Evolution of Rooftop Solar's Emissions Impact
The growth of clean energy has led to a reevaluation of how its impact is measured, according to a study published in Nature Climate Change.
The study highlights that as the grid becomes cleaner, the emissions impact of rooftop solar is shrinking.
The cleaner the grid becomes, the harder it is for each new clean megawatt to make a difference.
A notable example of this phenomenon is California, where an abundance of solar power has led to increasing solar curtailment and wholesale electricity prices reaching zero or negative during the day.
However, this trend is starting to shift in California, indicating a potential turning point in the management of clean energy abundance.
Author's summary: Rooftop solar's emissions math is changing as the grid cleans itself.