The American solar power industry set a new milestone for electricity production in the previous quarter, driven by the completion of previously delayed large-scale solar projects.
This development is highlighted in a report by Wood Mackenzie research firm and the trade group Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). They found that the solar market incorporated an impressive 6.1 gigawatts (GW) of electrical capacity, representing a 47% surge from the previous year and establishing a record for any initial quarter in history.
According to the report, solar energy was responsible for 54% of all the novel electricity-generation capacity added to the grid during the first quarter of the year.
A significant portion of this growth could be traced back to Florida, which contributed 1.634 GW to the new installations. This was a substantial 72% more than California, the second-highest contributor with 951 megawatts (MW) of additions. Texas secured the third spot with 765 MW.
The study further suggested that the US solar industry is projected to expand almost threefold in the upcoming five years. The report pointed out that the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022's clean energy clauses have prompted a considerable surge in the announcement of new module manufacturing facilities across the country.