Utility-scale solar is large scale (sometimes defined as greater than 1 MW[1] or sometimes 4 MWAC ) solar power either from:

A photovoltaic power station at a scale large enough to be classified as 'utility-scale'; or Concentrated solar power whereas rooftop solar is usually smaller. The utility-scale solar sector has led the overall U.S. solar market in terms of installed capacity since 2012.[2] Increasingly batteries are co-located,[3] in order to sell into the evening peak of the duck curve.[4] Output voltages reach 1000VAC as of 2021.[5] They can sometimes be agrovoltaics.[6]

Utility-scale refers to electrical plant or equipment, whose operation, as an individual entity would cause a noticeable change in the operation of a utility. For example, a single domestic PV panel, on its own has no discernible effect on the operation of a power network. A 1 MW installation can impact on local voltage, and disturb system frequency.

In some countries it is competitive with wind power.[7][8] In many countries it is cheaper than new fossil fuel power plants and in a few in the Middle East is becoming cheaper than existing fossil fuel plants as of 2021.[9] The cost reduction is expected to spread to other countries.[9]

References

  1. ↑ "Utility-scale solar: what is it, how does it work?". Solar Reviews. Retrieved 2021-11-15.
  2. ↑ "Utility-Scale Solar | Electricity Markets and Policy Group". emp.lbl.gov. Retrieved 2019-02-27.
  3. ↑ "Developers increasingly pair batteries with utility-scale solar to combat declining value in crowded markets". Utility Dive. Retrieved 2021-11-15.
  4. ↑ "Early results of utility scale solar+storage revenue models". pv magazine USA. 2021-10-21. Retrieved 2021-11-15.
  5. ↑ "Utility-scale solar PV pushes into higher AC voltages". Renewable Energy World. 2021-09-27. Retrieved 2021-11-15.
  6. ↑ Green, Jared (2021-05-17). "Utility-Scale Solar Energy Could Need Land the Size of Connecticut". THE DIRT. Retrieved 2021-11-15.
  7. ↑ "Large-scale solar". Australian Renewable Energy Agency. Retrieved 2021-11-15.
  8. ↑ Larson, Aaron (2020-12-10). "Economic Factors Drive Wind and Solar Growth". POWER Magazine. Retrieved 2021-11-15.
  9. 1 2 Apostoleris, Harry; Al Ghaferi, Amal; Chiesa, Matteo (2021). "What is going on with Middle Eastern solar prices, and what does it mean for the rest of us?". Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications. 29 (6): 638–648. doi:10.1002/pip.3414. hdl:10037/23577. S2CID 233775295.
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