2023 was a record year for the amount of installed solar generating capacity in the United States. Berkeley Labs tells US that an additional 18.5 GW was installed bringing the total to 80.2 GW across 47 states. The ERCOT grid in Texas added the most capacity with 4.2 [see map above]
Meanwhile ™installed costs continue to drop, 8% over 2022 compared to nuclear power stations astronomical cost increases:
A massive pipeline of more than 1TW of utility-sized solar installations exists in interconnection queues across the country, At the end of 2023 1.085 GW of solar capacity was in interconnection queues. Historically, because of high interconnection costs or other factor only 10% of requested capacity are built. The key to solar reliability 24/7/365 is associated battery capacity. 53% of the 2023 total solar capacity is coupled with battery installation. In California that figure reached 98% (CASIO). Another factor to improving solar power cost is grid optimization, which is why US Person supports grid standardization and national ownership.
