Report: Residential Solar PV Installations Hit All-Time High in Q3 of 2012

Vince Font, Contributing Editor
December 11, 2012 | 14 Comments

Residential installations of solar PV hit a record high in the third quarter of 2012, according to a new report published by GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). The US Solar Market Insight: Third Quarter 2012 reports that more than 118 MW of solar PV capacity was added to the United States residential sector in Q3, a growth of 12 percent since last quarter and the strongest showing ever in a single quarter.

Chief among the reasons for the boom in residential solar PV adoption was cost. According to the report, the third quarter of 2012 saw the continuation of a drop in prices for solar power, with average residential system prices falling nearly 25 cents per watt – from $5.45 to $5.21. In comparison with the second quarter of 2012, residential system prices reflected a 4.4 percent drop in price, with installed costs falling by 15.3 percent.

The added availability of solar leasing opportunities and innovative third-party ownership models was also said to have had a significant impact on the high rate of residential solar PV adoption. GTM Research solar analyst Andrew Krulewitz said that despite falling costs, paying for rooftop PV installation remains a financially untenable option for many homeowners – a situation that an increasing number financing alternatives and leasing options are helping consumers overcome.

“The ability to lower one’s energy costs with no money up front is very appealing to many homeowners,” Krulewitz said. “It also takes the worry of monitoring of the system and ensuring that it’s working properly out of the equation.”

The overall solar PV market in the United States grew 44 percent over Q3 2011, with a total of 684 MW installed in the third quarter of 2012. This gain represents the third largest increase on record for the US market and brings the total installed capacity for the first three quarters of the year to 1,992 MW. In 2011, the total for all four quarters was 1,885 MW.

California was ranked the number one state in the country with the biggest gains in solar PV, adding 194 new installations in Q3. Arizona and New Jersey followed in second and third place, with 192 installations and 69 installations, respectively. Massachusetts, which ranked fourth, is credited alongside California for a strong showing in the non-residential commercial market, which improved on last quarter’s numbers by 24 percent and added 257 MW of capacity.

The report also shows that although no new concentrating solar capacity was added during Q3, there were some considerable developments in the marketplace, including progress in the construction of two sizable CSP projects: Abengoa’s Solana Generating Station near Phoenix and Brightsource’s Ivanpah project in California’s Mojave Desert. Once completed, the Ivanpah project is projected to double the amount of solar thermal power produced in the United States.

The US Solar Market Insight: Third Quarter 2012 reports that there are now more than 271,000 solar PV installations in the United States capable of generating 5.9 GW of electricity. Including concentrating solar facilities, the total US capacity now stands at 6.4 GW. The report also predicts that Q4 will likely lead to further record installations as developers push to meet year-end deadlines, ending with an overall 70 percent growth rate over 2011.

Lead image: Solar rooftop via Shutterstock

14 Comments

Dr. A. Cannara
December 15, 2012

Daniel, everyone can see you're over the top, and that all I ever said was that:

"California law does not allow homeowners to size their Solar systems larger than what they use. Period."

You wrote that, It's incorrect. It's not what the law says. The fellow behind the long effort to reduce and rationalize CA solar permits, which benefits you, even says it's false.

So, keep it up, for all to see, Daniel.

Daniel Ferra
December 14, 2012

alex, you dont understand and you dont listen, your continued misunderstanding and lies, dont surprise me any more, your a troubled man. My statements are factual, you cannot oversize your solar system and get the Feed in Tariff, that is one of the points of the petition, you dont understand alex, heal your heart, stop throwing stones, be silent. Hello, we need a National Feed in Tariff, for Solar, Wind, with laws that level the playing field, this petition starts with homeowners in California. Japan, Germany, and our state of Hawaii, will pay residents between 21- 54 cents per kilowatt hour, here in California they will pay us 5 cents per kilowatt hour, and they wont let us oversize our Solar systems, want to change our Feed in Tariff? Campaign to allow Californian residents to sell electricity obtained by renewable energy for a fair pro-business market price. Will you read, sign, and share this petition?

http://signon.org/sign/let-california-home-owners

Dr. A. Cannara
December 14, 2012

Again, Daniel, you don't read -- maybe you don't listen either?

I showed your original statement was false.

I don't care what your business is or isn't. But you do show a desperate need to go after someone else personally, as with absurdities like:

"someone who does not know what there talking about."

"what you are and whats in your troubled heart. You do damage to yourself by the hate in your heart."

Your original statement, which is all I criticized, remains false. There is no "Calif law" preventing oversizing a solar install.

You finally admitted you want "the Feed in Tariff".

Everyone can see your wriggling around the facts, Daniel.
;]

Daniel Ferra
December 14, 2012

alex your illusion of my motivating factor is wrong, just like your whole argument, there is no pressure, from someone who does not know what there talking about. Call a Solar company, or your local utility, ask them if you can oversize your Solar system for the Feed in Tariff, you think I make my money installing residential solar, your assumption is off just like your comments, get a grip. you have not revealed anyone, your comments speak to what you are and whats in your troubled heart. You do damage to yourself by the hate in your heart.

Dr. A. Cannara
December 14, 2012

Daniel, you're desperate! Your original statement was not what you just said. Do we need to copy it again here?

You conveniently left out the purpose of your petition when you made the false statement:

"a home owner in California cannot oversize their Solar systems, its a California Law."

Anyone here can see you said that, then repeated it, until pressured to reveal that your purpose is not that of a typical homeowner, but of someone wanting to make $ from your solar installation via subsidies the rest of us pay.

We don't need to reveal anyone else to you, Daniel. You do enough damage to yourself.
;]

Daniel Ferra
December 14, 2012

Ha alex, you again mislead, my petition says let California home owners over size their Solar systems for the Feed in Tariff, that is not a lie, Whats the name of your contact at the Sierra Club that you mention ? who does not disprove my petition, A couple of friends read your comments concerning your first attack, and thought you had an ax to grind, they felt the same way I did, it was inappropriate, its not about me, its a cause helping to reduce carbon emissions, even for your off spring.

Dr. A. Cannara
December 14, 2012

Daniel, I said "we" and "our", remeber? Had nothing to do with you -- is everything about you?

Yes, there are folks who sell stuff they call green even if it isn't really. If they know it, that's "cupidity".

If people accept advice without studying outside what they're told, that's "stupidity".

Again, nothing to do with you, if you're not selling dishonestly and are, in fact, studying realities.

But, you apparently don't read, because you repeat your 1st falsehood:

"a home owner in California cannot oversize their Solar systems, its a California Law." -- false.

What you mislead folks here with is failing to say you want to oversize and get the subsidy too. That's fibbing Daniel. Maybe you know it and that's why you react so inappropriately?

Fortunately, all can read the explicit statement of the facts from the Sierra Club solar expert in my previous response.

Yes, man up, Daniel.
;]

Daniel Ferra
December 14, 2012

Well alex, your writing- Ok we need to all agree to be accurate and thorough with comments, our off spring and theirs depend on us stopping our stupidity and green cupidity, what was that ? are you unable to discuss with out controlling your language ? you should use your own advise, you threw some rocks, I just threw them back.
My comments are not misrepresenting, a home owner in California cannot oversize their Solar systems, its a California Law.
What is the name of the Sierra Club expert who said you can oversize a homeowners Solar systems in California ?
Your statement, Its really smart to own your own PV system and its really smart to size it appropriately, fits in with the the utilities, not allowing us to over size our Solar system, it is exactly what Im petitioning, to allow homeowners to over size their Renewable Energy systems and let them participate in the State mandated goal of 30% Renewable Energy by 2020, through a stimulating Feed in Tariff.
So alex are you man enough to realize you where inappropriate in your opening statement ?

Dr. A. Cannara
December 14, 2012

Well, Daniel, writing "your stupidity and fossil fuel thoughts burn out." is certainly a good way to ruin your own arguments, sincce: a) I'm not yet "stupid", and b) I have no ilk with combustion.

So, let's hear what a Sierra Club expert in Calif. solar had to say, when I passed your original misrepresentation to him...

"Its really smart to own your own PV system and its also really smart to size it appropriately.

The rebate is so small that it only accounts for about 5% of the cost of a PV system these days. There is a 30% federal income tax credit that you get yourself when you buy a PV system. When you lease one you do not get the tax credit (somebody else does).

Its easy to size your PV system and smart to do it right. You can install whatever size of solar system you want in California!

There is a limit for the Calif. Solar Initiative rebate where you will only qualify for a rebate amount for the size of PV system that meets your electric usage...if you over size your PV system you will not qualify for a rebate amount for the size of PV system that exceeds your electric usage."

So Daniel, are you a Calif. person, as the expert above and I are? Or are you just unable to control your language?
;]

Daniel Ferra
December 14, 2012

alexc, you do not know what your writing about, your stupidity and fossil fuel thoughts burn out. The statements in the petition are accurate and thorough, California law does not allow homeowners to size their Solar systems larger than what they use. Period. Second sentence reinforces first with the limits on the CSI, In order to get the California Solar Initiative rebate, the customer is not allowed to install a system that inherently over produces more than what is needed for the home, both factual statements, that are a reality for homeowners in California.
In Germany, where sensible federal rules have fast tracked and streamlined the permit process, and cost are considerably lower, it can take 8-21 days to install Solar on a home. In the US, 120-180 days, even though Germany averages the same amount of sun as Alaska.
The Feed in Tariff is a good economic stimulant, a July study by UC Berkeley researchers estimate that a Feed in Tariff program could create 28,000 clean tech jobs each year for ten years, as well as generate more than 2 billion in tax revenue and pump more than 50 billion in new private investment in to this State.
Why are we getting out paced ? countries with scant Solar resources are pledging their National Economies on this, says Mayor Pro Tem Jim Ferguson, Palm Desert. Ca.
If you ask Bill Mckibben of 350.org, he would say the fossil fuel industry has bought their way to keep the status quo
San Onofre did produce 2,350 megawatts when it was running, just like Fukushima its near a fault line, and right next to the Pacific. Japans Feed in Tariff is paying homeowners 54 cents per kilowatt hour right now alex,
Solar energy surpasses nuclear energy, ask the people from Three mile Island, Chernobyl, Windscale Fire, Zaragoza, and Fukushima.

Dr. A. Cannara
December 13, 2012

Ok, we need to all agree to be accurate & thorough with comments -- our offspring and theirs depend on us stopping our stupidity & 'green' cupidity.

"California law does not allow home owners to size their Solar systems larger than what they use." -- is false by what the very next statements say.

A solar install is done to exceed the home's peak sunny-hour usage, if possible. Otherwise, the installer will make no $.

Of course, Calif. law needs improvement, but going to an absurd Euro FIT, which cost the German economy greatly, makes no sense. We've more sun, more roofs and higher-efficiency panels now available cheaply.

And, this too is false...

"...roof tops, that would generate over 11,500MW of power, thats 5 San Onofre nuclear power plants." -- San Onofre generates 0 just now, because they diddled with their steam generator and ruined it.
;]
However, if it were running, it would generate >2GW 24/7 @>90% uptime. Those solar roofs are great, but come nowhere near a nuke.

Daniel Ferra
December 13, 2012

Petition Background
California law does not allow home owners to size their Solar systems larger than what they use. In order to get the California Solar Initiative (CSI) rebate, the customer is not allowed to install a system that inherently over-produces more than what is needed for his home.
The Feed-in Tariff can not be earned if you receive a rebate from your utility company for solar panels or if you are participating in other utility solar incentives programs such as the CSI. It also can not be earned if you are participating in net metering, which only pays one time a year under the AB 920 California Solar Surplus Act.
Our Feed-In Tariff should mirror Germany, Japan, and Hawaii where residential FIT is 21 cents - 54 cents per kilowatt hour.
The 5 cents per kwh currently administered as a one-time-a-year payment is not adequate and stops our own citizens from participating in our struggle to reduce green house gases.
The California Public Utility commission can change the FIT to 25 cents per kwh, and distribute the solution to all tax-paying citizens, who should not be deliberately handcuffed. Residential home owners should be allowed to oversize their Renewable Energy systems and participate in the State mandated goal to achieve 33% renewable energy by 2020.
California resident who purchase an electric vehicle can expect a 60% increase in their electric bill, as shown by a study done by Purdue University in summer of 2010.
Due to these laws, we have automatically taken out over 8 million roof tops, that would generate over 11,500MW of power, thats 5 San Onofre nuclear power plants.
We need to let our tax paying, Home Owning citizens in on a Feed in Tariff that pays 25 cents per kwh., and allow Homeowners to oversize their Renewable Energy Systems.
In the spirit of Bill McKibben and 350.org for our children and eaarth, lets make real global sustaining changes for all of us.
Go to Facebook, Daniel Ferra, Palm Springs Ca. to sign petition.

Daniel Ferra
December 13, 2012

Hello, we need a National Feed in Tariff, for Solar, Wind, with laws that level the playing field, this petition starts with homeowners in California. Japan, Germany, and our state of Hawaii, will pay residents between 21- 54 cents per kilowatt hour, here in California they will pay us 5 cents per kilowatt hour, and they wont let us oversize our Solar systems, want to change our Feed in Tariff? Campaign to allow Californian residents to sell electricity obtained by renewable energy for a fair pro-business market price. Will you read, sign, and share this petition?

http://signon.org/sign/let-california-home-owners

Dr. A. Cannara
December 12, 2012

Excellent! With >2% of all earth's land covered by human structure, there's more than enough local PV/hot-water power to meet peak daytime needs. No need for wind/solar/whatever 'farms' eating up land & wasting resources & transmission power.

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Vince Font

Vince Font is a professional freelance writer specializing in the fields of renewable energy, high tech, travel, and entertainment. Read his blog at www.vincefont.com or follow him on Twitter @vincefont.