Big increase for US solar in 2016: Report
 

http://www.cnbc.com/2016/09/12/big-i...-2016_report_1

The U.S.'s solar power capacity continues to grow after more than two gigawatts (GW) of solar photovoltaic (PV) installations took place during the second quarter of 2016, according to a report released on Monday.

The latest U.S. Solar Market Insight Report from GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) stated that the installations represented a 43 per cent increase compared to the second quarter of 2015.

"We're seeing the beginning of an unprecedented wave of growth that will occur throughout the remainder of 2016, specifically within the utility PV segment," Cory Honeyman, associate director of U.S. solar research at GTM Research, said in a news release.

Solar is becoming an increasingly important part of the world's renewable energy mix. In 2014 the International Energy Agency stated that the sun could be the planet's biggest source of electricity by 2050.

"With more than 10 gigawatts of utility PV currently under construction, the second half of this year and the first half of 2017 are on track to continue breaking records for solar capacity additions," Honeyman added.

The report found that utility scale installations represented 53 percent of all installed PV in the first half of 2016, with an extra 7.8 GW set to come online in 2016.

"Solar works in all 50 states and this report proves that what many would consider non-traditional markets are now firmly a part of the clean energy movement," Tom Kimbis, SEIA's interim president, said.

"While it took us 40 years to hit 1 million U.S. solar installations, we're expected to hit 2 million within the next two years," Kimbis added. "That record-breaking growth is made possible by solar's cost-competitiveness and the vast benefits it provides consumers, our nation's economy and environment."

I've been glad to see the efficiency has been increasing rapidly as well. That makes it a much more viable option even in areas that don't get tons of sun all the time.

It's just too bad that it's taken this long to get enough clout to really make technological improvements.

It used to be stupid rare to see a house with solar around here. Now it's merely uncommon.

I've been hit multiple times with people calling me to install in. Unfortunately, we've had water leak issues with our roof, which we fixed at significant cost in both money and emotional turmoil (made my wife a wreck), so I'm NOT ****ING TOUCHING THAT ROOF.

We have had a good run of bad luck with hail storms around here for the last few years, so I know all too well about the roof replacement. I have a feeling those solar panels would die a fast death when confronted with large hail stones as well.

Tesla is making a "Gigafactory" outside of Reno. Most people may have heard about this and how it relates to their vehicle line, but they are also making a battery for homes. It's thought that the home battery will be around $3,000 for consumers, and will finally make sense financially.

I'm sure there are many of you out there that know more about this stuff than me, but apparently the Tesla home battery will enable you to store the surplus solar energy to use at other times.

From what I've read at least, they're actually pretty durable. The solar cell themselves are fragile, but they're covered in a thick piece of clear laminate that protects them pretty well.

Industry standard is withstanding the impact of a 1" hail stone traveling 100 mph.

An old boy down the road had some that got smoked by the last hail storm, but his stuff was really really old. It would be nice if technology has caught up and they are making them more durable these days which wouldn't surprise me.

Heh the last storm was brutal. We had golf ball to just under baseball size hail smack us. As far as speed, hell if I know, I didn't go outside to find out!! :D

Ha! Probably a good choice. Industry standard for human skull durability is well under baseball size.

I read we just got 2 new gigawatts of juice. If memory serves we could use 1.2 gigawatts to go back in time and advance Solar research

I had solar panels installed last month. It will pay for itself in about 6 years. So far it is producing more than we are using which is amazing since my Wife has turned our house into a meat locker with the A/C.

Yes, San Diego has no shortage of sun. Here in Seattle, solar power is pretty much non-existent.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...map-USA-en.png

A school just south of here lost their entire array in the spring. Bob Dole has been researching, but his future co-op won't buy the excess.

Moore's Law, bruh.