So Big It’s Boring: The Rise of Utility-Scale Solar
Hundreds of gigawatts of utility-scale solar will define the shape of the rest of America’s carbon-free economy, says WoodMac’s Colin Smith.
Colin Smith
March 12, 2021
Utility-scale solar grew from 1 gigawatt to 50 gigawatts over the past decade. By 2023 that figure will double to 100 gigawatts.
In 2015, I was sitting with representatives of Strata Solar, Southern Company and the Arkansas Public Service Commission, waiting to go onstage. We were the last session of the last day of the conference in question a tough time slot.
The speakers were talking about that bit of bad luck and joking that utility solar doesn’t get any love. Then someone chimed in, “Demand response, EVs, flow batteries those are cool subjects. But the four of us know utility solar makes the real impact. We are big, but boring.”