News

We are pleased to announce a new study that examines the value of adding batteries to wind and solar plants located in areas that face transmission congestion.We examine two types of areas facing transmission congestion. These areas represent portions of Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs) or Independent System Operators (ISO) territory selected based on particular pricing patterns: The... Read more

In this report, Berkeley Lab provides foundational data on demand flexibility programs and rates in residential and commercial buildings in the United States in order to inform program and rate design and support regulatory decision-making. We describe the structure of demand flexibility events and the types and levels of incentives offered. We also report data on program outcomes, including... Read more

Newly released data compilation from Berkeley Lab tracks operational and proposed plantsImproving battery technology and the growth of variable renewable generation are driving a surge of interest in “hybrid” power plants that combine, for example, utility-scale wind and/or solar generating capacity with co-located batteries. A newly released briefing from Berkeley Lab tracks and maps both... Read more

Solar energy has the potential to be a core energy resource in the Southeastern U.S., especially when combined with investments in electricity storage. Currently, solar photovoltaic (PV) generation contributes less than 5% of the region’s electricity, but some utilities in the Southeast are exploring resource planning scenarios in which solar PV accounts for as much as 40% to 45% of generation... Read more

Berkeley Lab and USGS released a large update to the most detailed and comprehensive publicly available large-scale solar facility database to date with systems installed through mid-2023. Berkeley Lab, in collaboration with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), recently released a significant update to the United States Large-Scale Solar Photovoltaic Database (USPVDB). The USPVDB is a detailed and... Read more

Webinar series facilitates conversations on key solutions to interconnection challenges outlined in DOE’s transmission interconnection roadmapOn September 19th from 12-2pm ET, Berkeley Lab will host a webinar to discuss Goal #3 from the roadmap, the promotion of economic efficiency in interconnection. We will introduce key solutions related to this interconnection goal, as well as hear from... Read more

Kickstart your solar learning with a new free, self-paced online course, called Foundations of Community Solar Development! This eight-module course prepares community-based organizations, small or new solar developers, and others to develop, finance, and build community solar projects that benefit low-income and disadvantaged communities. Interested participants can enroll and begin the course at... Read more

We are pleased to announce the release of the latest edition of Berkeley Lab’s Tracking the Sun annual report, describing trends for distributed solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in the United States, including the growing contingent of distributed solar-plus-storage systems. The report is based on data from roughly 3.7 million systems installed nationally through year-end 2023, capturing close to... Read more

Berkeley Lab study reveals how industry engages with energy host communities when developing large wind and solar projects. The increasing deployment of utility-scale wind and solar energy across the US highlights debates about the appropriate role for the public in siting and permitting decisions. Important to these discussions is a thorough understanding of the current engagement practices and... Read more

Though 2023 was a relatively slow year for new wind power deployment in the United States, the industry continues to see growth, solid performance, expanding supply chains, and attractive prices, according to a report prepared for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab).With power sales prices ranging from less than $20 to more than $40 per... Read more

We are pleased to announce the release of Berkeley Lab’s 2024 edition of U.S. State Renewables Portfolio & Clean Electricity Standards.The report provides an overview and status update on U.S. state renewables portfolio standards (RPS) and has been expanded to also cover 100% clean electricity standards (CES) adopted by a growing number of states. The report, published in slide-deck form... Read more

Berkeley Lab report studies strategies for accurate, timely, and cost-efficient income verificationThe Inflation Reduction Act has created substantial new programs that support the adoption of solar power by low-income households, including the $7 billion Solar For All program and the Low-Income Communities Bonus Credit Program, which increases the investment tax credit for certain types of... Read more

Advances in electric appliances, electric vehicles (EVs), rooftop solar and energy storage — plus incentives from utilities and governments — are attracting growing consumer interest in these technologies. Consumer investments may include upgrades for electric service panels, especially when installing multiple electrification measures in older homes (see photo). In some cases, utilities may... Read more

Society is increasingly dependent on electricity for essential services. The Energy Information Administration (Short Term Energy Outlook) and many utilities are projecting surging electricity demand from data centers and new manufacturing facilities, leading to expected all-time highs in nationwide electricity consumption.To effectively serve growing power needs, electricity grids must be... Read more

We are pleased to announce that we have just released a new dataset of decommissioned wind turbines that have been confirmed as dismantled. The decommissioned turbine dataset can be downloaded in Excel format from the LBNL webpage here. Variable definitions and related information are available in the USWTDB codebook, available at the same link.Decommissioned wind turbines are regularly... Read more

In 2023 additional electricity transmission would have provided the most value for links that crossed between grid interconnection regions in the United States or crossed between system operator regions within the same interconnection. The U.S. has three interconnection regions covering the western U.S., the eastern U.S., and Texas. Added transmission value is equivalent to reduced cost. Many... Read more

Growth in data centers, manufacturing, electric vehicles, solar, and storage are among the forces reshaping electricity loads and investments for local grids today. With increasing electricity demand and infrastructure needs, robust utility planning for reliable, resilient, and affordable electricity systems is more important than ever.Integrated distribution system planning — an... Read more

New Berkeley Lab study of more than 100 million US workers across 23 states finds clear evidence of increases in employment and earnings within 20 miles of existing wind projects that begin when project construction begins and continue for many years after. Black workers and those without a high school diploma enjoy outsized gains in both income and employment over other workers near wind... Read more

New Berkeley Lab study quantifies solar and wind costs in relation to wholesale market costs, suggests that purchasers should in some cases rethink contracting practicesSince solar and wind power are not tied to the vagaries of fuel markets, their steady prices can serve as a hedge against wholesale power price fluctuations. As wind and solar grow to become a more significant factor in energy... Read more

New report and interactive map provide a detailed look at the diversity of renewable energy siting and permitting regulations and processes across the United States, profiling all 50 states plus Puerto Rico.We are excited to share a new report that closely examines the diversity of siting and permitting regulations, authorities, and processes for renewable energy across the United States. The... Read more

Policymakers have begun to explore various methods to reduce the energy burden, defined as the percentage of household income spent on energy expenses, of vulnerable households. Alongside more established strategies such as bill assistance and weatherization, solar energy is increasingly being considered. To help assess the potential for rooftop solar to serve in this emerging role, Lawrence... Read more

Community solar expands solar access to communities that have struggled to adopt rooftop solar More than four million households had adopted rooftop solar in the United States by the end of 2023. However, certain communities still face substantial barriers to rooftop solar adoption, especially households living in multifamily housing, renters, and low-income households. Community solar—where... Read more

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is extending the application submission deadline for its latest opportunity for state public utility commissions (PUCs) and state energy offices (SEOs) to gain access to high impact technical assistance that will require several person-months of support. The Resources and Assistance for State Energy Offices and Regulators program is now accepting applications... Read more

The burdens of the energy system do not fall equally on all electricity and gas utility customers. The production, delivery, and consumption of electricity and gas causes disproportionate social, health, and economic costs and benefits for low-income communities, communities of color, indigenous people, and rural customers, among others.State legislators and regulators are establishing new goals... Read more

We are pleased to announce a new study published in the peer-reviewed journal Cell Reports Sustainability that focuses on the air quality and climate benefits of wind and solar energy. Though past studies have demonstrated that wind and solar generation provide substantial health and climate benefits, this research provides an important update: It accounts for recent changes in the electricity... Read more