Quantifying effects of solar power adoption on CO2 emissions reduction

We quantify the effect of solar power adoption in reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the US electricity sector using 5 years of Energy Information Administration data, starting 1 July 2018. By tailoring a distributed lag statistical model, we estimate the immediate and time-lagged effects of increased solar generation on reducing CO2 emissions within a region. Our analysis highlights how solar adoption in one region affects CO2 emissions in neighboring regions, emphasizing the potential for collaborative efforts. We estimate that a 15% increase in solar generation is associated with an annual reduction of 8.54 million metric tons (MMT) of CO2 emissions, contributing 12.38% toward the yearly target of 69 MMT CO2 reductions needed to cut 1380 MMT of CO2 in 20 years, as per the Environmental Protection Agency rule on fossil fuel power plants. This study offers insights for policymakers and stakeholders in achieving CO2 reduction targets through increased solar generation.