Solar power in Alabama on rooftops could theoretically provide 29.8% of all electricity used in Alabama, with 20,400 MW of solar panels potentially installed on rooftops.[1]
Alabama was ranked 50th among US states for solar power in 2020, and 35th in Q1 of 2021, with .027% of the state's power generated by solar.[2]
Offering net metering is required by federal law, but Alabama is one of only four states to not have adopted a statewide policy on net metering, which means it needs to be negotiated with the utility.[3] IREC best practices, based on experience, recommends no limits to net metering, individual or aggregate, and perpetual roll over of kWh credits.[4]
Alabama Power has installed four types of solar panels in Birmingham that can be monitored on the Internet.[5] The company will pay up to 4.81¢/kWh during the summer and 3.93¢/kWh in the winter for excess generation from up to 100 kW systems.[6] Peak power rates are weekdays, 1 to 7 pm in summer and 5 to 9 am in winter.[7] Customers choosing the Time Advantage Energy rate pay 7¢/kWh during winter peak periods and 25¢/kWh during summer peak periods. Off peak is charged 5¢/kWh. Using time advantage requires a time of use meter, and the base charge is increased by $10.50 each month.[8]
In 2010, one of Alabama's largest solar arrays was the 25 kW system installed at the Coastal Response Center, in Coden, Alabama.[9][10] A $250,000 economic stimulus grant was used to install 156 solar panels on Anniston's Museum of Natural History, which was completed on August 24, 2011.[11] The output of this 25.2 kW system can also be monitored online.[12]
River Bend Solar, completed in 2016, contributes 75 MW capacity to the TVA power grid, and reduces carbon emissions by 100,000 tons annually.[2][13]
LaFayette Solar Farm in LaFayette, completed in 2019, supplies 79.2 MW to Walmart.[14][15][16]
In 2021, Covington Electric Cooperative, which is constructing a 100 kW solar array, is the only rural electric cooperative in Alabama with a community solar program.[17]
In 2019, LG Electronics opened a solar panel manufacturing plant in Huntsville.[18][19]
|
| Year | Capacity | Installed | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 100% |
| 2010 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 100% |
| 2011 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 20% |
| 2012 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 120% |
| 2013 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 73% |
| 2014 | 1.9 | 0 | 0% |
| 2015 | 2 | 0.1 | 5% |
| 2016 | 105 | 103 | 5,150% |
| 2017 | 215 | 110 | 105% |
| 2018 | 263 | 48 | 22% |
| 2019 | 283 | 20 | 7.6% |
| 2020 | 283.1 | 0.1 | 0.03% |
| 2021 | 577.9 | 294.8 | % |
| 2022 | 578 | 0.1 | % |
| Year | Total | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 41 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 13 | 7 |
| 2017 | 179 | 7 | 8 | 13 | 16 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 10 | 16 |
| 2018 | 357 | 20 | 17 | 32 | 37 | 39 | 40 | 39 | 37 | 33 | 30 | 17 | 16 |
| 2019 | 386 | 19 | 18 | 34 | 40 | 46 | 41 | 43 | 39 | 40 | 25 | 24 | 17 |
| 2020 | 371 | 18 | 21 | 26 | 40 | 44 | 41 | 41 | 38 | 30 | 28 | 23 | 21 |
| 2021 | 276 | 19 | 20 | 32 | 44 | 46 | 38 | 39 | 38 |
