SEIA-太阳意味着生意（英文）-2019.7-30页_3mb

Summary of "Solar Means Business" Report

Core Content

The Solar Means Business report, published by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), tracks U.S. solar photovoltaic (PV) installations supporting commercial activities. It provides insights into the adoption of solar energy by America's top corporations, highlighting trends, growth, and the impact of solar on the environment and energy markets.

Main Points

Overview of the Report

• The report covers commercial solar systems installed by the end of 2018.
• It includes both on-site and off-site installations, such as those through virtual net metering or third-party ownership.
• It does not capture all commercial solar installations but aims to accurately represent the solar portfolios of the largest corporate users.
• Data is sourced from system owners, installers, and public records.

Top Corporate Solar Users

• Apple leads with 393.2 MW of total installed solar capacity, driven by a 130 MW off-site project.
• Amazon ranks second with 249.8 MW, showing a 36 MW increase from 2017.
• Target holds the third position with 229.7 MW and leads in on-site installations.
• Walmart, Switch, Google, Prologis, Kaiser Permanente, Solvay, 5/3 Fifth Third Bank, PayPal, Digital Realty, and Wynn Las Vegas also feature prominently in the top 10.
• IKEA leads in the percentage of facilities with solar, with installations across 27 states.

State Contributions

• California leads in total commercial solar capacity with 2,928.4 MW.
• New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Nevada, Virginia are also among the top states for corporate solar.
• Retail structures remain the most common type of solar installation, while ground-mounted systems now make up the majority of installed commercial capacity due to the inclusion of off-site projects.

Key Trends

• Corporate solar deployment has grown significantly over the past decade, with over 7 GW installed across 35,000 installations.
• Off-site solar is on the rise, accounting for 41% of total commercial capacity and nearly 1.5 GW installed since 2014.
• Solar prices have declined by 63% over the last decade, making it more cost-competitive.
• Third-party ownership (TPO), particularly through Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), has increased, with 47% of on-site commercial capacity using PPAs in 2018.
• Community solar offers an additional off-site option, with 1.5 GW operational in the U.S. and 700 MW expected annually from 2021–2024 in the Northeast.

Environmental Impact

• The solar systems in the report generate 10.7 million megawatt-hours annually, enough to power 1.4 million homes.
• They offset 7.5 million metric tons of CO₂ annually, equivalent to removing 1.6 million cars from the road or planting 126 million trees.

Market Outlook

• Non-Residential solar is expected to decline by 14% in 2019 due to changes in rate structures and incentives, but remains a top-three year for deployment.
• Off-site corporate solar is projected to grow rapidly, with 3.3 GW procured in 2018 and 500 MW announced in 2019.
• 2020 is anticipated to see over 1 GW of off-site corporate solar installations annually.
• Continued price declines, tariff reductions, and renewable energy commitments are expected to drive growth in the coming years.

Key Information

• Total installed capacity: Over 7 GW across 35,000 installations.
• Annual electricity generation: 10.7 million MWh.
• CO₂ offset: 7.5 million metric tons.
• Off-site solar growth: 1.6 GW since 2014, with nearly 4 GW added in the last 18 months.
• PPA usage: 47% of on-site commercial capacity in 2018.
• Top industries: Manufacturing, Retail/Service, Real Estate, and Tech are the leading sectors in solar adoption.
• Future forecast: The market is expected to stabilize in 2022 due to the ITC draw-down, but community solar and off-site procurement will help maintain growth.

Conclusion

The report highlights the significant growth in corporate solar adoption across the U.S., driven by declining costs, policy support, and corporate sustainability goals. While challenges like tariffs and state-level incentives remain, the trend toward off-site and community solar is expected to continue, offering new opportunities for businesses of all sizes. The tech and retail sectors are leading the charge, but real estate and manufacturing are also showing strong investment in solar energy.