Solar Siting Surveys

Finding the potential for wholesale distributed generation

The Clean Coalition conducts Solar Siting Surveys to help utilities, Community Choice Energy agencies (CCEs), cities, and communities assess the technical potential for local solar generation on built environments such as rooftops, parking lots, and parking garages.

Our methodology evaluates prospective sites, as well as the interconnection hosting capacity for each site — which is vital to understanding whether a solar project can be interconnected to the grid in a cost-effective manner, and is a critical determinant in assessing the overall cost-effectiveness of a solar project. We focus on wholesale distributed generation (WDG) systems, often commercial-scale solar projects, that connect to the distribution grid and sell the electricity they produce to the local utility to serve local energy demand.

Samples of our Solar Siting Surveys

Satellite map showing various solar power outputs marked by yellow icons across different regions, outlined by a blue boundary.

San Diego

Solar Siting Survey

The Clean Coalition completed a Solar Siting Survey for the San Diego SEIN Initiative, which is exploring new ways solar energy can improve the affordability, reliability, and resilience of the nation’s electric grid. Our San Diego Solar Siting Survey identified approximately 500 megawatts (MWac) of technical solar siting potential on over 120 discrete sites — enough to fulfill the average power needs of about 500,000 homes during peak solar production hours. Each site identified has the potential to host at least 1 MWac on rooftops, parking lots, and parking structures located at the site.

See our San Diego Solar Siting Survey
Map showing numerous icons indicating points of interest across san francisco bay, from san francisco to san mateo.

East Bay Community Energy

Solar Siting Survey

The Clean Coalition completed a Solar Siting Survey for East Bay Community Energy’s (EBCE) Local Business Development Plan, which developed a comprehensive framework for accelerating the development of clean energy assets within Alameda County in California. Our EBCE Solar Siting Survey identified over 650 MW of technical solar siting potential on over 250 discrete sites — enough to power 165,000 homes. Each site identified has the potential to host at least 1 MW on rooftops, parking lots, and parking structures located at the site.

See our EBCE Solar Siting Survey
Satellite map showing various energy production icons over the san francisco bay area, with numerical data on energy output.

Peninsula Advanced Energy Community

Solar Siting Survey

As part of the Peninsula Advanced Energy Community (PAEC), an initiative designed to streamline policies and showcase projects that facilitate local renewables and other advanced energy solutions, the Clean Coalition conducted a Solar Siting Survey to assess the potential for commercial-scale solar in southern San Mateo County, California. Assessing built environments in the area to determine which are best suited for a solar PV installation of at least 100 kilowatts (kW), this Solar Siting Survey identified over 65 MW of technical potential for commercial-scale solar installations within the PAEC region.

See our PAEC Solar Siting Survey
Satellite map showing various solar power installations with capacities marked in kilowatts, over the region of southern california, including coastal and inland areas.

SCE Preferred Resources Pilot

Solar Siting Survey

The PRP Solar Siting Survey highlights significant levels of local solar PV energy that can be generated within an area in southern and central Orange County, California. The grid area assessed by the survey comprises the Preferred Resources Pilot (PRP), an effort by Southern California Edison (SCE) to study and demonstrate how distributed energy resources, including local solar, may support local reliability needs. The PRP Solar Siting Survey identified over 160 MW of technical potential for large commercial-scale solar installations 500 kW and larger within the PRP grid area.

See our PRP Solar Siting Survey
Solar panels in the foreground with a background of a modern city skyline under a clear blue sky.

Unleash clean local energy in your community

We can assess the solar siting potential in your area

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