Solar Energy Continues to Set Generation Records

There is a lot of record-setting going on as California continues to produce more and more solar energy.

A new study published by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) stated that total solar electricity output in May 2014 was three times what it was just one year ago, when measured as a percentage of the total California Independent System Operator (California ISO) electricity load. Solar accounted for 6 percent of the May 2014 load. It accounted for 2 percent of the May 2013 load.

The EIA also reported that on June 1 of this year the California ISO recorded a record midday hourly peak of 4767 megawatts of utility-generated solar electricity delivered in the California grid.

Source: California ISO Daily Renewables Watch

Note: Data do not include distributed generation solar electricity where output is behind-the-meter.

The report added the good news will continue through 2014 as utility-scale solar installations are expected to remain at a brisk pace because of declining solar manufacturing costs and the federal investment tax credit in place through the end of 2016.