Abstract

In recent years, solar energy has been increasing in usage throughout the world, especially in the United States. Market transformation (a concept based on collaborative efforts between industry advocates and policy-makers to increase adoption through economies of scale) plays a fundamental role in expanding the adoption of solar energy.  However, there are currently limited resources to identify the optimal locations for increasing the likelihood of consumers interested in investing in solar energy technologies. The objective of this preliminary study is to develop a visual tool to assist with solar energy market transformation. By combining data from National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the Database of State Incentives for Renewable and Efficiency (DSIRE), and Energy Information Administration (EIA) a unique process and output was created. The factors considered in this study include net metering policies, cost of electricity, and access to solar irradiance. All the factors were considered on a residential level. The findings suggest the top five states with the highest likelihood for successful market transformation include (in order): Hawaii, California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Nevada.