Solar power in Kansas
Solar power in Kansas has been growing in recent years due to new technological improvements and a variety of regulatory actions and financial incentives.[1]
It is estimated that 41.7% of electricity in Kansas could be provided by 12,500 MW of rooftop solar panels.[2]
In 2015, IKEA installed the largest solar array in the state, 730 kW on the roof of its store in Merriam.[3] In 2011, Kansas's largest solar array, 118 kW, was the rooftop installation at Peeper Ranch in Lenexa. Its output is available online.[4]
Net metering
The state's net metering program allows residential installations of up to 25 kW and 200 kW non-residential on-site electrical generation to roll over any excess generation to the next month, but any excess at the end of the year is lost. Participation is limited to 1% of utility's previous year peak demand.[5] Many of the states have net metering policies that are inadequate for 100% renewable energy. Kansas was given a C for net metering and an F for interconnection policies.[6]
Plug-in Solar
As of 2026, Kansas has yet to legalize plug-in solar.[7]
HOA restrictions
As of 2026, Kansas does not have any regulations preventing homeowners associations from arbitrarily restricting residential rooftop solar. Several bills have been proposed to remedy this, however none have been passed.[8][9]
Local restrictions
As of 2026, several counties have moratoriums or outright bans on commercial solar development for a variety of reasons, real or perceived. These include moratoriums in Jefferson County and Wabaunsee County, and an outright ban in McPherson County.[10][11][12]
Statistics
|
| Year | Capacity | Change | % change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 0.1 | 0.1 | >100% |
| 2011 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 100% |
| 2012 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 150% |
| 2013 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 120% |
| 2014 | 2.3 | 1.2 | 109% |
| 2015 | 4.7 | 2.4 | 104% |
| 2016 | 5.9 | 1.2 | 26% |
| 2017 | 14.9 | 9 | 153% |
| 2018 | 21.9 | 7 | 47% |
| 2019 | 46.7 | 24.8 | 113% |
| 2020 | 81.9 | 35.2 | 75% |
| 2021 | 99.1 | 17.2 | 21% |
| 2022 | 115 | 15.9 | 16% |
| 2023 | 125 | 10 | 9% |
| 2024 | 163 | 38 | 30% |
| 2025 | 292 | 129 | 79% |
| 2026 | 471 | 179 | 61% |
| Year | Total | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | 56 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 |
| 2021 | 62 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| 2022 | 67 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 3 |
See also
References
- ↑ Prospects for solar power never brighter
- ↑ Rooftop Solar Photovoltaic Technical Potential in the United States
- ↑ IKEA’s new Kansas store has state’s largest solar rooftop array, Solar Power World, Kelly Pickerel, May 5, 2015
- ↑ Peeper Ranch Plant Profile
- ↑ "Kansas - Net Metering". Retrieved 2012-06-09.
- ↑ Freeing the Grid
- ↑ "Plug-In Solar Legislation Tracker". Retrieved July 8, 2026.
- ↑ Jenna Barackman (February 19, 2024). "Kansas homeowners seek lawmakers' help overriding HOA rules governing solar panels". Kansas City Star. Retrieved July 8, 2026.
- ↑ Kaylie McLaughlin (January 5, 2026). "Overland Park supports state law change to prohibit HOA bans on solar panels". Johnson County Post. Retrieved July 8, 2026.
- ↑ Lucky Kidd (November 18, 2024). "County Commissioners Ban Commercial Scale Solar and Wind Energy Projects in McPherson County". Ad Astra Radio. Retrieved July 9, 2026.
- ↑ "Wabaunsee County Zoning Code". May 8, 2023. Retrieved July 9, 2026.
- ↑ "Jefferson County Moratorium". May 4, 2026. Retrieved July 9, 2026.
- ↑ "PV Watts". NREL. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
- ↑ Sherwood, Larry (August 2012). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2011" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-09-06. Retrieved 2012-08-16.
- ↑ Sherwood, Larry (June 2011). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2010" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). p. 20. Retrieved 2011-06-29.
- ↑ Sherwood, Larry (July 2009). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2008" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). p. 16. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-11-23. Retrieved 2010-07-24.
- ↑ Sherwood, Larry (July 2012). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2012" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). p. 16. Retrieved 2013-10-11.
- ↑ Sherwood, Larry (July 2014). "U.S. Solar Market Trends 2013" (PDF). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). Retrieved 2014-09-26.
- ↑ Kansas Solar
- ↑ "Electricity Data Browser". U.S. Department of Energy. March 28, 2018. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
