Solar power in New Hampshire provides a small percentage of the state's electricity. State renewable requirements and declining prices have led to some installations. Photovoltaics on rooftops can provide 53.4% of all electricity used in New Hampshire, from 5,300 MW of solar panels, and 72% of the electricity used in Concord.Rooftop Solar Photovoltaic Technical Potential in the United States: A Detailed Assessment A 2016 estimate suggested that a typical 5 kW system costing $25,000 before credits and utility savings would pay for itself in nine years, and generate a profit of $34,196 over the rest of its 25-year life. A loan or lease provides a net savings each year, including the first year.New Hampshire New Hampshire has a rebate program which pays $0.75/W for residential systems up to 5 kW, for up to 50% of the system cost, up to $3,750. However, New Hampshire's solar installation lagged behind nearby states such as Vermont and New York, which in 2013 had 10 times and 25 times more solar, respectively.
Net metering is available for up to 1 MW generation, but is capped at 50 MW. Excess generation is perpetually rolled over each month, and customers can elect to be paid at avoided cost once a year. The organization Freeing the Grid gave the state a B for net metering and a D for interconnection.Freeing the grid The state renewable portfolio standard calls for 25% of electricity from renewable energy in 2025, including 0.3% from solar. Noncompliance fees are used to fund renewable energy, and resulted in payments of $1.3 million in 2009Annual RPS Compliance Report for 2009 and $2.6 million in 2010.Annual RPS Compliance Report for 2010 A 2014 review by the state found the "business-as-usual" model predicted that the state's 2025 goals would not be met.New Hampshire 10 Year Energy Strategy, New Hampshire Office of Energy and Planning, September 2014
In 2005, New Hampshire's largest solar array was the 50 kW installation on the roof of the Stonyfield Farm yogurt factory.Stonyfield Farm Solar Array It remained the largest in the state until PSNH installed a 51 kW array on their roof in 2009.Solar at Energy Park In 2012, New Hampshire's largest solar array was the 525 kW facility on the top level of the Manchester Airport parking garage.Project Experience: Manchester Airport Solar Project, New Hampshire It was removed because of glare, and was reinstalled with the panels facing east instead of south. Additional panels were installed to maintain the same output.Manchester airport remains in dark over solar-panel glare solution In 2022, Manchester became home to the state's largest municipal solar array, which will generate 3.8 million kilowatt-hours. The facility is located on top of a closed landfill.
In a pilot program, a solar panel was installed on a few utility poles, four in Nashua and four in Berlin, but the program was not continued.Solar on Utility Poles
Installed capacity Source: NREL
Grid-connected PV capacity (MW)New Hampshire SolarSEIA New Hampshire Solar as of Jan. 3036YearCapacityInstalled% change 2007 0.1 2008 0.1 2009 0.7 0.5 600% 2010 2.0 1.3 186% 2011 3.1 1.0 55% 2012 5.4 2.3 74% 2013 9.6 4.1 75% 2014 7 3 75% 2015 22 15 214% 2016 54 32 145% 2017 76 22 41% 2018 90 14 18% 2019 113 23 25% 2020 132.9 19.9 17% 2021 164.8 31.9 % 2022 201 36.2 % 2023 -- -- % 2024 -- -- % 2025 354 -- %
See also Wind power in New Hampshire Solar power in the United States Renewable energy in the United States
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Incentives and policies