Which State Has Highest Solar Energy Production?
Solar energy is one of the most promising renewable energy sources, offering a vast untapped potential for producing clean and sustainable power. As the costs of solar photovoltaic panels have dropped dramatically in the past decade, solar energy production has seen exponential growth in the U.S. Identifying the top solar producing states provides valuable insights into which regions are leading the way in adopting this vital energy resource. Understanding the key factors driving solar energy growth in the highest producing states also helps inform policies and incentives aimed at accelerating the nationwide transition to renewable energy.
Measuring Solar Energy Production
Solar energy production is commonly measured in megawatts (MW) or megawatt-hours (MWh). MW measures the peak capacity or maximum power output of a solar installation. It refers to the rate of solar energy production. For example, a 10 MW solar farm can produce 10 megawatts of electricity at its peak performance.
MWh measures the total energy output over time. It refers to the actual electrical energy produced, typically over the period of a year. For instance, a 10 MW solar farm operating at full capacity for one hour would produce 10 MWh of energy. MWh takes capacity and time into account.
According to Solartribune.com, “Electricity is measured in watts, with one thousand watts in a kilowatt.” How to Measure Solar Energy Therefore, a MW is equal to 1,000 kilowatts (kW) and a MWh is equal to 1,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh).
When examining solar energy production data for states, MWh per year is typically used. This provides a standardized way to compare total annual energy generation from solar installations of different sizes across different states.
Data Sources
The main data sources used for ranking solar energy production by state include:
The U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) Electricity Data provides monthly electricity generation data by state and energy source, including solar. This comprehensive government data allows for comparing solar output across states.
The Solar Energy Industries Association tracks state-by-state solar installation data, total solar capacity, number of solar companies, and information on state solar policies and programs.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s PVWatts calculates the solar potential of sites based on their location and typical weather patterns. This helps estimate each state’s solar generation capacity.
Research reports from organizations like Choose Energy and SaveOnEnergy analyze the latest government and industry data to rank leading solar states.
Top 5 Solar Energy Producing States
Based on data from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the top 5 states for solar energy production in 2023 are:
#1 – California
California has been the nation’s leader in solar energy production for years. As of 2022, California had over 30,000 MW of installed solar capacity, more than triple the solar capacity of the next state. California’s abundant sunshine, large population, and favorable policies like net metering make it an ideal environment for solar energy adoption. Major solar projects in the California desert supply renewable energy to large population centers like Los Angeles and San Diego. Overall, California accounts for over 40% of the nation’s installed solar capacity.
#2 – Arizona
With over 8,000 MW of installed solar capacity as of 2022, sunny Arizona takes the #2 spot for solar energy production. Arizona has significant utility-scale solar installations, including some of the cheapest solar PPAs in the nation. The state also ranks in the top 10 for rooftop solar adoption. Arizona’s Solar Energy Industries Association chapter estimates that 1 in 7 Arizona homes have rooftop solar panels. With plentiful sun and open land, Arizona is poised for continued growth in solar energy production.
#3 – North Carolina
North Carolina has emerged as a major solar energy producer, ranking 3rd in the nation with over 7,000 MW of installed solar capacity as of 2022. The state has significant utility-scale solar farms, which provide over 9% of North Carolina’s electricity. North Carolina’s Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard helped drive early solar adoption. Now the state hosts major manufacturing facilities for solar panels and related equipment. With its policies and manufacturing base, North Carolina is expected to remain a top state for solar energy.
#4 – Texas
Everything is bigger in Texas, including solar energy production. With around 6,000 MW of installed solar capacity, Texas ranks 4th nationwide. The wide open spaces in West Texas have attracted large-scale solar projects to provide renewable energy. Texas also ranks in the top 10 states for rooftop solar adoption. As the nation’s leading producer of wind energy, Texas shows that it has what it takes to go big on renewable power.
Source: SEIA
#5 – Nevada
The desert climate and open lands in Nevada make it ideal for harnessing the sun’s energy. With around 4,000 MW of installed solar capacity, Nevada takes the #5 spot for solar energy production. Major utility-scale projects in the desert provide solar power to Las Vegas and other population centers. Nevada also ranks in the top 10 for rooftop solar adoption. Abundant sunshine and pro-solar policies position Nevada for continued leadership in solar energy.
#1 – California
California ranks first in the nation for solar energy production, with over 38,000 MW of installed solar capacity as of 2022 according to Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_power_in_California). This is enough to power approximately 10.5 million homes, or over 25% of the state’s households.
A key factor driving California’s leadership in solar is its abundant sunshine and large deserts, which provide ideal conditions for utility-scale solar farms. Major solar projects like the Topaz Solar Farm (550 MW) and Desert Sunlight Solar Farm (550 MW) are located in California’s southern deserts. The state also has a robust distributed solar market, with over 1 million homes powered by rooftop solar panels as of 2021 according to SEIA (https://www.seia.org/state-solar-policy/california-solar).
In addition, California has pioneered strong policy support for solar through initiatives like net metering and its renewable portfolio standard requiring 60% renewable energy by 2030. The falling cost of solar technology has also helped drive rapid growth. In 2021, solar accounted for 23% of California’s total in-state electricity generation, second only to natural gas, according to the California Energy Commission (https://www.energy.ca.gov/data-reports/energy-almanac/california-electricity-data/2021-total-system-electric-generation).
With its abundant solar resources and supportive policies, California is poised to continue leading the nation in solar energy production for years to come.
#2 – Arizona
Arizona ranks second in the United States for solar energy production capacity. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), Arizona has over 4,000 megawatts (MW) of solar installed, with enough solar panels in the state to power over 700,000 homes (1). Major solar projects in Arizona include the Agua Caliente solar project, which has a capacity of almost 350 MW according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (2).
Arizona has ideal conditions for generating solar power, with abundant sunshine and large areas of flat, undeveloped land in the southern part of the state. This has attracted significant investment in utility-scale solar farms. The state has also adopted supportive policies for rooftop solar installations, including net metering. With its solar resources and policies, Arizona is positioned to continue expanding its solar energy production capacity in the coming years.
While Arizona does not produce the absolute most solar energy of any state, its capacity is noteworthy given its population size. On a per capita basis, Arizona leads the nation in solar watts per person, demonstrating the state’s commitment to developing its solar energy resources (3).
#3 – North Carolina
North Carolina has emerged as a major solar energy producer in recent years. The state currently ranks third in the nation for total installed solar capacity, with over 7,000 MW as of 2021 according to SEIA https://www.seia.org/state-solar-policy/north-carolina-solar. This represents a massive increase from just a few MW in 2007 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_power_in_North_Carolina.
What has driven North Carolina’s rise as a solar leader? The state has abundant solar resources and large areas amenable to utility-scale projects. Favorable solar policies, like net metering and renewable portfolio standards, have accelerated growth https://www.advancedenergy.org/news/solar-energy-in-north-carolina-a-2021-view. Major projects like the Topaz Solar Farm have added substantially to the state’s solar capacity.
While North Carolina lags behind solar giants like California and Arizona in total generation, its rapid growth demonstrates the promise of solar across a variety of geographies. With continued supportive policies and declining solar costs, North Carolina is poised to remain a national solar leader for years to come.
#4 – Texas
Texas ranks fourth in the United States for solar energy production with over 3,600 MW of installed solar capacity according to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) Texas Solar | SEIA. The state has seen rapid growth in solar energy in recent years thanks to ample sunlight and supportive policies.
According to the Texas Comptroller, the state is predicted to add 7.7 GW of new solar capacity by 2023. Major projects like the Long Draw Solar Project in Pecos County and the Samson Solar Energy Center in Lamar County will help drive this growth Solar Power: Energy is Good for Texas.
Texas has ideal conditions for solar power with high direct normal irradiance levels across much of the state. West Texas in particular has excellent solar resources. The abundant vacant land in rural areas also provides opportunities for large-scale solar farms.
While Texas has rapidly increased its solar generation, it still lags behind solar leaders like California and Arizona. As solar panel costs continue to fall, Texas has significant potential to expand its solar energy production in the future.
#5 – Nevada
Nevada ranks fifth in the nation for solar energy production. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Nevada has abundant solar resources and ranks sixth for total solar capacity and generation [1]. As of 2021, Nevada had 2,297 MW of installed solar capacity, which is enough to power over 330,000 homes [2].
The solar industry in Nevada has grown rapidly in recent years due to the state’s sunny climate, large areas of flat, vacant land, and renewable energy policies. Major solar projects in Nevada include the Copper Mountain Solar Facility, Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Project, and Techren Solar Project [3]. While California and other states produce more total solar energy, Nevada has tapped into its solar potential more than most and ranks in the top five for percentage of electricity generated from solar.
Conclusion
In summary, California is the top solar energy producing state in the U.S. by a wide margin. With ample sunlight, supportive policies, and major investments, California generates over 40% of the nation’s solar power. Other leading solar states like Arizona, North Carolina, Texas, and Nevada have also embraced solar but on a smaller scale. Key factors that enable high solar production include state renewable energy incentives, abundant solar resources, and falling costs of solar panel installation. As solar technology improves and costs decline further, many experts expect solar energy production to continue growing substantially across the sunniest states.
