Solar power in Vermont

Solar power in Vermont provides almost 11% of the state's electricity as of 2018.[1] A 2009 study indicated that distributed solar on rooftops can provide 18% of all electricity used in Vermont.[2] A 2012 estimate suggests that a typical 5 kW system costing $25,000 before credits and utility savings will pay for itself in 10 years, and generate a profit of $34,956 over the rest of its 25-year life.[3]

Solar panels at Middlebury College
U.S. solar potential

Net metering is available for up to at least 500 kW generation, but is capped at 15% of utilities peak demand. Excess generation is rolled over each month but is lost once each year. Group net metering is also allowed.[4] Vermont is given an A for net metering and a C for interconnection.[5] A feed-in tariff was created in 2009, but is limited to 50 MW and is fully subscribed. The cap increases by 5 to 10 MW/year starting in 2013 until it reaches 127.5 MW in 2022. It is available for solar, wind, methane, and biomass.[6][7] Seven solar projects are receiving payments, of $0.30/kWh, for 25 years.[8]

Vermont has five solar arrays of at least 1 MW, the 2.2 MW SunGen Sharon 1 in Sharon completed in July 2012,[9] the 2.1 MW concentrating photovoltaics array installed in July 2011 in South Burlington,[10][11] the 1.5 MW photovoltaic array also in South Burlington installed in October 2011,[12] the 1 MW photovoltaic array in Ferrisburgh,[13] and the 2 MW Williamstown Solar Project.[14]

A proposed 20 MW solar farm in Ludlow is opposed by Green Mountain Power and the governor. The power company claims that there is no need for any utility-scale solar in the state.[15]

Installed capacity
Source: NREL[16]
Grid-Connected PV Capacity (MW)[17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26]
Year Capacity Change % Change
20070.70.240%
20081.10.457%
20091.70.655%
20103.92.2129%
201111.77.8200%
201228.016.3139%
201341.513.649%
20146422.554%
20151074367%
201618578
201722035
201830282
201935553

Generation

Using data available from the U.S. Energy Information Agency's Electric Power Annual 2017[27] and "Electric Power Monthly Data Browser",[28][29][30][31] the following table summarizes Vermonts’s solar energy posture.

2017 VT Solar Energy Generation Profile

Capacity factor for each year was computed from the end-of-year summer capacity. 2017 data is from Electric Power Monthly and is subject to change.

Solar-electric generation in Vermont
Year Facilities Summer capacity (MW) Electric energy (GWh or M kWh) Capacity factor Yearly growth of generating capacity Yearly growth of produced energy % of VT renewable electric energy % of VT generated electric energy % of U.S. Solar electric energy
2018 3498.71430.16533%44.4%6.09%6.07%0.27%
2017 3174.2990.15213%67.8%4.64%4.62%0.19%
2016 65.7590.103118%23%3.10%3.08%0.16%
2015 32.4480.1697%100%2.4%2.42%0.19%
2014 30.224.09141%2.10%0.34%0.13%

A small scale 15KW installation at a homestead in middle Vermont generated 19,480 kWh of electrical energy at a Capacity Factor of 0.15. The homestead was sending energy to the utility when it was produced and taking energy from the utility when needed. Overall, the homestead consumed 80% of its generation and sold the remaining 20% to the utility. The generation profile is shown in the chart.

2017 15KW Vermont Farm Solar Energy Generation Profile

Beginning with the 2014 data year, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) has estimated the distributed solar-photovoltaic generation and distributed solar-photovoltaic capacity.[32] These non-utility-scale appraisals evaluate that Vermont generated the following amounts of additional solar energy:

Estimated distributed solar electric generation in Vermont[33][34]
Year Summer capacity (MW) Electric energy (GWh or M kWh)
2018 102.3130
2017 90.3111
2016 59.876
2015 49.948
2014 27.933

Specific solar farm data follows:

2.597 MW fixed tilt Barton Solar Farm generation (kWh)[8]
YearJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecemberTotal
20142,28334,52236,805
201542,15318,082233,572267,032372,320354,479380,525351,880326,723210,548138,28859,4102,755,012
201653,732101,948251,409407,089
Total3,198,906
2.2 MW 15° fixed tilt Champlain Valley Solar Farm generation (kWh)[8]
YearJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecemberTotal
2015108,347249,021360,222265,585200,98798,5801,282,742
201677,601122,304281,687481,592
Total1,764,334
2.4 MW (2 MW AC) fixed tilt Chester Solar Farm generation (kWh)[8]
YearJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecemberTotal
201457,75957,759
201542,31516,759209,274264,691240,143283,030325,057321,341280,149230,717175,19683,3842,472,056
2016123,410148,742253,174525,326
Total3,055,141
2.2 MW dual axis tracking Claire Solar Farm generation (kWh)[8]
YearJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecemberTotal
2014130,850103,416234,266
2015152,048165,820332,192366,615446,376418,882455,352414,911367,641251,605194,38578,0833,643,910
2016147,394170,433309,100626,927
Total4,505,103
2 MW (AC) fixed tilt Clarendon Solar Project generation (kWh)[8]
YearJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecemberTotal
2014301,303335,058306,499178,405122,24183,3731,326,879
201596,30097,945270,681278,804354,004328,733361,781359,061323,554240,268197,673104,8313,013,635
2016149,878143,090266,066559,034
Total4,899,548
2 MW (AC) fixed tilt Coventry Solar Project generation (kWh)[8]
YearJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecemberTotal
2014330,116202,36489,55360,542682,575
201572,0324,848178,931317,191387,374359,905392,978366,215350,035248,943155,42671,0272,904,905
201684,779140,603266,066491,448
Total4,078,928
1 MW fixed tilt Ferrisburgh generation (kWh)[8][35]
YearJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecemberTotal
201025,23425,234
201133,36956,396134,873115,728126,312141,528168,590136,755127,04089,38175,37764,2071,269,556
201254,20099,123124,243141,875149,987159,116172,179157,429125,14176,04981,10938,3881,378,839
201349,83271,062103,822142,788155,750133,042151,457151,357138,92794,20581,12625,2081,298,576
201462,53580,093122,697135,764144,689149,194155,393150,523140,84784,00563,14347,4211,336,304
201567,30457,224129,006138,137164,962147,367164,337160,370142,472110,30380,00640,1781,401,666
201656,05774,093116,415246,565
Total6,956,740
2.96 MW fixed tilt Limerick Road Solar Farm generation (kWh)[8]
YearJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecemberTotal
2014143,283302,752349,450408,968415,763417,116400,982367,301206,457129,759104,7843,246,615
2015173,70589,761344,700356,793423,377402,312431,826399,128369,191265,299188,61898,7823,543,492
2016157,178142,184314,958614,320
Total7,404,427
2.2 MW (AC) fixed tilt Sheldon Springs Solar generation (kWh)[8]
YearJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecemberTotal
2013163,563106,35446,225316,142
201496,439177,357252,833282,338247,703327,458307,030297,535289,377170,249110,91074,3942,633,623
201568,947106,711281,187279,562340,301331,230347,405349,903309,172215,892139,51458,7292,828,553
201686,921111,006266,421464,348
Total6,242,666
2.130 MW dual axis tracking South Burlington Solar Farm generation (kWh)[8]
YearJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecemberTotal
2011244,684446,839355,547298,142200,576163,960121,5411,831,289
201288,165223,306311,089327,782376,112427,720470,300398,723342,073177,785171,26873,9133,388,236
2013110,132158,350259,135323,186398,593342,079398,939384,244311,970213,894154,75865,3483,120,628
2014148,701212,791282,233314,116379,219422,849400,390360,539325,255173,608120,76387,0963,227,560
2015144,288188,949322,022335,103404,573376,422421,317378,240331,775227,702173,30769,8193,373,517
2016136,367155,539292,557584,463
Total15,525,693
2.2 MW fixed tilt Southern Vermont Energy Park solar generation (kWh)[8]
YearJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecemberTotal
201284,16184,161
2013159,783173,281227,341304,241323,422297,834319,004296,161306,550221,959189,43376,1282,895,137
2014157,092152,204265,162248,732294,583290,899338,331315,905311,017170,226122,10878,5232,744,782
2015131,006182,363272,022253,885334,770307,140355,227364,144322,860244,182198,686101,6953,067,980
2016166,388195,836298,828661,052
Total9,453,112
2.130 MW dual axis tracking St Albans Solar Farm generation (kWh)[8]
YearJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecemberTotal
201376,22543,347119,572
201478,82095,318247,998298,935367,216391,940386,239363,182315,772179,754101,52852,7882,879,490
201548,37815,652295,229314,182384,267373,847391,216386,599339,096223,144119,90645,5982,937,114
201673,76782,744283,832440,343
Total6,376,519
2.2 MW fixed tilt SunGen Sharon generation (kWh)[8]
YearJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecemberTotal
2012291,536251,252141,742146,71759,795891,042
201381,010103,008208,807257,346288,636281,957304,840309,871354,830173,428157,95744,8172,566,507
2014119,447106,083208,960337,259336,858368,353375,237341,780293,615179,531106,70451,4492,825,276
201595,98954,009260,840296,375360,884349,691382,944364,598293,377224,871184,71588,6532,956,946
2016112,867149,618260,544523,029
Total9,762,800
2.2 MW (AC) fixed tilt Technology Drive Solar generation (kWh)[8]
YearJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecemberTotal
201473,650181,716126,73495,293477,393
201526,5773,826254,844296,799403,213339,704375,881360,579304,769233,311162,01876,5422,838,063
2016145,346174,998303,787624,131
Total3,939,587
3.6 MW fixed tilt Whitcomb Farm Solar generation (kWh)[36][8]
YearJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecemberTotal
201417,657131,35090,146239,153
201584,11465,460371,751409,124446,622459,223506,489473,532419,565299,021211,61889,4143,835,933
201694,938158,824350,141603,903
Total4,678,989
2.166 MW (AC) fixed tilt White River Junction Solar Farm generation (kWh)[8]
YearJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecemberTotal
201279,857198,03793,176371,070
2013117,776172,621263,185349,969366,581335,279356,356368,425326,301227,760192,71166,5003,143,464
2014171,235175,112281,547344,922342,107377,409373,716363,257319,198205,203144,50499,1293,197,339
2015158,081123,034317,280316,782397,837349,473377,662370,192328,015256,058219,090100,3423,313,846
2016169,381208,070296,739674,190
Total10,699,909
2.0 MW Williamstown Solar Project generation (kWh)[8]
YearJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecemberTotal
201243,15943,159
201346,25428,541195,539283,670340,484286,397331,462350,358310,678216,175127,22444,5222,561,304
201480,02349,408168,005290,858236,033289,530307,128315,700292,625181,51288,25243,9522,343,026
201521,2961,791217,432271,501358,738296,162368,317346,472322,967240,280162,73987,2792,694,974
201667,449114,092258,083439,624
Total8,082,087

See also

References
  1. "Solar Spotlight - Vermont" (PDF). www.seia.org. June 2019. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
  2. Witkin, Jim (2009-10-30). "Report Argues for a Decentralized System of Renewable Power Generation". Green Blog.
  3. "Guide to Vermont Home Solar Incentives, Rebates, and Tax Credits". Solar Power Rocks.
  4. Vermont Net Metering Archived 2012-05-10 at the Wayback Machine
  5. Freeing the grid Archived 2012-06-16 at the Wayback Machine
  6. Standard Offer Program Archived 2012-07-27 at the Wayback Machine
  7. Standard Offer for Qualifying SPEED Resources Archived 2012-05-27 at the Wayback Machine
  8. Monthly Production Archived 2012-07-27 at the Wayback Machine
  9. "Talmage Solar Engineering, Inc. Unveils Largest Smart Array in North America". Business Wire. 2012-07-31.
  10. Griset, Todd (2011-07-28). "Vermont's largest solar array compared to California's". Energy Policy Update.
  11. "Site #316 Production Report | AllEarth Renewables Energy Production Report". www.allearthrenewables.com.
  12. Military Invests in Solar at Vermont National Guard Base Archived 2012-07-26 at the Wayback Machine
  13. Ferrisburgh Solar Farm
  14. "Williamstown solar array to be among state's biggest". Rutland Herald. 2012-07-31. Archived from the original on 2013-04-11.
  15. Polhamus, Mike (2015-12-06). "20-megawatt solar project needed, developers' report says". VTDigger.
  16. "PV Watts". NREL. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
  17. Sherwood, Larry (August 2012). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2011" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-09-06. Retrieved 2012-08-16.
  18. Sherwood, Larry (June 2011). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2010" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). Retrieved 2011-06-29.
  19. 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.
  20. 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.
  21. Sherwood, Larry (August 2008). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2007" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). Retrieved 2010-07-24.
  22. US Solar Market Insight Report Archived 2012-04-18 at the Wayback Machine
  23. Sherwood, Larry (July 2009). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2008" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). p. 16. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-11-23. Retrieved 2010-07-24.
  24. Sherwood, Larry (July 2012). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2012" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). p. 16. Retrieved 2013-10-11.
  25. Sherwood, Larry (July 2014). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2013" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). Retrieved 2014-09-26.
  26. Vermont Solar
  27. "Electric Power Annual State Data" 1990-2017 Existing Name Plate and Summer Capacity by Energy Source and State retrieved 2019-3-17
  28. "Electric Power Monthly Data Browser" Table 1.17B retrieved 2019-3-15
  29. "Electric Power Monthly Data Browser " Report 1.14 retrieved 2017-6-17
  30. "Electric Power Monthly Data Browser " Report 1.13 retrieved 2019-3-17
  31. "Electric Power Monthly Data Browser " Report 1.6 retrieved 2019-3-17
  32. "Electric Power Annual" retrieved 2017 6 17
  33. "Electric Power Monthly" |title=Electric Power Monthly (February 2018 with data for December 2017) - Table 1.17.B. Net Generation from Solar Photovoltaic retrieved 2018 5 29
  34. "Electric Power Monthly" |title=Electric Power Monthly (February 2018 with data for December 2017) - Table 6.2.B. Net Capacity from Solar Photovoltaic retrieved 2018 7 27
  35. Ferrisburgh Solar Farm Archived 2016-06-03 at the Wayback Machine
  36. "Vermont's largest solar array installed in Essex Jct | Vermont Business Magazine". www.vermontbiz.com. 2015-01-25.
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