Solar power in Nebraska

Solar power in Nebraska is used for only a very small percentage of the state's electricity, although it is rapidly becoming competitive with grid electricity, due to the decrease in cost and the 30% tax credit, which can be used to install systems of any size. In 2024, the state ranked 44th among the 50 U.S. states with 203 MW of installed capacity.[1]

Lincoln Electric System community solar facility

Solar power and wind power could be harvested to provide all of Nebraska's energy need, although they would require either transmission lines to provide power when neither is available or storage. Estimates show that Nebraska could generate 3,832,600 GWh/year from wind,[2] and 34.1% of demand from rooftop solar panels, using 8,200 MW of solar panels.[3]

Utility installations

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Nebraska had seven utility-scale solar installations sized larger than 1.0 MW at the end of 2019.[4] These include a 5.8 MW system in Kearney and a 3.6 MW system in Lexington; both commissioned in 2017.[5] A 3.6 MW community solar plant on the west side of Lincoln was to be finished in 2016.[6]

Project name Location Coordinates Capacity
(MWAC)
Year
opened
Ref
City of LexingtonDawson County3.62017
Fort CalhounWashington County5.02019
HastingsAdams County1.52019
HoldregeLancaster County4.02016
KearneyBuffalo County5.82017
Lon WrightDodge County2.32018
Platteview Solar Saunders County 81 2024 [7]
South Sioux CityDakota County2.32016

Statistics

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Source: NREL[8]
Nebraska solar power
Grid-connected PV capacity (MW)[9][10][11][12][13]
Year Capacity Change % Change
20100.20.2>100%
20110.30.150%
20120.40.133%
20130.60.250%
20140.80.233%
20151.10.337%
201614.213.11190%
201735.221.0148%
201843.28.023%
201955.212.028%
202063.07.814%
202173.610.616%
2022839.412%
Utility-scale solar generation in Nebraska (GWh)[14]
Year Total Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
20165000001111100
201715011122221111
201827122333432211
201931112344443212
202055244667765332
202157335666665443

See also

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References

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  1. "Nebraska Solar | SEIA". www.seia.org. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  2. Estimates of Windy Land Area and Wind Energy Potential, by State
  3. Rooftop Solar Photovoltaic Technical Potential in the United States
  4. Energy Information Administration (15 September 2020). "Form EIA-860 detailed data with previous form data (EIA-860A/860B)". eia.gov. Archived from the original on 18 September 2020.
  5. Solar Energy Generation in Nebraska, Nebraska Energy Office, May 12, 2016
  6. Solar power on the rise in Nebraska, Fred Knapp, NET News, May 31, 2016
  7. Baker, Jodi (2024-07-11). "Launching OPPD's first utility-scale solar project - OPPD". The Wire. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  8. "PV Watts". NREL. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
  9. Sherwood, Larry (August 2012). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2011" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). p. 17. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-09-06. Retrieved 2012-08-16.
  10. Sherwood, Larry (July 2009). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2008" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). p. 16. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-11-23. Retrieved 2010-07-24.
  11. Sherwood, Larry (July 2012). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2012" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). p. 16. Retrieved 2013-10-11.
  12. Sherwood, Larry (July 2014). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2013" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). Retrieved 2014-09-26.
  13. Nebraska Solar
  14. "Electricity Data Browser". U.S. Department of Energy. March 28, 2018. Retrieved October 17, 2021.