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New York's Small-Scale Solar Cuts Midday Power Demand, EIA Says

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New York's growing small-scale solar fleet has reduced midday metered electricity demand as total solar capacity increased by 5.6 gigawatts since 2018, the US Energy Information Administration said Friday.

The agency said rooftop and other photovoltaic systems with less than 1 megawatt of capacity generate electricity outside utility meters, lowering reported daytime demand while increasing the need for electricity later in the day.

About half of the 5.6-gigawatt solar capacity added since 2018 came from small-scale projects. Although utilities do not directly meter that generation, the agency said it reduces grid demand during daylight hours.

Household consumption patterns usually drive two daily peaks in electricity demand, one in the morning and another when people return home in the evening.

New York's electricity demand has shifted as rooftop solar output rises in the morning and fades after sunset. Grid operators must adjust output from other power plants to keep the electricity supply and demand balanced.

The trend stands out in March and April, when mild weather keeps electricity demand relatively low while favorable sunlight allows small-scale solar systems to generate more electricity.

Between 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., New York's electricity demand increased by an average of 850 MW during March and April 2018. By 2026, demand over the same period fell by an average of 923 MW.

Evening demand showed the opposite pattern. Between 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., electricity demand increased by an average of 681 MW during March and April 2018, then climbed to 2,221 MW by 2026.

The Energy Information Administration said the changing demand profile reflects the rapid expansion of small-scale solar, which lowers daytime grid demand but creates a steeper increase in electricity needs as solar generation declines later in the day.

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