kWh Analytics Publishes 2022 Solar Generation Index, Finds that Solar Energy continues to Underperform Against Estimates
The 2022 annual report encourages collaboration and transparency to support the long-term growth of the renewable energy industry
SAN FRANCISCO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#solardata–kWh Analytics, the market leader in Climate Insurance and renewable energy risk management, today released their 2022 Solar Generation Index report. Utilizing operating data provided by industry collaborators and their proprietary Heliostats database, the company identified a persistent pattern of solar asset underproduction across the country.
This year’s report finds that solar assets broadly continued to perform well below expectations, with 2021 operational data showing nearly 8% average underproduction on a weather adjusted basis. Furthermore, the report breaks down project performance by vintage and operational year to highlight the fact that projects constructed after 2015 have missed P50 estimates by 7-13% in their first year of operation, a clear regression compared to production data from earlier vintages. For the first time, the 2022 report also evaluates asset performance as a function of project capacity and mount type, showing that the underperformance trend has not been isolated to any specific group of projects.
“Underperformance affects investors and lenders critical to the success and growth of solar projects,” said Jason Kaminksy, CEO of kWh Analytics. “As an industry, we must collaborate to find ways to course-correct in order to ensure the industry’s long-term financial health.”
The passage of the Inflation Reduction Act has renewed interest in zero-carbon energy assets, and the solar industry alone is expected to expand by nearly 40% over the next five years. To achieve sustainable growth and secure access to necessary capital investment, solar assets will need to exhibit financial health and stability.
“It is imperative that we continue to support the long-term success of the renewable energy sector,” said Jason Kaminksy, CEO of kWh Analytics. “To de-risk investments into zero-carbon assets and encourage resilience throughout the industry, sponsors and lenders should consider accurately priced risk-transfer products, be wary of aggressive production forecasts, and be collaborative with stakeholders to encourage data sharing.”
kWh Analytics generates this index to promote transparency and discussion within the industry. The goal is to provide stakeholders with the necessary data to continue developing and operating solar projects that ensure the industry’s continued growth, and ultimately work together towards a decarbonized future.
ABOUT kWh Analytics
kWh Analytics is a leading provider of Climate Insurance for zero carbon assets. Utilizing their proprietary database of over 300,000 operating renewable energy assets, kWh Analytics uses real-world project performance data and decades of expertise to underwrite unique risk transfer products on behalf of insurance partners. kWh Analytics has recently been recognized on FinTech Global’s ESGFinTech100 list for their data and climate insurance innovations. The Solar Revenue Put production insurance protects against downside risk and unlocks preferred financing terms, and the Renewable Energy Property Product offers comprehensive coverage against physical loss. These offerings, which have insured over $4 billion of assets to date, aim to further kWh Analytics’ mission to provide best-in-class Insurance for our Climate. To learn more, please visit https://www.kwhanalytics.com/, connect with us on LinkedIn, and follow us on Twitter.
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Nikky Venkataraman
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kWh Analytics
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