Georectified polygon database of ground-mounted large-scale solar photovoltaic sites in the United States

K. Sydny Fujita; Zachary H. Ancona; Louisa Kramer; Mary Straka; Tandie E. Gautreau; Dana Robson; Christopher P. Garrity; Ben Hoen; James E. Diffendorfer

doi:10.1038/s41597-023-02644-8

USGS · 70249965

Georectified polygon database of ground-mounted large-scale solar photovoltaic sites in the United States

K. Sydny Fujita·Zachary H. Ancona·Louisa Kramer·Mary Straka·Tandie E. Gautreau·Dana Robson·Christopher P. Garrity·Ben Hoen·James E. Diffendorfer

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Abstract

Over 4,400 large-scale solar photovoltaic (LSPV) facilities operate in the United States as of December 2021, representing more than 60 gigawatts of electric energy capacity. Of these, over 3,900 are ground-mounted LSPV facilities with capacities of 1 MWdc or more. Ground mounted LSPV installations continue increasing, with more than 400 projects appearing online in 2021 alone; however, a comprehensive, publicly available georectified dataset including spatial footprints of these facilities is lacking. Analysts from U.S. Over 4,400 large-scale solar photovoltaic (LSPV) facilities operate in the United States as of December 2021, representing more than 60 gigawatts of electric energy capacity. Of these, over 3,900 are ground-mounted LSPV facilities with capacities of 1 megawatt direct current (MW dc ) or more. Ground-mounted LSPV installations continue increasing, with more than 400 projects appearing online in 2021 alone; however, a comprehensive, publicly available georectified dataset including spatial footprints of these facilities is lacking. The United States Large-Scale Solar Photovoltaic Database (USPVDB) was developed to fill this gap. Using US Energy Information Administration (EIA) data, locations of 3,699 LSPV facilities were verified using high-resolution aerial imagery, polygons were digitized around panel arrays, and attributes were appended. Quality assurance and control were achieved via team peer review and comparison to other US PV datasets. Data are publicly available via an interactive web application and multiple downloadable formats, including: comma-separated value (CSV), application programming interface (API), and GIS shapefile and GeoJSON. Survey and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory collaborated to develop the United States Large-Scale Solar Photovoltaic Database (USPVDB). Using Energy Information Administration (EIA) data, locations of LSPV facilities were verified using high-resolution aerial imagery, polygons were digitized around panel arrays, and attributes were appended. Quality assurance and control were achieved via team peer review and comparison to other US PV datasets. Data are publicly available in an interactive web application, and a number of downloadable formats, including: comma-separated value spreadsheet (CSV), application programming interface (API), and GIS shapefile.

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Source-reported bounding extent: 17.928613° to 49.383079° latitude; -124.733174° to -65.589947° longitude. This indicates report coverage, not an exact sampling location. View area on OpenStreetMap.

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K. Sydny Fujita, Zachary H. Ancona, Louisa Kramer, Mary Straka, Tandie E. Gautreau, Dana Robson, Christopher P. Garrity, Ben Hoen, James E. Diffendorfer. 2023-11-08. Georectified polygon database of ground-mounted large-scale solar photovoltaic sites in the United States. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-023-02644-8

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