by Joel Logan, IAMU Director of Energy Services
Requests by customers for interconnected distributed generation (DG) facilities are on the rise in Iowa. The trend, fueled in large part by deep declines in the cost of solar PV, is likely to continue.
Requests by customers for interconnected distributed generation (DG) facilities are on the rise in Iowa. The trend, fueled in large part by deep declines in the cost of solar PV, is likely to continue.
Many municipal utilities are receiving inquiries from customers who want to interconnect distributed generation DG) resources with the utility’s distribution system. Typical DG systems include solar photovoltaic systems (PV), wind generators, and generators powered by biogas produced through anaerobic digestion of organic matter. In most cases the customers want use DG to offset some of their electricity purchases from the local utility while still receiving electricity from the utility when their DG system does not meet their needs.
Nationally, as of October 2014 there were 6.4 gigawatts of DG capacity installed in the U.S. This expected to grow to 9 GW by 2016 and 20 GW in 2020. Much of this dramatic growth has been the significant decrease in the cost of solar PV combined with federal, state, and utility incentives. Since 2008, the installed cost of solar has decreased by 70%. In Iowa the DG solar PV capacity had grown from just 105 kW in 2008 to 7295 kW by the end of 2013.
Nationally, as of October 2014 there were 6.4 gigawatts of DG capacity installed in the U.S. This expected to grow to 9 GW by 2016 and 20 GW in 2020. Much of this dramatic growth has been the significant decrease in the cost of solar PV combined with federal, state, and utility incentives. Since 2008, the installed cost of solar has decreased by 70%. In Iowa the DG solar PV capacity had grown from just 105 kW in 2008 to 7295 kW by the end of 2013.
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