36% of All New Electric Capacity in 2014 From Solar

36% of All New Electric Capacity in 2014 From Solar
Q3 2014 represented the second largest quarter ever for solar installations in the U.S., with installed photovoltaic (PV) capacity topping the gigawatt mark for the fourth consecutive quarter to settle at 1,354 megawatts (MW).  This performance represents 41% growth over Q3 of last year and brings cumulative installed solar capacity to 17,500 MW.  With nearly 600,000 solar installations through Q3, the U.S. solar industry is on pace to complete its 1 millionth installation in 2015.  Through Q3, 36% of all new electric capacity installed in 2014 has come from solar.   (All data from SEIA/GTM Research “U.S. Solar Market Insight: Q3 2014” unless otherwise noted.)

Installations Continue to Boom

There are now over 17,500 MW of cumulative solar electric capacity operating in the U.S., enough to power more than 3.5 million average American homes.
With over 49,000 installations in Q3, nearly 600,000 U.S. homes and buisnesses have now gone solar.  Through Q3, a new solar project has been installed every 3 minutes in 2014.
Growth in Q3 was led by the residential sector, which grew 58% over Q3 2014, and the utility-scale sector, which installed over 800 MW for the 3rd time in 12 months.

From SEIA.org Solar Energy Industries Association