry (July 2010). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2009" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 25, 2010. Retrieved July 28, 2010.
  11. ^ Sherwood, Larry (June 2011). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2010" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). Retrieved June 29, 2011.
  12. ^ Sherwood, Larry (August 2012). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2011" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). p. 17. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 6, 2012. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
  13. ^ Sherwood, Larry (July 2013). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2012" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). p. 16. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
  14. ^ Sherwood, Larry (July 2014). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2013" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). Retrieved July 28, 2014.
  15. ^ "North Carolina Solar Projects". solarlove.org. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
  16. ^ "North Carolina Solar". Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  17. ^ "PV Watts". NREL. Retrieved May 17, 2012.
  18. ^ "North Carolina Solar Projects". dominionenergy.com. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
  19. ^ "Solar Power Projects" (PDF). duke-energy.com. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
  20. ^ "Bethel Price Solar Project Highlights". duke-energy.com. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
  21. ^ "Solar Power Projects" (PDF). duke-energy.com. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
  22. ^ "Solar Power Projects" (PDF). duke-energy.com. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
  23. ^ "Conetoe II". sunenergy1.com. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
  24. ^ "Massive Duke Energy solar farm signs contract with Lockheed Martin". bladenonline.com. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
  25. ^ "Duke Energy signs large out-of-state deal for power from N.C. solar farm". bladenonline.com. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
  26. ^ "North Carolina solar was hot in 2015; Duke Energy led the charge". news.duke-energy.com. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
  27. ^ "Duke looking to the sun". Davie County Enterprise Record. November 2, 2017. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
  28. ^ "Dogwood Solar Project Highlights". duke-energy.com. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
  29. ^ "Solar Power Projects" (PDF). duke-energy.com. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
  30. ^ "Duke Energy acquires Halifax Solar Project in Eastern North Carolina". duke-energy.com. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
  31. ^ "Holiness Solar Project Highlights". duke-energy.com. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
  32. ^ "Martins Creek Solar Project Highlights". duke-energy.com. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
  33. ^ "Millfield Solar Project Highlights". duke-energy.com. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
  34. ^ "Duke Energy delivered sunshiny days in North Carolina in 2017". duke-energy.com. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
  35. ^ "Murfreesboro Solar Project Highlights". duke-energy.com. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
  36. ^ "Solar Power Projects" (PDF). duke-energy.com. Retrieved June 20, 2017.
  37. ^ "Shelby Solar Project Highlights". duke-energy.com. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
  38. ^ "Solar Power Projects" (PDF). duke-energy.com. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
  39. ^ "Taylorsville Solar Project Highlights". duke-energy.com. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
  40. ^ "Solar Power Projects" (PDF). duke-energy.com. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
  41. ^ "Washington Airport Solar Project Highlights". duke-energy.com. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
  42. ^ "Washington White Post Solar Project Highlights". duke-energy.com. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
  43. ^ "Wingate Solar Project Highlights". duke-energy.com. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
  44. ^ "Windsor Cooper Hill Solar Project Highlights". duke-energy.com. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
  45. ^ "Camp Lejeune Solar Project" (PDF). duke-energy.com. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
  46. ^ "Duke Energy unveils 450-acre Elm City solar farm". wilsontimes.com. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
  47. ^ "Duke opens Elm City solar farm". wilsontimes.com. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
  48. ^ "Duke Energy solar site near DuPont now online". wilsontimes.com. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
  49. ^ "Duke Energy opens second largest solar farm in the state in Warsaw". witn.com. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
  50. ^ "Duke Energy commits $500 million to North Carolina solar power expansion". Duke Energy. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  51. ^ "NC 102 - Recurrent Energy". Retrieved October 18, 2019.
  52. ^ "IS-42 - Recurrent Energy". Retrieved October 18, 2019.
  53. ^ "Electric Power Annual State Data"[1] 1990-2017 Existing Name Plate and Summer Capacity by Energy Source and State retrieved April 11, 2019
  54. ^ "Electric Power Monthly Data Browser" [2] Table 1.17B retrieved March 15, 2019
  55. ^ "Electric Power Monthly Data Browser "[3] Report 1.14 retrieved March 17, 2019
  56. ^ "Electric Power Monthly Data Browser "[4] Report 1.13 retrieved March 17, 2019
  57. ^ "Electric Power Monthly Data Browser "[5] Report 1.6 retrieved March 17, 2019
  58. ^ "Energy Information Administration (EIA)"[6] Table 1.17B Net Generation from Solar by state by sector retrieved April 11, 2019
  59. ^ "Electricity Data Browser". eia.gov. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  60. ^ "Electric Power Annual" retrieved 2017 6 17
  61. ^ "Electric Power Monthly" retrieved 2019 3 12
  62. ^ "Duke Energy proposes $62 million solar rebate program". Asheville Citizen-Times. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
  63. ^ "State OKs Duke Energy's $62 million solar rebate program: Do you qualify?". Asheville Citizen-Times. Retrieved May 23, 2018.
  64. ^ "Duke Energy Solar Center".
  65. ^ "Bailey Mill Solar Center".
  66. ^ "Half Moon Solar Center".
  67. ^ "Rattler Solar Center".
  68. ^ "Duke Energy Longleaf Solar Power Center".
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