Solar power in North Carolina facts for kids
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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.
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.
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.
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.
| 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
Contents
Currently operating
The following tables show some of the major solar power projects currently operating in North Carolina (NC).
Dominion Energy
| 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 | 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 | 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
| Name | Location | MW | Construction completed |
PV Modules | Electricity purchaser (offtaker) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battleboro Solar | Edgecombe County | 5 | 2015-04 | 23,300 | Dominion North Carolina Power |
| Bethel Price Solar | Pitt County | 5 | 2013-12 | 23,000 | Dominion North Carolina Power |
| Capital Partners, Phase I | Elizabeth City | 20 | 2014-12 | 93,000 | George Washington University American University GWU Hospital |
| Capital Partners, Phase II | Kelford Whitakers |
33.5 | 2015-12 | 147,300 | George Washington University American University GWU Hospital |
| Conetoe II | Edgecombe County | 80 | 2015-09 | 375,000 | Lockheed-Martin (38%) Corning (62%) |
| Creswell Solar | Washington County | 14 | 2015-02 | 66,500 | Dominion North Carolina Power |
| Davie Solar | Davie County | 29 | 2017 | 63,308 | |
| Dogwood Solar | Halifax County | 20 | 2013-12 | 93,000 | |
| Everett's Wildcat Solar | Martin County | 5 | 2014-12 | 23,300 | Dominion North Carolina Power |
| Halifax Solar Power Project | Roanoke Rapids | 20 | 2014-12 | 100,000 | Dominion North Carolina Power |
| Holiness Solar | Murphy | 1 | 2011-11 | 4,242 | Tennessee Valley Authority |
| Martins Creek Solar | Murphy | 1 | 4,400 | Tennessee Valley Authority | |
| Millfield Solar | Beaufort County | 5 | 2013-11 | 27,450 | North Carolina Eastern Municipal Power Agency |
| Monroe Solar | Union County | 60 | 2017 | ||
| Murfreesboro Solar | Murfreesboro | 5 | 2011-12 | 19,960 | North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation |
| Shawboro Solar | Currituck County | 20 | 2015-12 | 95,000 | Dominion North Carolina Power |
| Shelby Solar | Shelby | 1 | 2010-05 | 4,522 | North Carolina Eastern Municipal Power Agency |
| Sunbury Solar | Gates County | 5 | 2015-08 | 23,000 | Dominion North Carolina Power |
| Taylorsville Solar | Taylorsville | 1 | 2010-10 | 4,224 | EnergyUnited |
| Tarboro Solar | Edgecombe County | 5 | 2015-04 | 23,000 | Dominion North Carolina Power |
| Washington Airport Solar | Beaufort County | 5 | 2013-12 | 23,000 | North Carolina Eastern Municipal Power Agency |
| Washington White Post Solar | Beaufort County | 12.5 | 2012-12 | 53,000 | North Carolina Eastern Municipal Power Agency |
| Wingate Solar | Murphy | 1 | 2011-08 | 4,340 | Tennessee Valley Authority |
| Windsor Cooper Hill Solar | Bertie County | 5 | 2013 | 23,000 | Dominion North Carolina Power |
| Name | Location | MW | Construction completed |
PV modules |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camp Lejeune Solar | Onslow County | 17.25 | 2017-03 | 55,000 |
| Elm City Solar | Wilson County | 40 | 2016-06 | 487,000 |
| Fayetteville Solar | Cumberland County | 23 | 2015-12 | 105,000 |
| Warsaw Solar | Duplin County | 65 | 2016-06 | 850,000 |
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On September 15, 2014, Duke Energy committed US$500 million to an expansion of solar power in North Carolina. 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:
- 48 MW – Bladen County, developed by Innovative Solar Systems
- 48 MW – Richmond County, developed by FLS Energy
- 20 MW – Scotland County, developed by Birdseye Renewable Energy
- 19 MW – Cleveland County, developed by Birdseye Renewable Energy
- 15 MW – Beaufort County, developed by Element Power US
Other Generators (20MW+)
| Name | Location | MW | Construction completed |
|---|---|---|---|
| NC 102 | Cabarrus County | 74.8 (102 MWP) |
2018 |
| IS-42 | Cumberland County | 71 (92 MWP) |
2018 |
Generation
Using data available from the U.S. Energy Information Agency's Electric Power Annual 2017 and "Electric Power Monthly Data Browser", the following table summarizes North Carolina's solar energy posture.
| 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.
| NC Utility Scale solar generation (GWh, Million kWh) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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. These non-utility-scale appraisals evaluate that North Carolina generated the following amounts of additional solar energy:
| 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
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.
| 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.
See also
In Spanish: Energía solar en Carolina del Norte para niños
