Fact Check: "April 2024 to March 2025 also saw the pace of small-scale solar deployment accelerate, with 203,185 installations included in the government’s pricing analysis, up 16% on the previous year."
What We Know
The claim states that from April 2024 to March 2025, there were 203,185 small-scale solar installations, representing a 16% increase from the previous year. The Quarterly Solar Industry Update from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) provides insights into solar deployment trends, but it does not specifically confirm the number of installations or the percentage increase for the stated period.
The Spring 2024 Solar Industry Update mentions expectations for solar installations in 2024 but does not provide specific figures for small-scale solar installations. Furthermore, the Fall 2024 Solar Industry Update discusses broader trends in solar deployment but lacks detailed statistics on small-scale installations for the specified timeframe.
Additionally, a report from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) indicates that the U.S. solar industry installed nearly 50 GWdc of capacity in 2024, marking a 21% increase from 2023, but does not break down this figure into small-scale installations or provide specific numbers for the April 2024 to March 2025 period (SEIA 2024 Year in Review).
Analysis
The claim lacks direct support from credible sources that specifically confirm the number of installations or the percentage increase for the April 2024 to March 2025 period. The NREL's reports provide valuable insights into solar industry trends but do not contain the specific data needed to validate the claim.
The SEIA report, while indicating overall growth in solar capacity, does not provide a detailed breakdown of small-scale installations, which is crucial for verifying the claim. The absence of specific data on small-scale solar installations in the cited reports raises questions about the reliability of the claim.
Moreover, the source of the claim is not identified, which makes it difficult to assess the credibility of the information. Without a clear reference point or supporting data, the assertion remains unverified.
Conclusion
Needs Research. The claim regarding the number of small-scale solar installations and the percentage increase lacks sufficient evidence from reliable sources. While there are indications of growth in the solar industry, specific data for the April 2024 to March 2025 period is not available in the cited reports. Further investigation is needed to confirm the accuracy of the claim.
Sources
- Quarterly Solar Industry Update
- Spring 2024 Solar Industry Update
- Fall 2024 Solar Industry Update - Publications
- UK small-scale solar costs tumble as competition heats up for ...
- Solar Market Insight Report 2024 Year in Review – SEIA
- Solar Market Insight Report Q2 2025 – SEIA
- Utility-scale US solar installations to surpass 32 GW for ...
