Hello all you solar enthusiasts out there, today we’re delving into a thrilling tale of growth and success in the solar industry. With all the burgeoning solar companies offering ever-evolving services, increasing capacity, and intensified competition in the market, the whole arena is becoming quite an exciting playground.
Indeed, solar is making its unique, sunny, mark in the New England Independent System Operator (ISO-NE) capacity auction for 2027-28. This event is akin to a power-packed talent show where different energies bid to prove their prowess. But guess what stole the limelight? You got it—our beloved friend, solar power!
If you’ve been considering installing solar panels for your home, now is the time! The capacity auction showed increased market share for solar, solar-plus-storage, and wind energy sources while flinging coal out of the loop. Of the whopping 950 individual energy resources that secured a winning bid, solar power or solar-plus-storage facilities aced it with approximately 603 winners. These winners account for over half of the total 31.5 GW of capacity, large enough to run millions of homes.
Quite enticing, isn’t it? Dreaming of your unique solar array for home? Keep dreaming, then turn them into reality because solar energy isn’t playing small. The auction showcased solar source size ranging from a minuscule 7 kW to a gigantic 1.2 GW. It’s indeed the perfect testament to solar’s flexibility and scalability—a fitting solution for anyone and anywhere.
Topping the list of solar heroes was Three Corners Solar, a Maine-based solar company that secured a bid for 77.1 MW of capacity. Even the smallest facility, a 7 kW solar power plant named “Grasshopper 142 Blackstone,” is geared up to turn your homes green. Fun Fact – the 7 kW Grasshopper could guarantee an annual total of $105, proving that investing in solar panels for your home or a customized solar array for home can be a profitable venture.
Imagine your sunny summer days powering your homes. That’s exactly what Three Corners solar company aims to do. They’ve bid for their full capacity only for the summertime, from June to September. This strategy aligns beautifully with solar’s strength—providing value for your homes during summer months or reduced capacity in winter when paired with complementary energy storage.
And speaking of pairing – energy storage is gaining a front-row seat in this energy play. About 1.7 GW of energy storage won bids, with 700 MW belonging to newcomers this year, indicating a growing acceptance of combined solar-storage projects.
But wait, it’s not only about solar companies; offshore wind power had some fantastic spotlight moments. Vineyard Wind 1 is making waves as an ~800 MW facility nearing completion, gaining capacity payments on its first bid. Our green energy landscape appears to be a balanced act of solar panels for homes to provide maximum summer capacity, and wind farms offering more winter capacity—a perfect solution for all seasons.
While we may turn our noses up at coal’s failure, it’s crucial to remember that this energy transition doesn’t simply translate to low emissions just yet. Although there are no operating coal facilities left in New England, emissions haven’t seen a significant decrease due to the still dominant natural gas representing 46% of the grid. The need for continued growth of renewables like solar is urgent as ever.
So, with these compelling signs of solar’s literal energy surge, I encourage everyone to look up and let the sun power your homes. Solar panels for your home are a viable, profitable, and sustainable investment, especially with the rising portfolio of solar companies offering ever-more competitive services. Hang tight, keep exploring, and let’s transform our world, one solar panel at a time!
Original Articlehttps://pv-magazine-usa.com/2024/03/04/solar-wins-hundreds-of-millions-in-new-england-capacity-payments/
