US electric utilities of all types are defining their own paths forward to bring solar to their customers. Community, or “shared,” solar programs are an increasingly popular option. These programs allow customers who do not own their homes, possess strong credit scores, or have adequate roof space to buy solar power, or in some cases, to invest in solar assets.
This report from the Deloitte Center for Energy Solutions analyzes the community solar market from a fresh angle, examining the unique opportunities and challenges posed to each utility type: cooperatives, municipal, and investor-owned utilities. Download the report to discover how growth trends vary by utility type and why state policies are a key factor in enabling and driving community solar market growth.
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State policies enable and drive community solar growth
Shared solar has gained a foothold in the US market during the past five years and its growth shows no signs of slowing. In 2010, only two shared solar projects existed. Today 77 utilities administer 111 projects across 26 states, accounting for a combined capacity of about 106 megawatts.
What is driving the growth? To overly simplify a very complex matter, there are two overarching factors that generally shape utility community solar adoption:
- Regulation and market drivers affecting the utilities’ territory
- Whether the utility is investor-owned, municipally-owned, or cooperatively-owned
Table of Contents
Executive summary
What is community solar?
What’s in it for the customer?
What’s in it for the utility?
What’s in it for the developer?
State policies enable and drive community solar growth
Growth trends vary significantly by utility type
Conclusion
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