Solar power in New York


New [York (state)|New York] has a renewable portfolio standard of 30% from renewable sources by 2015. In 2015 24% was renewable, 6% short of the goal. Wind is the predominant generating technology. In 2018, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority awarded long-term contracts to 22 utility-scale solar farms, totaling a combined capacity of 646 MW.
In 2012, LIPA adopted a power purchase agreement, which will pay $0.22/kWh for solar generation for installations ranging from 50 kW to 20 MW. A $500 to $5000 application fee favors larger power plants represents roughly the first 10 days of generation for a 50 kW to 500 kW system, but less than 2 hours of generation for a 20 MW installation. The term of the agreement is 20 years, and systems must be interconnected to the grid at the 13.2 kV level. Unlike the feed-in tariff programs in many other places, customers pay for their own electricity as if they were not generating any, making this actually a power purchase agreement, and not a feed-in tariff. LIPA owns the SRECs. A bill to establish SRECs in New York failed to pass in 2012. 50 MW of solar power will meet the average needs of about 7,000 households, or less than 1% of the electricity supplied by LIPA. 5 MW is reserved for systems less than 150 kW, and 10 MW for systems from 150 to 500 kW. The remaining 35 MW is available to systems of all sizes. If fully subscribed in the first year, the average household will pay an estimated $0.44/month to pay for the program, which will generate an estimated 79.4 million kWh/year. Estimated costs are based on an average avoided cost rate of $0.075/kWh, although peak generation costs can exceed $0.22/kWh, eliminating any cost. LIPA's total generation capacity, in 2011, was 6,800 MW.
In 2023, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority approved 14 new large-scale solar projects, totaling more than 1 gigawatt of capacity.
According to the Solar Energy Industries Association in 2023, New York has a solar capacity of 5,560 MW, ranking third nationally in solar jobs with 11,512 positions. The state aims to expand its capacity by 8,923 MW over the next five years. Solar power in New York now supplies electricity to 980,034 homes, accounting for 5.01% of the state's total electricity. With a solar market valued at $11.7 billion and $1.9 billion invested in 2023, solar costs in New York have decreased by 47% in the last decade.
New York has one of the largest community solar program, with more than 1,700 MW installed providing savings to more than 400,000 customers.
New York's largest solar project, Morris Ridge Solar, came online in December 2024 with 229 MWdc/177 MWac.

Statistics

YearTotalInstalled
200715.4
200821.96.5
200933.912
201055.521.6
2011123.868.3
2012179.455.6
2013240.561.1
2014397147
2015638241
2016937186
20171,038101
20181,07335
20191,571498
20202,724.41,153.4
20213,380.6656.2
20224,259878.4
20235,560937
2024861

YearTotalJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
20116000000000033
201252345656555332
201353446877767643
201472346878886553
2015101557911101111101075
20161398711121116151511111012
20171827121616182121211811129
2018297141322232731423725231822
2019524253146434954656052393723
2020839445073749899958080575237
20211,23764621031201321221251191151009580
202291106