Solar power in Maine

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Solar panels

Solar power in Maine on rooftops can provide 60% of all electricity used in Maine with 6,300 MW of solar panels. Maine and Vermont are tied for the second highest in the country, behind California, for rooftop solar potential.[1] A 2012 estimate suggests that a typical 5 kW system costing $25,000 before credits and utility savings will pay for itself in 14 years, and generate a profit of $24,683 over the rest of its 25 year life.[2]

Net metering is available to all consumers for up to at least 100 kW generation. Excess generation is rolled over each month but is lost once each year.[3] Maine is given a B for net metering and a B for interconnection.[4]

In October 2007, Maine's largest solar array was the 15.12 kW solar array installed at Maple Hill Farm in Hallowell for $166,000,[5] which through June 11, 2012 has generated 73,416 kWh.[6] Since then average solar costs have dropped substantially, and continue to decline.

In 2011 Maine's largest solar array, 41 kW, was installed on the roof of a new, LEED Platinum grocery store in Augusta.[7][8] A 500 kW system is proposed for otherwise unusable land at the former Loring Air Force Base.[9]

A 9.9 MW solar farm is proposed for Monroe, to be built in 2016.[10]

Installed capacity

Solar insolation in Maine is roughly 33% greater than Germany, the leader in solar installations in 2012.[11]

Source: NREL[12]
Grid-Connected PV Capacity (MW)[13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21]
Year Capacity Installed % Change
2007 0.2
2008 0.3 50%
2009 0.3 0%
2010 0.5 0.2 67%
2011 1.1 0.6 120%
2012 2.8 1.7 154%
2013 5.3 2.5 89%
2014 12.7 7.4 140%
2015 19.4 6.7 53%

See also

References

  1. Rooftop Solar Photovoltaic Technical Potential in the United States
  2. Maine
  3. Maine Net Metering
  4. Freeing the grid
  5. Maine’s Largest Solar Array Built at Maple Hill Farm in Hallowell
  6. Solar Savings
  7. Hannaford set to open greenest grocery store
  8. LEED Platinum Hannaford in Augusta, Maine
  9. Loring officials envision solar farm on otherwise unusable brownfield
  10. Maine’s largest solar farm expected to go online in 2016
  11. Maine Solar Energy FAQ’s
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  21. Maine Solar

External links