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.