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					</table><p>Wind energy deployment in the U.S. is expected to reach 770 GW and solar 1,090 GW by 2050, representing 5x and 10x increases over current levels, respectively, according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (<a href="https://www.nrel.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NREL</a>).</p>
<p>Wind and solar are forecasted to contribute between 55% and 85% of total generation in 2050 across various scenarios.</p>
<p>The ninth edition of the annual Standard Scenarios, published by NREL, offers a comprehensive outlook on the future of the U.S. electricity sector, focusing on 53 forward-looking scenarios designed to capture a spectrum of possibilities.</p>
<p>These scenarios, simulated through the Regional Energy Deployment System (ReEDS) model, provide insights into the evolution of the utility-scale electricity sector in the contiguous United States.</p>
<p>The 2023 Standard Scenarios paint a dynamic picture of the U.S. electricity sector&#8217;s future, emphasizing the pivotal role of renewables in achieving decarbonization goals.</p>
<p>As wind and solar witness unprecedented growth and fossil generators adapt to new roles, the sector&#8217;s landscape is expected to undergo a transformative shift towards sustainability.</p>
<p>Illustrating these trends, Figure ES-1 depicts the generation and capacity projections for three scenarios: the mid-case, 95% net decarbonization by 2050, and 100% net decarbonization by 2035.</p>
<p>Wind and solar dominate, and the role of fossil generators evolves with decarbonization goals.</p>
<p><a href="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/US-Elelctricity-Sector.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-62566 size-full" src="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/US-Elelctricity-Sector.png" alt="US Electricity Sector" width="707" height="760" srcset="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/US-Elelctricity-Sector.png 707w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/US-Elelctricity-Sector-279x300.png 279w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/US-Elelctricity-Sector-650x699.png 650w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/US-Elelctricity-Sector-624x671.png 624w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/US-Elelctricity-Sector-600x645.png 600w" sizes="(max-width: 707px) 100vw, 707px" /></a></p>
<p>Figure ES-2 showcases annual generation by technology class, emphasizing the significant growth of wind and solar over the coming decades.</p>
<p><a href="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Generation-standard-scnearios.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-62562 size-full" src="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Generation-standard-scnearios.png" alt="Generation standard scnearios" width="635" height="671" srcset="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Generation-standard-scnearios.png 635w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Generation-standard-scnearios-284x300.png 284w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Generation-standard-scnearios-624x659.png 624w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Generation-standard-scnearios-600x634.png 600w" sizes="(max-width: 635px) 100vw, 635px" /></a></p>
<p>The report highlighted that policymakers and industry stakeholders can leverage these insights to shape strategies that promote renewable energy integration, reduce emissions, and foster a resilient and sustainable electricity sector for the years to come.</p>
<p>Despite the rise of renewables, natural gas capacity continues to expand. In a mid-case scenario, it increases by 200 GW through 2050. However, with a 95% net decarbonization goal, this increase is limited to 130 GW.</p>
<p>Fossil generators without carbon capture witness a diminished role in providing generation but play a crucial role in providing firm capacity. By 2050, uncontrolled fossil generators contribute only 14% of total generation in the mid-case but provide 47% of total firm capacity.</p>
<p>Under current policies, nascent technologies, such as natural gas with carbon capture and storage (CCS), coal with CCS, bioenergy with CCS, hydrogen combustion turbines, and small modular nuclear reactors, play a limited role.</p>
<p>However, they are expected to gain significance in decarbonized futures, contributing up to 22% of total generation and 35% of firm capacity in scenarios with breakthroughs or emissions constraints.</p>
<p><strong>Emissions Reduction </strong></p>
<p>U.S. electricity sector emissions are likely to experience a notable decrease through the 2030s, with an 81% reduction in the mid-case by 2035 relative to 2005 levels.</p>
<p>Tax credits persist through 2050 for most scenarios without strict decarbonization policies, indicating the longevity of clean electricity incentives.</p>
<p>In the mid-case, achieving 95% net decarbonization by 2050 incurs a 0.5% increase in present-value bulk electric sector costs. Meanwhile, reaching 100% net decarbonization by 2035 results in a 14% cost increase.</p>
<p>Figure ES-3 displays annual CO2-equivalent emissions, highlighting the decline in emissions under various scenarios.</p>
<p><a href="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Electricity-sector-CO2-Emissions.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-62558 size-full" src="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Electricity-sector-CO2-Emissions.png" alt="Electricity sector CO2 Emissions" width="585" height="370" srcset="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Electricity-sector-CO2-Emissions.png 585w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Electricity-sector-CO2-Emissions-300x190.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 585px) 100vw, 585px" /></a></p>
<p>The U.S. <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/us-solar-power-capacity-soars-reflecting-35-yoy-rise" target="_blank" rel="noopener">installed</a> 6.5 GWdc of solar power project capacity in the third quarter (Q3) of 2023, a 35% year-over-year (YoY) increase and a 1% rise from the previous quarter, according to the U.S. Solar Market Insight Q4 2023 report by Wood Mackenzie and Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).</p>
<p>The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/us-43-gw-solar-30-gw-battery-eia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">predicts</a> that solar power will emerge as the primary driver of electricity generation growth in 2024 and 2025, with the addition of 36 GW and 43 GW of new solar capacity, respectively.</p>


Solar to Dominate US Power Generation Capacity with 10x Growth by 2050


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					</table><p>The Indian government has initiated a Standards and Labelling Program for solar modules to indicate their quality and energy efficiency.</p>
<p>The program, developed by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (<a href="https://beeindia.gov.in/en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BEE</a>), will be in force from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2025.</p>
<p>The first two years of the program will be voluntary. The government said it would be made mandatory subsequently.</p>
<p>To register, manufacturers must deposit a security fee of ₹100,000 (~$1,203) for each model, but small-scale industries can secure registration with a valid certificate and a reduced security fee of ₹25,000 (~$300). An application fee of ₹2,000 (~$24) must be paid to affix the label on a specific model. Renewal applications incur no additional charges.</p>
<p>Solar modules are graded on a scale from 1 to 5 stars, and the labeling fee to affix these stars on each unit of a module is ₹0.02(~$0.00024)/watt. However, the government will recognize and reward excellence by waiving labeling fees for 4 and 5-star-rated solar modules until December 31, 2025.</p>
<p><em><a href="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/star-rating.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-59710 size-full" src="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/star-rating.png" alt="star rating" width="992" height="401" srcset="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/star-rating.png 992w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/star-rating-300x121.png 300w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/star-rating-768x310.png 768w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/star-rating-650x263.png 650w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/star-rating-624x252.png 624w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/star-rating-600x243.png 600w" sizes="(max-width: 992px) 100vw, 992px" /></a></em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Source: Bureau of Energy Efficiency</em></p>
<p>This program carries a significant potential for positive environmental impact. According to the government, raising solar module efficiency by an estimated 2% from current levels, an additional 33 GWh of electricity generation is anticipated annually.</p>
<p>According to Union Power Minister R.K. Singh, star labeling of solar modules will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 30 million tons annually by 2030.</p>
<p>The government said consumers transitioning from lower-rated modules to higher-rated ones stand to gain significantly. For instance, moving from a 1-Star to a 2-Star solar module on a typical 10-square-meter roof area is expected to yield around 12% additional electricity generation. The transition can be even more rewarding, with increases ranging from 29% to 35% when upgrading from a 1-Star module to a 4-Star or 5-Star module, the government stated.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><a href="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Benefits-of-star-rating.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-59711 " src="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Benefits-of-star-rating.png" alt="Benefits of star rating" width="866" height="429" srcset="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Benefits-of-star-rating.png 1263w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Benefits-of-star-rating-300x149.png 300w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Benefits-of-star-rating-768x381.png 768w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Benefits-of-star-rating-650x322.png 650w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Benefits-of-star-rating-624x309.png 624w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Benefits-of-star-rating-600x297.png 600w" sizes="(max-width: 866px) 100vw, 866px" /></a>Source: Bureau of Energy Efficiency</em></p>
<p><strong>Sampling process</strong></p>
<p>BEE or its designated agency will select samples randomly from the market. This randomness ensures that various batches and models of modules are assessed without any bias. A second check testing will be initiated if this initial sample fails to meet the required standards. Two additional samples from the market will be randomly selected for the second check testing.</p>
<p>If even one of the samples selected during the second check testing fails to meet the standards, the module will be deemed non-compliant with the prescribed BEE standards. In the event of non-compliance, the manufacturer must submit a fresh application with derated effective efficiency for the failed module.</p>
<p>Testing will be conducted in laboratories accredited by the Bureau of Indian Standards or the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories.</p>
<p>The government&#8217;s vision is to promote solar modules that are not only of the highest quality but are also entirely &#8220;Made in India.&#8221; This comprehensive plan includes policies to encourage domestic manufacturing of solar cells and wafers. The goal is to achieve solar modules that are 100% domestically produced and of the highest quality. By gradually eliminating less efficient modules and outdated models from the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM), India is striving for excellence in solar module manufacturing.</p>
<p>The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy recently <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/mnre-penalties-flouting-domestic-solar-requirement-norms/">reiterated</a> that action will be taken against companies violating the domestic content requirement provisions prescribing domestically manufactured solar cells and modules, wherever the World Trade Organization permits.</p>


Government Launches Star Labelling Program for Solar Modules

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