Solar capacity expected to grow more than 100% from 2014 to 2016
The U.S. Energy Information Association (EIA) expects utility-scale solar capacity to grow by more than 100 percent between the end of 2014 and the end of 2016.
Three states lead the way
According to the EIA, 4.1 GW of new solar power capacity is being built in California through the end of 2016. California currently leads the nation with more than 411,00 solar projects.
North Carolina and Nevada are the two other states that are making large contributions to utility-scale solar capacity. These three states (California, North Carolina and Nevada) together account for almost 70 percent of estimated utility-scale solar power capacity additions for 2015 and 2016, the EIA said.
Georgia is also contributing to utility-scale solar capacity in the short term, as the EIA noted Georgia’s plans to construct 13 solar projects in the state that have eiother 2015 or 2016 in-service dates.
Hydropower generation decreases expected
Increases in solar generation may be offset by decreases in hydropower generation.
The EIA forecasts a 10.4 percent decrease in conventional hydropower generation in 2015 due to the effects of the California drought. Non-hydropower renewable energy generation is predicted to increase by 3.2 percent in 2015.
Source → EIA