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North Carolina Solar

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Data Current Through:

Q4 2023

Solar Installed (MW):
9,310
National Ranking:
4th (13th in 2023)
Enough Solar Installed to Power:
1,169,056 homes
Percentage of State's Electricity from Solar:
9.34%
Solar Jobs:
7,072
Solar Companies in State:
247 (39 Manufacturers, 97 Installers/Developers, 111 Others)
Total Solar Investment in State:
$12.8 billion
Prices have fallen
47% over the last 10 years
Growth Projection and Ranking:
2,345 MW over the next 5 years (ranks 23rd)
Number Of Installations:
49,502

North Carolina’s solar industry grew quickly thanks in part to the state’s Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard (REPS) and strong state policy and regulatory support. Now a leader in utility-scale solar, the future is bright for solar in the Tar Heel state for many years to come. A 2017 law authorized solar leasing, giving a much-needed boost to residential solar companies and offering consumers more options to control their energy use.

View more solar industry data.

 

SEIA North Carolina State Solar Policy Priorities & Highlights

  • SEIA is engaged in Duke’s IRP docket, specifically advocating for solar+ storage as a cost-effective alternative to natural gas plants.
  • SEIA continues to work on the 'Southeast RTO' study legislation that will mirror SEIA’s successful South Carolina effort.
  • SEIA is also a formal stakeholder in a working group tasked to address PV recycling and possible rulemaking around utility-scale solar and energy storage decommissioning.
  • SEIA is engaged in education and advocacy around utility business model reform and market reform in North and South Carolina, engaging in the Southeast Energy Exchange Market (SEEM) proposal.

For more information on SEIA's work in North Carolina, please contact Scott Elias

Notable Installations in North Carolina

  • Albermarle Beach Solar in Roper was developed by SunEnergy and came online in 2020. This 150.6 MW project produces enough electricity to power 17,988 homes.
  • Meta, Fifth Third Bank and Starbucks have all gone solar in North Carolina. Meta's 119 MW Gutenberg project in Garysburg is one of the largest solar projects in the state. 
  • At 134 MW, Fern Solar in Battleboro is among the largest solar installations in North Carolina. Completed by BayWa r.e. in 2020, this solar project has enough electric capacity to power more than 16,005 homes.

Check out our Major Solar Projects List for more notable installations.

Solar Companies in North Carolina

Looking for a local installer? Use SolarReviews to get company reviews and estimates for solar in your area. You can also view the average costs for installing solar in North Carolina, based on real price data from installed systems and solar quotes.

Don't see your company listed? Complete our National Solar Database Survey!

If you're looking for information about local solar companies, check out EnergySage's list of solar companies in North Carolina, where you can check out information about each company and see real customer reviews.

North Carolina State Solar Policy Resources

DSIRE Incentives Database - North Carolina – Search a public clearinghouse for specific solar energy incentives in North Carolina and across the United States

NC Sustainable Energy Association - Learn about ways you can advocate for clean energy in North Carolina

North Carolina Energy Division - Find a wide variety of information on state government energy programs, policy, projects, energy-saving strategies and energy-related statistics

North Carolina General Assembly – Track pending legislation affecting solar energy, locate and contact individual legislators, and stay up to date on current legislative issues in North Carolina

North Carolina Utilities Commission – Learn about the governing body that regulates the electricity rates and services of North Carolina public utilities

North Carolina Solar Panels Overview - Learn about the history of solar policy in North Carolina, along with up-to-date pricing information on EnergySage

Solar Panel Cost in North Carolina - Learn about the history of solar policy in North Carolina, along with up-to-date pricing information on EnergySage

Solar Rebates & Incentives in North Carolina - Check out EnergySage's list of key solar incentives in North Carolina to see what programs you can benefit from

U.S. Energy Information Administration - North Carolina State Profile – Explore official energy statistics, including data on electricity supply and demand, from the U.S. government