Database of U.S. Large-Scale Solar Projects Updated
The U.S. Large-Scale Solar Photovoltaics Database adds 500 sites and new functionality.
The U.S. Large-Scale Solar Photovoltaics Database (USPVDB) has recently undergone a significant update. Produced by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in collaboration with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the USPVDB version 2.0 provides a graphical representation of all large-scale (1 MW or more), ground mounted solar facilities in the United States.
This new version of the USPVDB adds nearly 500 installations, bringing the total to 4,185 solar facilities representing more than 70,000 MW of capacity. The newest facilities in the database came online in Q3 2023, and the oldest sites became operational before 1990. It takes about a year for new facilities to be listed in the USPVDB due to data availability and time needed to update the database.
The database is very easy to use. You see a map of the U.S. (shown below) with each facility represented by a yellow dot.
Once you zoom in on the area of interest, you can click on each dot to see details about each solar installation including date it went online, capacity, site type, and precise location.
As you zoom in and out on the map, you can see regional information in the sidebar on the right including total capacity and number of projects. You can also use filters to see the data by capacity, type of facility, or year it went online. This feature is new to version 2.0.
The USPVDB is a valuable resource that allows you to quickly access and visualize data about large-scale solar projects in or near your community, state, or region. You can also download the raw data, which is useful for research projects. Keep in mind that the data is nearly a year out of date. The next update is expected to be released in early 2025.
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Source: EnergyTech, "Virginia School District Unveils Solar Project Totaling 3,300 Panels on Campus"
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Source: American Clean Power Association
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Source: Utility Dive, "Utilities need ‘broad culture change’ to deploy emerging clean resources at scale: DOE’s Shah"