US solar power installations expected to more than triple by 2030

The US solar power sector will install 324 gigawatts (GW) of capacity over the next decade, over three times the nearly 100 GW installed by 2020, according to the US Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).

The said amount of solar energy is enough to power about 60 million homes, or about 40 percent of homes in the US.

The SEIA attributed the increased installations to a 26 percent tax credit extension by Congress of a key subsidy to help reduce the cost of solar facilities late last year and booming demand for carbon-free power.

But SEIA said that more tax incentives, the lifting of tariffs on overseas-made panels, and workforce training were necessary for the US to cut enough greenhouse gas.

According to SEIA President Abigail Ross Hopper, the sector needs policy in those areas to accelerate that growth.

Solar power meets greenhouse gas reduction goals, and declining costs for the technology created robust demand from utilities and corporations for home solar installations.

Currently, only 3 percent of US electricity came from solar sources, but SEIA hopes it will rise to 20 percent over the next decade.

Solar power installations soared 43 percent last year to 19.2 GW, with those for utility-scale projects, which account for most of the market, experiencing only minor pandemic-related disruptions.

Residential installations took a large hit in the second quarter but recovered to end the year up 11 percent at a record 3.1 GW.