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| Solar panel shipments in United States reached record high last year |
Solar panel shipments in United States reached a record high last year
1. Solar panel shipments in United States
Solar panel shipments in America set a new record in 2022, driven by the rapid growth of new projects nationwide.
According to a report - reviewed by the Energy Research Unit - US shipments of solar panels increased by 10% to 31.7 million kilowatts in 2022.
This is the second record number recorded by solar panel shipments in America, after the record level recorded in 2021, amounting to 28.8 million kilowatts, up from 21.8 million kilowatts in 2020, according to the report issued by the US Energy Information Administration, today, Tuesday (August 29, 2023).
This is due to a number of factors, including:
- The cost of solar panels continues to decline, making them more affordable for residential and industrial use.
- The increasing availability of solar financing options makes it easier to install solar panels.
- State and federal policies that support solar energy, such as tax credits and rebates.
The solar industry is expected to grow in the United States in the coming years. The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) projects that the United States will install an average of 15 gigawatts (GW) of solar capacity annually from 2023 to 2028. This would bring the total U.S. solar capacity to more than 100 GW by 2028.
The growth of the solar industry will help the United States meet its climate goals. The government has set a goal of reaching net zero emissions by 2050. Solar power is a key part of this goal, as it can help reduce the country's dependence on fossil fuels.
2. U.S. photovoltaic module shipments by state/territory, 2022 (peak kilowatts)
Solar panel shipments in America include both imports and exports, and panels produced and shipped domestically, but the import still dominates the sector.
Data for 2022 indicate that 88% of solar panel shipments in America were imported from abroad, most of them from Asia.
Solar capacity in America has exploded over the past decade, including utility-scale projects of one megawatt or more, and small solar projects (most of which are residential rooftop solar installations).
The following table, prepared by the US Energy Research Unit, shows the largest US states in installed renewable energy capacity:
|
State |
Total KWp |
|
California |
4 443 039 |
|
Texas |
3 756 231 |
|
Florida |
2 447 013 |
|
South Carolina |
1 611 289 |
|
New Jersey |
1 052 268 |
|
Colorado |
786 826 |
|
Ohio |
699 459 |
|
Arizona |
691 147 |
|
Pennsylvania |
641 252 |
|
Virginia |
560 053 |
|
New York |
477 939 |
|
Illinois |
437 880 |
|
Massachusetts |
416 455 |
|
Nevada |
417 262 |
|
North Carolina |
310 454 |
|
Indiana |
256 732 |
|
Connecticut |
225 835 |
|
New Mexico |
229 475 |
|
Maryland |
204 825 |
|
Michigan |
180 937 |
|
Minnesota |
123 447 |
|
Oregon |
122 305 |
|
Maine |
113 516 |
|
Hawaii |
84 346 |
|
Washington |
52 429 |
|
Kansas |
44 993 |
|
Utah |
28 225 |
|
Missouri |
22 772 |
|
Vermont |
14 680 |
|
Mississippi |
14 661 |
|
Montana |
13 778 |
|
Oklahoma |
13 218 |
|
Nebraska |
9 440 |
|
Louisiana |
4 338 |
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Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-63B, Monthly Photovoltaic Module Shipments Report |
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Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Annual Photovoltaic Module Shipments Report
3. Average value of photovoltaic modules, United States 2006–2022
Solar panel costs have declined significantly since 2006, helping to fuel growth in solar capacity in the United States and around the world. The average value of U.S. solar panel shipments (a proxy for price) has increased from $3.5 per peak watt (Wp) in 2006 to $0.39/Wp in 2022.
The following table, prepared by the US Energy Research Unit, shows the average value of photovoltaic modules between 2006 and 2022:
|
Year |
Modules |
|
2006 |
3.5 $ |
|
2007 |
3.37 $ |
|
2008 |
3.49 $ |
|
2009 |
2.79 $ |
|
2010 |
1.96 $ |
|
2011 |
1.59 $ |
|
2012 |
1.15 $ |
|
2013 |
0.75 $ |
|
2014 |
0.87 $ |
|
2015 |
0.71 $ |
|
2016 |
0.72 $ |
|
2017 |
0.48 $ |
|
2018 |
0.45 $ |
|
2019 |
0.41 $ |
|
2020 |
0.38 $ |
|
2021 |
0.34 $ |
|
2022 |
0.39 $ |
|
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Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-63B, Monthly Photovoltaic Module Shipments Report |
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Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Annual Photovoltaic Module Shipments Report
4. US Annual photovoltaic module shipments, United States, 2006–2022
In 2022, U.S. solar PV panel shipments increased 10% from 2021, setting another annual record (31.7 million peak kilowatts [kWp]), based on our latest published data . Shipments of solar panels in the United States have increased as solar capacity continues to increase.
The following table, prepared by the US Energy Research Unit, shows the annual photovoltaic module shipments between 2006 and 2022:
|
Year |
Modules |
|
2006 |
320 208 |
|
2007 |
494 148 |
|
2008 |
920 693 |
|
2009 |
1 188 879 |
|
2010 |
2 644 498 |
|
2011 |
3 772 075 |
|
2012 |
4 655 005 |
|
2013 |
4 984 881 |
|
2014 |
6 237 524 |
|
2015 |
9 942 978 |
|
2016 |
13 451 187 |
|
2017 |
10 864 545 |
|
2018 |
7 971 622 |
|
2019 |
16 372 314 |
|
2020 |
21 770 903 |
|
2021 |
28 838 343 |
|
2022 |
31 679 435 |
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Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-63B, Monthly Photovoltaic Module Shipments Report |
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Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Annual Photovoltaic Module Shipments Report
Below is the graph which illustrates the annual photovoltaic module shipments between 2006 and 2022:
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| Graph of the annual photovoltaic module shipments between 2006 and 2022 |
References :
U.S. Energy Information Administration
