Fact Check: "Domestic installations made up the lion’s share of solar installations below 50 kW, accounting for almost three quarters in 2024/25."
What We Know
The claim suggests that domestic solar installations under 50 kW constituted nearly 75% of all solar installations in the 2024/25 period. According to the Quarterly Solar Industry Update, the U.S. solar market is projected to experience significant growth in 2024, with a notable increase in residential solar installations. However, specific data regarding the percentage of installations below 50 kW is not explicitly provided in the available reports.
The Spring 2024 Solar Industry Update indicates that while there is a strong demand for residential solar, the overall growth in installations may face challenges, particularly in the distributed sector. This suggests that while residential installations are significant, the exact share of those under 50 kW remains unclear.
Analysis
The claim's accuracy hinges on the availability of specific data regarding the distribution of solar installations by size. The sources reviewed provide insights into overall trends in the solar industry but do not directly confirm the percentage stated in the claim.
The Quarterly Solar Industry Update discusses the overall growth of photovoltaics (PV) and mentions that the U.S. installed approximately 14.1 GW-hours of energy storage in the first half of 2024, indicating a robust market. However, it does not break down the installations by size, particularly for those below 50 kW.
Moreover, the Spring 2024 Solar Industry Update notes that while there is an expectation of continued growth in residential solar installations, it also mentions potential slowdowns in the distributed sector. This could imply that the anticipated share of domestic installations may not reach the claimed 75% threshold, especially if market dynamics shift.
The lack of specific figures in the provided sources raises questions about the reliability of the claim. Without direct evidence supporting the assertion that domestic installations below 50 kW account for three-quarters of installations, it is difficult to validate the claim confidently.
Conclusion
Needs Research: The claim that domestic installations made up almost three-quarters of solar installations below 50 kW in 2024/25 lacks direct evidence from the reviewed sources. While there is a general trend of growth in residential solar installations, specific data to support the claim is not available. Further research and access to more detailed statistics would be necessary to verify this assertion.
