Texas Shines Bright in Solar Industry with More than $3.8 Billion in Active Projects

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Texas is now expected to become the fastest utility-scale solar market in the U.S., with about 4,000 megawatts (MW) set to be installed by 2020, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) predicts that solar generation in the state will grow to 13 gigawatts (GW) by 2030, indicating a period of unprecedented solar growth and associated economic benefits. Industrial Info is tracking 21 utility-scale solar projects in Texas valued at more than $3.83 billion.

As of this month, there are 5,194 MW of solar projects that have signed interconnection agreements in ERCOT.

Texas has 589 MW of installed solar generation, with more than 4,600 MW currently scheduled to be installed over the next five years. Texas has grabbed plenty of attention for its wind-generation buildout in the past few years, but solar soon will become the next growth field for renewable developers.

Transmission lines in West Texas' Competitive Renewable Energy Zones (CREZ) that were constructed several years ago already are available to large solar projects. The lines will move generated power to load centers across central and northern Texas, hastening efforts to get these solar projects approved and under construction.

Texas has been less friendly to rooftop solar installations, as utilities have not allowed customers to reduce their electric bill when surplus solar generation could go to the electric grid. This has put a damper on residential solar installations, which account for more than half of solar construction projects in the U.S. The Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA) does not see this changing anytime soon, given the current composition of the Texas State Legislature.

Strong demand for utility-scale solar, along with continued innovation, the possible extension of tax credits and overall cost declines, makes the future for solar development brighter than ever. The U.S. solar market recently shattered all previous quarterly solar photovoltaic installation records, with 4,143 MW installed in third-quarter 2016; the fourth quarter is expected to exceed 4,800 MW.

Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, five offices in North America and 10 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle™, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities. Follow IIR on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn. For more information on our coverage, send inquiries to info@industrialinfo.com or visit us online at http://www.industrialinfo.com/.